Shawnee Country Club a pleasant Cape Region bargain
August 6, 1999
Anyone thinking about joining a Cape Region golf club will soon have a chance to check out Shawnee Country Club. Prospective Member day is August 22.
All guest fees are waived. The schedule includes a golf tournament at 1:30 p.m., open pool and tennis facilities from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and refreshments at 5:30 p.m. The registration deadline is August 20.
Shawnee is a great little place to enjoy golf, tennis, swimming, and other activities.
It started out in 1960 as a semi-private 9-hole layout south of Milford. In 1984 Shawnee expanded to 18 holes on its 150 acres, and began operating as a fully private country club.
The golf course’s playing difficulty has increased since the addition of the new holes. For example, the trees on the right side of the second hole’s fairway are now mature enough to affect club selection and course management.
From the blue tees Shawnee measures almost 6400 yards, with the regular whites about 5950 yards and the red tees just over 5300 yards. It’s a par 70 layout (71 from the reds), with five par 3s and three par 5s from the white and blue tees.
The signature hole is the 11th, a 424-yard par 4 that rises sharply uphill in the last 50 yards to a well-bunkered green.
Water is not a major factor. Two small ponds face the golfers on the 13th and 17th tees, and a tiny pool collects mishits near the second green.
The real playing factor is the wind, typically between 10 to 15 knots from the west. On most holes players fight a cross-breeze that brings well-placed bunkers into play.
The renovated clubhouse dining room handles a brisk trade in weddings and other receptions. The monthly prime rib and seafood buffet requires reservations and is a great deal.
The golf course is undergoing several renovations. A paved cart path installation throughout the course is nearing completion. Bunker restoration and repair should be finished by next spring. A beautiful new wooden bridge will soon provide a new path from the seventh hole to the redone 8th tee.
The swimming pool is very popular, with an active swim team calendar. Local tennis standout Jeff Pickering oversees a busy tennis facility, with clinics available for ladies and juniors.
For those who want to play the golf course, there are several options.
The club honors reciprocity privileges with other country clubs. Contact the club pro, Jim Kealey, for the details.
Several charity events dot the season. On August 4, for example, the club hosted the annual 3-Club event to benefit Kent-Sussex Industries.
Members are welcome to bring guests. In-season weekday greens fees are $24, $29 on the weekends. Cart rentals are $11 per person, but are not required. The course is great for walkers.
Joining the club is a good option for those looking for real value. For full family membership with all privileges, the annual dues are $1080. The initiation fee is $2000 up-front, or $2500 in installments of $250 every six months. New members also purchase stock for $300. The food and beverage minimum is $40 per month, but can be paid as a lump sum of $480. This option actually makes the minimum easier to handle for busy families like mine.
Shawnee is easy to reach from the rest of the Cape Region. Just head north on Route 1 and take the first exit at Milford for Business Route 1. The club is on the left a half-mile past the off-ramp.