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Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« on: March 05, 2008, 07:19:01 PM »
I don't seem to recall if the Tree House ever came to a conclusion about Atlantic City CC.  What are the positive and negative aspects of the course/club/experience?  Is this course worth a trip from the far side of Philly? 

Ciao
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

TEPaul

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #1 on: March 05, 2008, 07:32:10 PM »
Sean Arble:

We can talk about the architecture and the architectural evolution of Atlantic City CC later (which is actually immensly fascinating) but the ownership or structural evolution of ACCC just about spans the entire spectrum in that context in American golf, and particularly considering what it was to some pretty significant people once upon a time and what its been through in about the last fifteen years. That club has a history in a couple of areas that might be as wide and interesting as any club in America.

If I were you, I'd go see it and play it. It may not be there all that much longer!

Dan Herrmann

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #2 on: March 05, 2008, 07:37:03 PM »
I'd like to know too.  But I think the answer will certainly be, yes, it's well worth it.

Flynn/Doak.

Quite a pedigree, I'd say :)

Tom - are you hinting that the golf course may be destroyed?

Mike_Cirba

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2008, 08:31:47 PM »
Sean,

It's definitely worth playing but that decision would need to be weighed against time limitations and other Philadelphia options when in town. 

It's probably a Doak Scale 6, and the front nine consistently stays between solid and sublime.  However, the back nine is much spottier, and it finishes poorly from my perspective, and TD and I have discussed it here in the past.   The problem is, once a decision was made to use a lot of the previous 18th hole as a "practice facility", it seems to me to have really forced some compromises.  The par three 17th is a hole that I think is the only flat out woeful golf hole I've ever played of Doak's.
« Last Edit: March 05, 2008, 09:06:04 PM by MPCirba »

J Sadowsky

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2008, 08:35:08 PM »
Sean Arble:

We can talk about the architecture and the architectural evolution of Atlantic City CC later (which is actually immensly fascinating) but the ownership or structural evolution of ACCC just about spans the entire spectrum in that context in American golf, and particularly considering what it was to some pretty significant people once upon a time and what its been through in about the last fifteen years. That club has a history in a couple of areas that might be as wide and interesting as any club in America.

If I were you, I'd go see it and play it. It may not be there all that much longer!

I agree - please elaborate on that last sentence.

Steve_ Shaffer

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #5 on: March 05, 2008, 09:00:14 PM »
Justin,

The land upon which ACCC sits is probably more valuable for other uses- perhaps a casino hotel- than it's current use.


"Some of us worship in churches, some in synagogues, some on golf courses ... "  Adlai Stevenson
Hyman Roth to Michael Corleone: "We're bigger than US Steel."
Ben Hogan “The most important shot in golf is the next one”

Patrick_Mucci

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #6 on: March 05, 2008, 11:14:54 PM »
Sean,

It's now a public golf course.

I think it's worth the trek on the ACE.
I like it in the spring and fall, before it gets too hot and buggy.

The course gets a good breeze and is fun to play.
It has a lot of diverse holes and a good practice facility
It fits into my "sporty" classification

I was the Captain of the ACCC swim team for about a decade.

Kyle Harris

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #7 on: March 06, 2008, 05:34:51 AM »
Sean,

It's now a public golf course.

I think it's worth the trek on the ACE.
I like it in the spring and fall, before it gets too hot and buggy.

The course gets a good breeze and is fun to play.
It has a lot of diverse holes and a good practice facility
It fits into my "sporty" classification

I was the Captain of the ACCC swim team for about a decade.

I didn't know Atlantic County Community College had a swim team....  ;)
« Last Edit: March 06, 2008, 05:41:24 AM by Kyle Harris »

Mike Sweeney

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #8 on: March 06, 2008, 06:34:43 AM »
I don't seem to recall if the Tree House ever came to a conclusion about Atlantic City CC.  What are the positive and negative aspects of the course/club/experience?  Is this course worth a trip from the far side of Philly? 

Ciao

I think some of us were crystal clear!

http://golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,30988.0.html

wsmorrison

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #9 on: March 06, 2008, 06:54:11 AM »
I didn't see anything about Pat being a captain of the swim team, but there is a picture of him in the locker room where he is holding a stack of towels.  The caption of the photo remarked that Pat was being honored as the swimming team manager and towel boy.  He was wearing Bermuda shorts, black socks and black Chuck Taylors.  A gangly and rather pimply boy, he did have a somewhat engaging smile...but the braces sure were clunky in the old days  ;D

Bradley Anderson

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #10 on: March 06, 2008, 07:59:24 AM »
Wayne,

Thank you for making me laugh my --- off this morning. That is so funny. But I'm sure Patrick will load a good zinger for you in return.

wsmorrison

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #11 on: March 06, 2008, 08:10:05 AM »
Bradley,

I can't wait for Pat's witty riposte.   Glad you had a chuckle...at Pat's expense  ;)

TEPaul

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #12 on: March 06, 2008, 08:28:18 AM »
Pat's reply?

I can only imagine but something tells me he was the captain or the manager of the girl's swim team back then and towels weren't the only thing he was holding!

David Stamm

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #13 on: March 06, 2008, 09:37:01 AM »
Pat's reply?

I can only imagine but something tells me he was the captain or the manager of the girl's swim team back then and towels weren't the only thing he was holding!


Tom, have you no shame? ;) Very, very funny! ;D I'm just imagining Pat's response right now. Hold on to your hats folks!
"The object of golf architecture is to give an intelligent purpose to the striking of a golf ball."- Max Behr

mike_malone

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #14 on: March 06, 2008, 11:40:43 AM »
 Sean,

   I think you will find it a weak comparison to your links experience at home. But for those of us who live in Philly and get to play the parkland gems it is among the very best coastline alternatives.
AKA Mayday

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #15 on: March 06, 2008, 03:48:05 PM »
Sean,

   I think you will find it a weak comparison to your links experience at home. But for those of us who live in Philly and get to play the parkland gems it is among the very best coastline alternatives.

Mayday

Your take is quite interesting.  I hadn't really thought of ACCC as a seaside course.  How do you think the course does just as a course?  Is there another public option in/near Philly that may be of more interest to me?   

Mike S

Thanks for bringing up the old thread.  I learned more about which food to avoid than anything else!

Ciao
« Last Edit: March 06, 2008, 03:59:17 PM by Sean Arble »
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

mike_malone

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #16 on: March 06, 2008, 03:56:56 PM »
 I absolutely recommend Glen Mills as the #1 idea for its proximity to Philly and the story of the course as well as its playability. Possibly you would want to meet some of the Cobbs Creek Restoration Wackos and learn about that "buried" gem.

  ACCC is interesting as an example of Flynn's work on land that is much less fascinating than his Philly group. I had a chance to play his much more ambitious effort of Indian Creek in Florida which is stunning.

  Sean,

   I should have said "New Jersey coastline alternatives".


    The Atlantic City Expressway is pretty much a straight shot to the shore.
« Last Edit: March 06, 2008, 03:59:20 PM by michael_malone »
AKA Mayday

Mike_Cirba

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #17 on: March 06, 2008, 04:02:40 PM »
Sean has to come out to Cobbs Creek.   That's a given. 

mike_malone

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #18 on: March 06, 2008, 04:11:30 PM »
 Sean,

    That is one of the chief Wackos. It is a tough competition between Cirba and Bausch. I go back and forth on that one all the time.

  But Mike is right. You can't come all the way over here and not get in on our little project.
AKA Mayday

astavrides

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #19 on: March 06, 2008, 05:47:48 PM »
Sean,

    That is one of the chief Wackos. It is a tough competition between Cirba and Bausch. I go back and forth on that one all the time.

  But Mike is right. You can't come all the way over here and not get in on our little project.

The guy at the valley forge golf show said renovation on cobb's creek will be done this year.  Can someone elaborate or give the link to a thread on that?

ACCC is the best public course in NJ for whatever thats worth.  definitely better than Glen Mills (obviously, I know that the latter is in PA).

Sean_A

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #20 on: March 06, 2008, 06:02:02 PM »
I am not getting any sense that ACCC is really worth a visit (from a chap flying over an ocean) based on the comments thus far. 

Hmmm, Cobbs Creek, Cirba & Bausch?  Its sounds an odd machine, but I bet stranger things have flown - at least temporarily.

Ciao
New plays planned for 2024: Nothing

wsmorrison

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #21 on: March 06, 2008, 06:33:47 PM »
Sean,

Atlantic City CC is a very good golf course with a history that is hard to beat.  You won't be disappointed.   However, there is a lot in the immediate surroundings of Philadelphia to keep you engaged for a lot longer than your visit.  We have an embarrassment of riches in terms of golf.  We also have a plain embarrassment...Mike Malone  ;D

Patrick_Mucci

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #22 on: March 07, 2008, 09:53:36 AM »
TEPaul,

I was dismissed from being Captain of the women's swim team when I insisted that the bathing suits should be limited to thongs.

However, my appointment as the Captain of the ACCC swim team began while I was playing the 17th hole, the par 3 with the brackish pond offset to the right.

While on the tee we heard a commotion.
4 or 5 grounds crew were standing on the edge of the pond trying to assist/save a goosling that had been attacked by a snapping turtle.
But, they couldn't reach the goosling with their rakes.
The geese were tying to assist the goosling too, which was fairly large, as the snapping turtle had it by the leg and was trying to drag it under water.

We ran up to the spot and everyone looked at everyone else, kind of helplessly.

I took off my shoes and jumped into the pond fully clothed.

Big surprise, I immediately sank into the muck.

I waded my way out until the water was up to my neck, grabbed the turtle and the goosling and seperated them, and then released the goosling.

When I got out of the water, I was pitch black from the muck and brackish water.  I then played # 17 and 18.  I believe that I birdied # 18.  I then went into the pro shop and declared that golfers shouldn't have to play out of water hazards, that they should get relief.  The staff were aghast.

Billy Ziobro, an old friend, was the Pro.
He asked me what happened and I told him.

He immediately appointed me as the Captain of the ACCC swim team, in perpetuity.

I then went in and showered and gave the dirty clothes to the staff who put them in a washer/dryer, changed, and went back out and played more golf.


TEPaul

Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #23 on: March 07, 2008, 10:28:44 AM »
Patrick;

I actually believe that story---it's too outlandish for even you to make up.

Congratulations, and that story should definitely become part of the recorded lore of not just ACCC but golf itself.

By the way, even if you were not the captain or manager of the ACCC women's swim team would you say you know as much about golf course architecture as you do about women's swimsuits?

If so, I'd like to have a brief discussion on here regarding any similarities, actual or philosophical, between minimalism in golf architecture and thongs.

Don Hyslop

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Tell me about Atlantic City CC
« Reply #24 on: March 07, 2008, 10:49:41 AM »
  Although never having played this course, a visit to their website has given me the feeling that I would really like that opportunity. The history of the course like other have already stated is outstanding not only in the events that have been held there but also the individuals who have tread on the course.
 Here is some of the recent recognition this course has acheived:
2007
Golfweek's Best Course You Can Play - #1 Public/Daily Fee Golf Course in the State of New Jersey
2006
Golf Week Magazine named Atlantic City Country Club the # 1 Public/Daily Fee Golf Course in New Jersey.
Golf Week Magazine named Atlantic City Country Club one of the Top 100 Classic Golf Courses in the country.
2004
National Golf Course Owners Association-New Jersey Chapter named Atlantic City Country Club Best Private Course.
2003
Golf Magazine named Atlantic City Country Club one of the Top 5 courses in New Jersey.
2001
The Atlantic City Country Club has been named by Turnstile’s Golf & Travel Magazine as one of America’s Best 40 Resort Courses. It is the only resort golf course in New Jersey to make this prestigious list and the only course north of Virginia and east of Illinois to earn this distinction.
Golf Styles Magazine named Atlantic City Country Club one of America’s Best 40 Resort Courses.
Thompson golf holes were created to look as if they had always been there and were always meant to be there.