By: Dr. John T. Whiting
CAPE MAY– Dr. John T. Whiting, the author of the book “The Search for the 50 Most Beautiful Golf Holes in New Jersey” visited Cape May National Golf Club on Saturday, October 9th to photograph the golf course and gather information about the course for his book.
Cape May National Golf Club is a club that has a long history dating back to its roots in the late 1800s and its predecessor, Cape May Country Club. The club was co-redesigned by and operated by Robert Mullock who says “It might be the most beautiful golf course in the state.” Mullock’s partner in the redesign of the golf course was famed golf course architect Carl Litten.
Mullock believes that Cape May National Golf Club is one of the most natural golf courses ever built. Nicknamed “The Natural”, the course surrounds a fifty acre private bird sanctuary, which is credited with starting a new trend in environmental sensitivity in golf course design while providing a classic turn of the century golfing experience.
Cape May National is the proud home to 2 of the 9 nesting pairs of black-crowned night heron in New Jersey. The heron has declined steadily in number in recent years and is on the state’s threatened species list. The golf course surrounds one of the largest private bird sanctuaries in the state of New Jersey blessing golfers with the opportunity to share the venue with the black-crowned night heron and other animal species while experiencing pure golf at a championship level in an extremely beautiful setting.
The uniqueness and beauty of Cape May National Golf Club has not gone unnoticed. Public Links Golf Magazine stated, “Perhaps it’s a masochistic taste for a demanding golf course or maybe just a respect for a rough-hewn natural beauty, but Cape May National emerged as the personal favorite.” Atlantic City Magazine voted it “Best of Shore,” and The Washington Golf Monthly said “South Jersey’s jewel is Cape May National Golf Club. The course flows through the superb mix of wetlands, natural grasses, mounding and ponds.” The Jersey Golfer Magazine ranked the Club as having three of the top ranked holes in all of New Jersey, while Golf Digest for Women “Voted Cape May National Golf Club, Top 50 Best Places to Play in America.”
In 1989, while the Cape May National Golf Club was under construction, famed PGA Tour Golfer Skee Riegel dropped by to observe the construction and he and Mullock became great friends. The friendship grew to Mullock naming Skee Golf Professional Emeritus for the Club and dedicating a room, known as the “Skee Riegel Room”, to this outstanding golfer who finished 2nd to Ben Hogan in the 1951 Masters. For these reasons Cape May National Golf Club was a logical choice to be included in Dr. Whiting’s book.
Dr. Whiting has been asked, “What are the characteristics of a beautiful golf course”? He has replied “A beautiful golf course is not just one that is developed on a beautiful plot of land by a highly creative golf course architect, but one that has a spirit of friendliness, offers wholesome competition and enjoyment for the members and their families and is fun to be a part of.” Cape May National Golf Club certainly meets these criteria.
Upon arrival at the Club the author and his wife Buffy were met by Robert Mullock, the Club’s President who gave the pair a tour of the golf facility and provided information about the golf course. They, accompanied by Course Assistant Superintendent Steve Riggs and Zack Mullock played and photographed the golf course in search of the courses beautiful golf holes.
Cape May National Golf Club has been made even more special by the art work of Emilie Randolph, General Manager, who painted the murals in the “Skee Riegel Room” and each of the hole markers on the golf course.
The author’s search for the 50 most beautiful golf holes in New Jersey is in its second year. The photos taken during the visit to Cape May National Golf Club will be added to the information gathered from golf club visits earlier this season and from visits to New Jersey golf clubs in 2009.
For more information about the book, “The Search for the 50 Most Beautiful Golf Holes in New Jersey”, other courses visited in the search you are invited to visit the Golf Event Photos web site at golfeventphotos.com. New Jersey Golf Club’s, public and private, wishing to have their favorite golf hole included in the book are invited to nominate their favorite golf hole via the web site. A copy of the initial first year draft edition of the book can be purchased online at lulu.com.
The Cape May National Golf Club is a great place for golfers of all abilities to enjoy golf all year round because of its southern New Jersey shore location. To learn more about the Cape May National Golf Club visit their web site at http://www.cmngc.com.
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