Delaware spoiled with top-tier golf courses
For residents and visitors alike, many of southern Delaware's recreational activities are connected to water and sand.
But not all have that connection.
Indeed, one of the region's primary attractions is golf, a sport unrelated to the beach. It also is a pastime that is enjoyed by men and women of all ages and ability levels.
And there are plenty of places to play in coastal Delaware, including several courses that are ranked among the best nationally.
"For tourists especially, golf is extraordinarily popular," said Jim Powers, general manager of the Avenue Inn in Rehoboth Beach. "Through the season, we see a number of families who are looking for places to play."
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Though there has been a decline in the number of private clubs, new public venues have appeared, including the newest, Plantation Lakes in Millsboro, which opened in June.
The Millsboro course, the work of well-known designer Arthur Hills, is part of a residential development of townhouses and single family dwellings.
Though hard core golfers may disagree about which course is the most challenging, several in the region have received accolades nationally.
The Baywood Greens course in Long Neck has been cited multiple times as the best public course in Delaware by Golf Magazine.
Anthony Hollerback, golf pro at Baywood, said it has been called the "Augusta (National) of the north" — a reference to the famed course in Georgia.
"That, to me, is pretty impressive," Hollerback said. "It is also why the course is so popular."
Like the Georgia course, Baywood Greens features spectacular flowers throughout the 18-hole course. While the course is beautiful, it also can be treacherous. The front nine has been named "Woodside" because of trees lining the fairway while the back half is called "Waterside" because of the presence of multiple water hazards.
The fairway on the 14th hole, for example, is on an island.
"It is not something you see at very many courses," Hollerback said. "And it helps make the course challenging and beautiful, too."
Though the course can be a challenge to even the best golfers, Hollerback said the course has five different sets of tees on each hole to accommodate varying ability levels.
"We want people to have fun," he said.
Powers, a life member of the Professional Golfers' Association, said Baywood Greens "is beautiful aesthetically and it looks nice all year."
"It is also nice that they can accommodate all levels of golfers," he said.
Another local course with a national reputation is Bayside in Selbyville. It has been ranked by Golf Digest as one of the top 100 courses in the country.
But the fame has a price. Both Baywood Greens and Bayside cost in excess of $100 for 18 holes in prime time.
Among seasoned golfers, two other challenging favorites are a pair of southern Delaware courses designed by famed golfer Jack Nicklaus.
The Peninsula in Millsboro is within a Schell Brothers development and has been called the "Pebble Beach of the East," a reference to the famous golf course and resort.
"I play whereever my friends want me to play but, locally, we have some very good choices," Powers said.
Chris Adkins is managing partner of several of the region's other well-regarded courses — Rookery North in Milford, Rookery South in Milton and Hooper's Landing in Seaford.
The Rookery North course was formerly the Shawnee Country Club, which fell on hard times.
Both of the Rookery courses are public locations, though memberships with added benefits are available. A single membership provides access to both courses.
While there are leagues at both places, "we probably have a better women's (league) following at the south course," Adkins said.
So, which one is the better course?
"Our members are divided," said an ever-diplomatic Adkins. "Some prefer one, some prefer the other."
Adkins and his partners also operate the Hooper's Landing course in Seaford, which is one of the oldest golf facilities in southern Delaware.
The course was originally nine holes, constructed in the 1940s just prior to World War II by the DuPont Co. for the employees of its nylon production plant in Seaford.
"The clubhouse of the Seaford Golf and Country Club opened Friday, November 14, 1941 with 350 attending the festivities," said James Blackwell, curator of the Seaford Museum.
"When DuPont had it, it was a thriving nine-hole club," said Adkins.
But a corporate decision led to the plant closing with a substantial loss of jobs — and a major economic blow to the community.
The golf course, on property immediately adjacent to the nylon plant, was eventually sold to its members.
But when the membership could not sustain it, the course was sold to the city. To promote it as a local attraction, Seaford added another nine holes.
When it became obvious the city could not keep it afloat, the club pool became the Seaford Community Swim Center and the clubhouse was converted to a senior center while the golf course was leased to Adkins' group.
"It is nice to note that all enterprises that originally started with the Seaford DuPont Nylon Plant over 70 years ago, are all doing well today," said Blackwell.
Adkins said the two sections of the course — the original nine holes and the expansion — have completely different personalities.
"The old part is very traditional," he said, bragging. "I'd stack the greens up against any" other course.
Regardless, many agree that southern Delaware has plenty of golf options for visitors and residents alike. And it appears that the region has plenty of serious golfers.
"Golf is pretty strong here, given all the retirees who are moving to the area," Adkins said. "Not surprisingly, that is a big portion of our clientele."
And, many agree, the lure of the coast is another reason why so many golfers like to vacation in Delaware.
"We are in a unique area because of the beaches," Adkins said.
"And it certainly is one more reason why this area is so popular among golfers," said Powers.
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Golf Courses in southern Delaware
Public:
The Peninsula, Millsboro
American Classic Golf Club, Lewes
Bayside Resort Golf Club, Selbyville
Baywood Greens, Long Neck
Bear Trap Dunes, Ocean View
Bethany Bay Golf, Ocean View
Heritage Shores Club, Bridgeville
Hooper’s Landing, Seaford
Marsh Island Club, Lewes
Midway Par 3, Rehoboth Beach
Old Landing, Rehoboth Beach
The Rookery North, Milford
The Rookery South, Milton
Salt Pond Club, Bethany Beach
Sussex Pines, Georgetown
Plantation Lakes, Millsboro
Private:
King's Creek Country Club, Rehoboth Beach
Rehoboth Beach Country Club, Rehoboth Beach