Colin Montgomerie Gets New Jersey Connection

Colin Montgomerie

Senior PGA Championship winner and Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie will represent Forsgate Country Club and Shackamaxon Country Club in New Jersey as their touring ambassador. Both Forsgate and Shackamaxon are affiliated with RDC Golf Group, Inc., a New Jersey-based golf course ownership and management company.

Over the next year, members of Forsgate and Shackamaxon may be fortunate to see honorary member Montgomerie at their facilities as he participates in charitable events, showcasing his legendary skills and sharing stories about Ryder Cups past and present. In addition, Montgomerie now sports the Forsgate Country Club logo on the side of his visor as he competes on the European and Champions Tours. Throughout the year, members may also have the opportunity to meet and to watch Montgomerie as he competes on Tour.

A record eight-time winner of the European Tour Order of Merit and of 42 professional tour events worldwide, Montgomerie is perhaps best known by Americans for his Ryder Cup prowess.  ‘Monty’, as he is affectionately known, competed as a member of eight victorious European Ryder Cup Teams and captained the winning 2010 European Ryder Cup Team at Celtic Manor. He never lost in a singles match against the Americans.

Currently, Montgomerie is competing in his second season on the Champions Tour, and his achievements have continued.  On May 25, 2014, Montgomerie claimed his first Major Championship victory and his first professional win in the United States with a four stroke victory at the Senior PGA Championship. Montgomerie has also finished in the top-ten in six out of the seven other Champions Tour events he has entered in 2014, including a second place finish at the Toshiba Classic.

“I am very proud to be partnering with Forsgate, a club that was founded by a Scotsman and that boasts a highly-respected course designed with Scottish inspiration,” said Montgomerie. “I am also excited to be associated with the nearly century old Shackamaxon Country Club and look forward to testing my golf skills on one of A.W. Tillinghast’s classic designs.”

“Colin Montgomerie is not only one of the most recognizable names in the game of golf, he is one of the favorite sons of golf’s birthplace,” said RDC Golf Group Chief Executive Officer Christopher Schiavone.  “The spirit of Scotland’s golf courses is present throughout Forsgate, from its Scottish founder John Forster, to the inspiration that architect Charles Banks found from courses such as North Berwick and Carnoustie.  At Shackamaxon Country Club, Monty will be able to play a great course designed a century ago by the legendary A.W. Tillinghast.”

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

Shackamaxon Names David Elliott Director of Golf

Shackamaxon Country Club announces that David Elliott has been named director of golf. Shackamaxon, located about thirty minutes from New York city in Union County, NJ, features an 18-hole A.W. Tillinghast designed golf course that boasts the architect’s first-ever island green.

Elliott joins an award-winning golf department that includes Head Golf Professional Joe Bush, voted one of the Garden State’s top-ten “Favorite Teaching Pros—Private” by the readers of Golfstyles New Jersey magazine,  and Assistant Golf Professional Jay Orsino.  Since being purchased by an affiliate of RDC Golf Group in December of 2011, Shackamaxon’s golf membership has more than doubled in size and new programs, clinics and tournaments are being introduced every season.

Elliott comes to Shackamaxon with nearly 20 years of experience in the golf course operations industry. A Class “A” member of the PGA, Elliott was named the 2004 Philadelphia PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year—Private Facility.  Most recently, Elliott served as the head golf professional for both Miry Run Country Club (Trenton, N.J.) and Wedgewood Country Club (Turnersville, N.J.) where he supervised a combined staff of nearly 46 and directed golf course operations, instructional programs and merchandising.  Throughout his career, Elliott has mentored many successful golf instructors who have gone on to become successful head pros at Augusta National Golf Club, Yardley Country Club, The Ridge at Back Brook and more.

At Shackamaxon, Elliott will oversee the club’s golf operation including:  managing set-up and operations for outings, special events and tournaments as well as purchasing for the club’s full service golf shop. Additionally, Elliott will grow the club’s golf instructional program and camps with Head Golf Professional Joe Bush and enhance member relations and customer service.

 “Dave Elliott shares our vision for providing a first-class, value-filled golf program for members and guests of all ages and abilities,” said Shackamaxon Country Club co-owner Christopher Schiavone. “His experience, knowledge and expertise will be tremendous assets to our club as we continue to grow and prosper.”

Elliott is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, where he majored in Marketing and Finance. He currently resides in Doylestown, Pa. with his fiancé Lisa and their five children.

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

Marty Vybihal Named Head Pro for Shackamaxon

Marty Vybihal

Shackamaxon Country Club in Scotch Plains, NJ, has named Marty Vybihal head golf professional. Vybihal comes to Shackamaxon with a nearly 20-year professional resume that includes experience at such prestigious private clubs as Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, N.J.,  Edgewood Country Club in River Vale, N.J., and Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, N.J., among others. Most recently, Vybihal served as the director of golf at Morgan Hill Golf Club in Easton, Pa.

Vybihal is a native of Clinton, N.J., and a two-time state high school golf champion (Hunterdon High School in Annandale, N.J.).  He attended the University of Maryland on a full scholarship and as a Terrapin, Vybihal was a four-year varsity letterman and team captain.  Vybihal’s successful professional career is highlighted by his victory at the N.J. section of the  PGA’s US Health Care Championship in 2006.

“Marty’s extensive experience as a golf professional at some of the Garden State’s most prestigious properties will serve him well as he enhances ‘Shack’s’ golf program for members and guests of all ages and abilities,” said Shackamaxon co-owner Christopher Schiavone. “His enthusiasm and knowledge of the game as well as his successful competitive background will be great assets for the club.”

Vybihal resides with his wife and three children in West Caldwell, N.J., and he has served as the Bridgewater High School junior varsity and varsity head basketball coach for nine years.

Shackamaxon was founded in 1916, and offers a spectacular A.W. Tillinghast 18-hole championship golf course that boasts one of the most famous holes in the Metropolitan area:  the ninth hole island green, Tillinghast’s first island green.  The club has hosted a number of prestigious events including the 1922, 1937, 1972 and 2002 New Jersey State Golf Association (NJSGA) Open Championship, the 1924 and 1977 NJSGA Amateur Championship, the 1928 Met Open, the 1955 Cavalcade of Golf and the 2010 Women’s Eastern Golf Association Amateur Championship.

The club is owned by RDC Golf Group, which also owns the renowned Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, NJ, and the private, family-oriented Tuscawilla Country Club in Orlando, FL, and operates Tallgrass Golf Course on Long Island.

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