Billy Casper Golf to Manage Forest Hill Field Club

Forest Hill Field Club

Billy Casper Golf (BCG) has been selected to manage the iconic Forest Hill Field Club in Bloomfield, NJ, less than 15 minutes from Manhattan and once a favored course of legendary New York Yankee Babe Ruth.

For the private, member-owned Forest Hill, BCG will direct club operations, golf and grounds maintenance, membership marketing, staffing and training, member activities, food and beverage, merchandising, golf instruction, public relations, special events and financial management.

“We are deeply honored to manage Forest Hill Field Club,” says Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO of BCG.  “Our talented team will introduce new membership programs, special events and other initiatives to build on the history of Forest Hill as one of the Northeast’s premier country clubs.”

“Billy Casper Golf’s unique approach to bolstering financial performance and enhancing services for members is unmatched,” says Peter Kelly, President of the Board of Forest Hill.  “We will work with its experts to create even more structure and value to memberships which promote the highest level of exclusivity with world-class amenities.”

Opened in 1896 and anchored by an A.W. Tillinghast-designed course, Forest Hill presents members and their guests with a classic-style layout and dramatic views of the New York City skyline.  The 18-hole, 6,547-yard, par-71 layout features several elevation changes, tree-lined fairways, fast, undulated greens and a view of the Empire State Building from the first tee.

Arguably Forest Hill’s hardest hole is the 396-yard, par-4 11th that challenges golfers with an uphill tee shot and a green that severely slopes from back to front.  The signature hole is the 200-yard, par-3 18th with a two-tiered green guarded by deep bunkers and heavy rough.

BCG also operates Hudson Hills GC, the Westchester-County-owned course in Ossining.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Women On Course Grows Apace

Want to grow the game?  Look to Women on Course for some ways to do it.  Women on Course (WOC) has grown participation by 400 percent in 12 months since the nation’s premier golf-lifestyle networking organization was acquired by Billy Casper Golf (BCG).

Roughly 20,000 women enjoy golf, lunch, happy hour and wine-spa activities in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Hartford, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Scottsdale, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington, DC and other major markets.  “Play Days,” “Signature” and “Destination” gatherings highlight the programming at more than 1,000 events.

Corporate America is playing a large role in WOC expansion.  Wells Fargo, Merrill Lynch, Golfsmith, Accenture and others are active nationally and in regions strategic to their businesses, leveraging WOC through corporate memberships, employee development programs and event sponsorships.

“Women on Course provides access for golfers of all skill levels to connect in fun and un-intimidating environments,” says Donna Hoffman, President of WOC, which she founded in 2005.  “Thousands of smiles and new faces reflect the surge in members.”

WOC annual membership has never been more affordable.  In addition to event privileges, “Individual” members ($129) receive a pair of Nike Golf shoes or a $50 gift card for Sport Haley, GG Blue, LIJA or Just4Golf merchandise.  “On Course” members receive Individual member benefits plus a set of Wilson clubs (Ultra model, $299; Profile model, $359) and golf bag for up to a $600 value.

Members enjoy free gifts; special access to private clubs; discounts on greens fees, apparel, equipment, wine and other products; golf and educational resources; contests; and forums.  Fashion, fitness, travel and luxury components surrounding the world of golf are incorporated into the WOC experience.

“Billy Casper Golf is committed to growing female participation,” says Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO of BCG.  “Women on Course has the perfect recipe to introduce the golf lifestyle and its many wellness and career benefits.”

With women comprising one-third (33.2%) of all new golfers, WOC attracts and retains golfers by shifting focus away from score and competition.  Members and guests are encouraged to learn and play golf at their own pace through:

• A “Play Your Own Way” choice allows beginners to add their own rules to relieve stress and keep up with more experienced golfers

• A “Score 5 to Survive” format – tee shot, fairway approach, chip, two putts – promotes using different clubs without slow play

WOC membership helps women golfers when it comes to

• Enhancing golf skills and etiquette for new business connections and career advancement

• Establishing lifelong friendships with like-minded women

• Making golf more accessible through discounted apparel and merchandise

• Helping beginning golfers with fundamentals and advanced players refine their games

• Prompting families to spend time together on and off the course

• Learning from dynamic guest speakers at events

• Mixing and mingling with women from all age groups with diverse and interesting backgrounds

• Becoming a corporate sponsor for client prospecting and entertaining, and brand awareness

WOC is owned by Billy Casper Golf, founded more than 20 years ago in cooperation with golf legend Billy Casper.  The company is the largest owner-operator of golf courses, country clubs and resorts in the U.S. with more than 150 properties in 28 states.  Headquartered in Vienna, Virginia with regional offices across America, BCG directs all aspects of course and property maintenance, staffing and training, clubhouse operations, food-and-beverage, merchandising, golf instruction, marketing and public relations, special events and financial management.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf

Honor Wounded Warriors at World's Largest Golf Outing

World's Largest Golf Outing

The fourth annual “World’s Largest Golf Outing,” will be held Monday, August 11, to benefit Wounded Warrior Project (WWP).  The simultaneous golf outing will be played at more than 120 Billy Casper Golf-managed courses in 28 states and is open to all golfers regardless of ability.  Locally, you can participate in this great event at Hudson Hills GC in Ossining.

Part of event proceeds and all donations from non-players benefit WWP, the national organization whose mission is to honor and empower Wounded Warriors – some of whom will be playing in the World’s Largest Golf Outing.  Teams are encouraged to raise additional funds to support the worthy cause; donations to WWP unrelated to event participation are made at www.worldslargestgolfouting.com.

Last year, Billy Casper Golf (BCG) hosted more than 10,000 golfers, including 70 injured service members at 110 of its courses in 24 states and raised $725,000 for WWP, topping the 2012 event that totaled 7,800 golfers and $400,000 to WWP.

Since its inception four years ago, the World’s Largest Golf Outing has donated more than $1.1 million to WWP, the largest amount ever via a single-day golf event.  BCG forecasts another record-breaking charity donation this year.

“The World’s Largest Golf Outing continues to raise the bar in giving back to our injured veterans,” says Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO of BCG.  “The astounding growth in participation and donations by Billy Casper Golf’s loyal golfers is humbling and shows unwavering support for our country’s heroes.”

“Our warriors were awed by the generosity of golfers,” says Adam Silva, Chief Development Officer of WWP.  “We salute the innovative ways of Billy Casper Golf and look forward to this year’s edition of the World’s Largest Golf Outing.”

Highlights from the 2013 World’s Largest Golf Outing:

• Lyman Orchards Golf Club (Middlefield, CT) raised $51,449 in total donations

• Team Calkin at Alta Vista Country Club (Placentia, CA) raised $14,960

• Four teams raised more than $8,000 each

• 10 courses hosted more than 200 golfers (Lincoln Hills Golf Club in Lincoln, CA, hosted 307)

• Teams of father-son wounded warriors, celebrities and politicians played in the event

• Three holes-in-one were recorded at Lyman Orchards, Bear Creek Golf Club (Dallas, TX) and Eastpointe Country Club (Palm Beach Gardens, FL)

“The outpouring from across the country is incredible,” says Sergeant Robert Maier, an injured service member who survived two IED attacks and played in the 2013 World’s Largest Golf Outing.  “The money raised does amazing things for us and our families.”

All golfers will be entered into a drawing to win a grand-prize, and prizes can be earned by teams with the highest contribution levels and best scores of the day.

For more information about participating courses and to register: www.worldslargestgolfouting.com

Wounded Warrior Project this year recognizes its ten-year anniversary, a decade of service and reaffirming its commitment to serving injured veterans for their lifetime.  WWP currently serves more than 50,000 warriors and nearly 7,000 family members through its unique 20 programs and services.  WWP’s purpose is to raise awareness and to enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf