Blue Ridge Country Club - Palmerton, PA

For years, members dreamed about a new nine and many boards worked on this project. Several plans were developed ranging from rough sketches to drawings prepared by a golf course architect. Firms were invited to provide cost estimates and at least one Board seriously considered building one hole at a time. However, each time it failed to get started because the cost was too great.

In the mid-1980’s our Building Fund activities were very successful enabling the Club to build a new maintenance building in the fall of 1985, and still have $30,000 available for other projects. The Board started to seriously discuss building a new nine and using these funds to survey the new holes and secure construction cost estimates.

In December, 1985 Jim Andrews and Pete Wentz started clearing a path on the new #8 to assist the surveyor. In the next few weekends the number of volunteers grew and #8 was cleared by January. At the Annual Meeting on January 26, 1986, the members authorized spending $20,000 for surveying, clearing, and grading as many holes as possible.

Thanks to the dedicated effort of volunteers, by March 1986, the trees were cut on #12 and #13 was started. A contractor was brought in to clear the stumps and rough grade #8. Once golfing started it was more difficult to secure volunteers, but we did manage to seed #8 green and tee, install the watering system on this hole, and clear and rough grade #12.

In 1986 several contractors were asked to bid on the construction of the remaining eight holes, but it was difficult to secure firm bids. One contractor estimated a cost of $600,00 to build the tees and green, seed the fairways, and install the watering system. However, this did not include the grading and preparation of the fairways for seeding.

The fire in the summer of 1986, devastated the area across the road from #1 and made it necessary to consider doing something with that area. The grass started growing on #8 green generating more interest in the new nine. The wood cut by the volunteers was sold, several members made donations, and by September a lot was accomplished and the cost was only $8,000.

In October 1986, at a special meeting of the membership an additional $40,000 was authorized to begin clearing and rough grading the remaining holes. A few volunteers worked that fall and winter, but it was becoming very evident someone would have to be hired to complete the project. Jim Andrews volunteered to work on the layout of the new holes and prepare the course specifications. Pete Wentz worked on the construction costs and agreed to tackle the construction of the remaining holes.

At the Annual Meeting on January 18, 1987, the members voted 59 in favor, 3 opposed, and 1 abstention to provide an additional $350,000 to complete the construction of the new nine. Pete officially started in February 1987, and by the next annual meeting half of the project was completed. However, significant problems were encountered with large rocks on the six holes west of #1, delaying construction of these holes. Eventually these rocks had to be buried and resulted in at least an additional $100,000 in the cost of this project.

By the Annual Meeting in January 1989, most of the major work except seeding the fairways on #5 and #6 was completed. However, extremely wet conditions slowed down the work on this project in the spring and it was decided to delay the opening to the spring of 1990.

The golf course improvements were equally extensive. New tees were implemented, a few greens rebuilt, an automated watering system was installed and improved maintenance procedures were practiced. A golf cart fleet was purchased and gold cart paths were installed. Much has been done over the years, an eighteen hole golf course is emerging as a result of a loyal membership dedicated to the pursuit of golfing excellence.

This spring the sand traps are being completed, some work is being done to correct drainage problems, and volunteers worked this fall and spring to remove stones on the new holes.

Thanks to volunteers this project got started and the total cost of construction will be approximately $600,000. Other courses building nine holes during the same period spent twice as much to have them built. To all the members who worked on the new nine or made donations, your efforts were greatly appreciated and inspired everyone to complete the new nine. These volunteers represent the true spirit of Blue Ridge.