Golf Club Atlas

GolfClubAtlas.com => Golf Course Architecture => Topic started by: Steve_ Shaffer on October 29, 2011, 10:25:44 AM

Title: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...and now sold!!!!
Post by: Steve_ Shaffer on October 29, 2011, 10:25:44 AM
The original upscale "member for a day" daily fee course in the Atlantic City area. The course is still open. I recently received a Groupon from them.

Joe Logan reports:

http://www.myphillygolf.com/detail.asp?id=10251&pid=20
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Rick Sides on October 29, 2011, 10:30:38 AM
Trump National Jersey Shore?  ;D  Who knows.  I often have wondered how in these poor economic times courses like these could charge over $100.00 and still expect to stay afloat.  A lot of people are no longer willing to throw $100 bucks down to play a so-so track.  I have heard the former Blue Heron West course was pretty good; unfortunately never got the chance to play it before it sold and now sits vacant.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: astavrides on October 29, 2011, 11:04:51 AM
Trump National Jersey Shore?  ;D  Who knows.  I often have wondered how in these poor economic times courses like these could charge over $100.00 and still expect to stay afloat.  A lot of people are no longer willing to throw $100 bucks down to play a so-so track.  I have heard the former Blue Heron West course was pretty good; unfortunately never got the chance to play it before it sold and now sits vacant.

The east course was very good and nle.  the west course is, as you say, so-so.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Steve_ Shaffer on October 29, 2011, 11:37:43 AM
Rick,

No doubt that at one time,during the early casino years, BHP was more than $100 for prime season weekend tee times;however,in recent years, the pricing structure has been reduced.It's been open for 17 years. It was always a good off season place because of the sandy soil. I made my first hole in there on the 4th hole on a beautiful January day.


http://www.youtube.com/user/BlueHeronPinesGolf
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Rick Sides on October 29, 2011, 05:36:52 PM
Thats right the east course was the one designed by Smyers that was suppose to be nice.  That land was sold a few years back to build houses,now it sits without one house on it and is back for sale.  Seriously, I wonder if Trump would consider buying both courses and making them decent, up-scale courses near his casinos. 
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Rick Sides on October 29, 2011, 05:39:47 PM
Trump National Atlantic City sounds like something he would conjure up.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Steve_ Shaffer on October 29, 2011, 05:58:01 PM
Rick,

Time will tell but Trump is not into public courses ( unless he can charge $150 as he does at his course in LA)  and AC may not be ready for another private course. Hidden Creek, Galloway and Linwood may be enough for the area. BHP as it is  now is not a $150 course in this economy.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Rick Sides on October 29, 2011, 06:01:18 PM
Steve,
Your probably right about that area not needing another private course and unless Trump made serious changes to the course, it would not be worth  over 100 dollar green fees as a public. 
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: archie_struthers on October 29, 2011, 11:30:14 PM
 :o :o :o

If trump was coming to AC he certainly wouldn't buy BHP.  He might consider Atlantic City  or Galloway.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Doug Braunsdorf on October 30, 2011, 10:06:56 AM
This isn't great news, but seems to be a recurring theme.  I really like BHP West.  I missed the East-entirely my own fault, did not get down here to play it while it was still open.  It seemed that the West course was always pretty busy, and I hope the West stays open.  It is a good course-maybe not worth 100- for a round, but worth 60-75.

If you guys think the West is "so-so", you must play at some pretty nice places.  Good problems to have. 

There are some good golf courses down here, admittedly, being relatively new to this area (greater Atlantic City), I think the issue is one of the local economy and pricing-in season is one thing, where I still think the prices aren't a great value at most of the courses down here.  There are other issues, structural, which are more important to making the current group of regional courses more self sustaining.   
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: astavrides on October 30, 2011, 11:16:07 AM


If you guys think the West is "so-so", you must play at some pretty nice places.  Good problems to have. 



There are ~10 better public courses in the greater atlantic city area.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Rick Sides on October 30, 2011, 11:49:17 AM
The West is so so mainly for the cost. I looked on line and they still want $88.00 this time of year for a green fee!  No wonder they are going under. It's over $100.00 in season
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Joe Bausch on October 30, 2011, 11:51:41 AM
The West is so so mainly for the cost. I looked on line and they still want $88.00 this time of year for a green fee!  No wonder they are going under. It's over $100.00 in season

And for comparison, today after noon ACCC is 49 bucks.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Mark McKeever on October 31, 2011, 11:22:11 AM
The West is so so mainly for the cost. I looked on line and they still want $88.00 this time of year for a green fee!  No wonder they are going under. It's over $100.00 in season

And for comparison, today after noon ACCC is 49 bucks.

Joe, when is the annual GCA ACCC gathering?

Mark
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Joe Bausch on October 31, 2011, 11:48:38 AM
The West is so so mainly for the cost. I looked on line and they still want $88.00 this time of year for a green fee!  No wonder they are going under. It's over $100.00 in season

And for comparison, today after noon ACCC is 49 bucks.

Joe, when is the annual GCA ACCC gathering?

Mark

Don't have a date set yet.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Joe Bausch on December 19, 2011, 04:42:45 PM
Since I was about to lose my GolfNow points if not redeemed by the end of the year, I looked at the offerings and headed down to Blue Heron Pines last Saturday.  A bit chilly but acceptable.  I found a very solid Stephen Kay design that is surprisingly walkable.  And the conditioning of the course was just fine.

Here is the photo album I just put together:

http://xchem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/albums/blueheronpines/
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: Bruce Katona on December 20, 2011, 04:30:53 PM
Twisted Dune is $35 this week and $45 next week.....this includes cart , hot dog at the turn and a fountain drink.  Hopefully Thursday will see a bit of action on this special as its supposed to be 58 & sunny.

Price point is very sensitive in the Greater AC market.  Being $5 over what the local group deems as "fair price" during non-peak summer times impacts rounds dramatically.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...
Post by: David Cronheim on December 20, 2011, 04:59:21 PM
Course looks like it's in perfect condition from the pictures! Hard to get much better than that. I've always been a big fan of Blue Heron (West). Even when the East course was built, I preferred the West, though that probably had more to do with my erratic tee balls that often found the East's heather.

Twisted Dune is an absolute gem. I'm a big fan and play it as often as I am able to when in the area. There's a lot of very good golf in the AC area. The only course I've played down there I didn't like is the much-debated Stone Harbor.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...and now sold!!!!
Post by: Steve_ Shaffer on June 02, 2012, 08:22:58 PM
Here's the news:

http://www.nj.com/gloucester-sports/index.ssf/2012/06/ron_jaworski_golf_buys_blue_he.html

Ron Jaworski, the former Eagles QB, adds another course to his stable.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...and now sold!!!!
Post by: Sam Morrow on June 03, 2012, 12:13:18 AM
Here's the news:

http://www.nj.com/gloucester-sports/index.ssf/2012/06/ron_jaworski_golf_buys_blue_he.html

Ron Jaworski, the former Eagles QB, adds another course to his stable.

How is Jaworski doing with his course? I've heard some very iffy things from locals.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...and now sold!!!!
Post by: Steve_ Shaffer on June 03, 2012, 07:48:38 AM
Sam,

I'm going to try to play Riverwinds in the near future and report back. I haven't played there in 2 years as reports of poor conditions kept me away.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...and now sold!!!!
Post by: Doug Braunsdorf on June 03, 2012, 03:14:55 PM
Here's the news:

http://www.nj.com/gloucester-sports/index.ssf/2012/06/ron_jaworski_golf_buys_blue_he.html

Ron Jaworski, the former Eagles QB, adds another course to his stable.

Good news. Bhp west is a good course, always fun to play. 
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...and now sold!!!!
Post by: Tim Martin on June 03, 2012, 06:13:29 PM
Here's the news:

http://www.nj.com/gloucester-sports/index.ssf/2012/06/ron_jaworski_golf_buys_blue_he.html

Ron Jaworski, the former Eagles QB, adds another course to his stable.

Good news. Bhp west is a good course, always fun to play. 

I am glad Jaws ponied up as the course is worth saving.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...and now sold!!!!
Post by: Rick Sides on June 03, 2012, 07:54:15 PM
Just hope Jaws considers lowering fees a bit.  I saw it's still about a 100 bucks on weekends.  Nice course but not worth a 100.
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...and now sold!!!!
Post by: Doug Braunsdorf on June 03, 2012, 08:13:50 PM
Just hope Jaws considers lowering fees a bit.  I saw it's still about a 100 bucks on weekends.  Nice course but not worth a 100.

Rick, I agree with you on this.  The price point for a lot of these places seems to be stuck in mid-2000s levels.  No wonder there are a dearth of tee times on Golfnow.  80- max out is reasonable. 

I think a lot of this was discussed a few months ago.   
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...and now sold!!!!
Post by: Steve_ Shaffer on June 07, 2012, 09:23:12 AM
Here's another article:

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/business/former-eagles-quarterback-jaworski-purchases-blue-heron-pines-golf-club/article_9ccac876-af35-11e1-972a-001a4bcf887a.html
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ in foreclosure...and now sold!!!!
Post by: Steve_ Shaffer on June 27, 2012, 07:15:52 AM
The new owner, former Eagles QB Ron Jaworski and current ESPN commentator, talks about his golf course portfolio:

http://articles.philly.com/2012-06-26/sports/32425543_1_jersey-shore-golf-business-jaws
Title: Re: Blue Heron Pines, Galloway, NJ - a Jaworski turnaround!
Post by: David Federman on November 03, 2014, 11:11:35 AM
We played this Stephen Kay course last Friday. Ron Jaworski has done a remarkable job of maintaining the course in terrific condition  - fairways were excellent, greens fast and true. It still holds up overall as a really good test - in my mind the only weak hole is the first one - straightaway very short par 4. I played this course fairly regularly (together with a NLE Smyers East Course) in the past, but it had been a number of years since I was there. Highly recommend. It was inexpensive ($39.00 via GolfNow) and we played in less than 4 hours.  The staff is friendly and helpful and they have a good selection of beers on tap after the round.