Freeway Golf Course ...Sicklerville NJ

[archie_struthers]

 




Was watching a piece on the golf channel about Langston GC , a famous golf club in DC established  to allow access to
people not allowed to play at other clubs in 1939. Quite the story.


It reminded me of Freeway , a black owned club where we were graciously accepted as persona grata in my youth age (19-24). We often played some great money matches (not big money )  after looping at Pine Valley.  We were often chasing the daylight and the local pro Bill Bishop loved to refer to us as "the roadrunners" . We often played 18 in around 2 1/2 hours and never held the closing guys up !


Quite the place , super fun for us and we made some great friends there. Every once in a while we would have a "grudge match" against some of the better members that invariably ended in too much beer and bs stories about our golf skills. I took particular joy in Mr Bishop saying that I qualified as an honorary minority due to my status as a "ginger".  He could play a little too!


I've got some fine memories of the place, with the hardest fairways that befit the name "Freeway " ....talk about maintenance meld    anyone else have an experience with either Langston or Freeway?  It's gone but not forgotten

[Mark Molyneux]

Archie! I share your fondness for all that Freeway used to be. Bill Bishop was an original and an excellent player. He competed well against the Senior Tour pros at Chester Valley in the 1985 UHI tournament. I was with Harold Henning in the group right behind Bill. He was an engaging guy. My first introduction was courtesy of Bill Stevenson (Steve) at the Longknockers Range in North Philly. He worked with neighborhood kids, who came out to the range.


I recall Freeway finishing with a couple long par 5s (or maybe it was two out of the final three holes) but in any event, it was a course that gave me every chance to swing away and have fun. Inside the clubhouse was like sitting in someone's home. The food always tasted homemade, the beer was cold and the folks were friendly as could be!

[Joe Bausch]

Google Earth suggests that as of 2020, Freeway's land has not been developed.  There's an opp for you, Archie!


The course closed for good in 2016.  I visited in 2014.  My hole-by-hole photo tour is here:


http://www80.homepage.villanova.edu/joseph.bausch/images/albums/Freeway/index.html

[MCirba]

I understand Jamie S. grew up playing there, Archie.


I played it once about 20 years ago, one of golf professional Horace Smith's numerous unheralded but highly functional area designed built in the 1950s and 60s.  There's a strong Cobb's Creek connection, as well given the racial component.