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

Play Morgan Pressel At Shackamaxon CC

If you've ever dreamed of playing head-to-head against a professional golfer in front of a gallery of enthusiastic fans, now is your chance. On Oct. 2, 2012, Shackamaxon Country Club will host the inaugural Garden State Tour Pro Challenge, a charitable event that will pit six lucky amateurs against LPGA star Morgan Pressel in a series of three-hole matches on the club’s Tillinghast-designed course.

Morgan Pressel
photo courtesy of Shackamaxon CC

The “Challenge” will benefit the New Jersey Golf Foundation, the official charity of the New Jersey section of the PGA. Qualifying tournaments are currently taking place at 20 private and public clubs around the state. The entry fee is $20. For more information on how to enter one of the remaining qualifiers, contact The New Jersey Golf Foundation at (732) 465-1212.

The qualifers in five categories (Ladies Net, Ladies Gross, Men’s Gross, Men’s Net and Men’s Senior Gross) will compete in a playoff round at Shackamaxon Country Club on Sept. 24. The winners in each category will advance to face Morgan Pressel on Oct. 2nd.  A sixth spot will be reserved for a qualifier from the First Tee, the internationally respected youth organization that promotes life skills and leadership through the game of golf.

Morgan Pressel is one of the LPGA’s brightest stars. In 2011, she recorded eleven top-10 finishes and has over four million in career earnings. She is undefeated in U.S. Solheim Cup competitions and was the runner-up in the 2005 U.S. Women's Open (as an amateur).

The “Challenge” will feature a full day of exciting activities at Shackamaxon.  The day begins with an 18-hole celebrity pro-am that features participants playing alongside former NFL greats, as well as New Jersey PGA professionals. Each foursome will meet and take photos with Morgan Pressel, enjoy a continental breakfast, a barbecue lunch and awards ceremony. Individual pro-am spots are $500. Visit www.shackamaxoncc.com or call (908)233-1300 ext. 230 to reserve your spot in the field.

While the action takes place on the course, The New Jersey PGA will conduct a ladies golf clinic on the putting green followed by a Ladies Benefit Luncheon/Auction featuring Morgan Pressel as the honored guest. The luncheon is open to the public. Tickets are $100 and proceeds will benefit the Ashley Lauren Foundation, a charitable organization that was created to assist families of pediatric cancer patients with emotional support and financial assistance. To register for the Ladies Clinic or Luncheon, contact Jennifer Gerhart at (908) 233-1300.

At 2 pm, the “main event” will take place as Morgan Pressel begins her head-to-head matches against the lucky New Jersey amateur qualifiers on Shackamaxon’s historic A.W. Tillinghast-designed masterpiece. Gallery Tickets to watch the action at the afternoon’s Pro Tour Challenge are only $10 and may be reserved by calling (908) 233-1300 ext. 230. Tickets will also be available on-site at the club on Oct. 2

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