Cape Region Golf Year in Review 2000
December 29, 2000
This marks the end of the second full year of the Golf column. Cape Region golf went through an interesting twelve months of development and change.
January: Ed Larkin and his staff appreciate the Cape Region’s enthusiastic response to their work at the local Golf Day outlet, among the chain’s best-performing stores. David Jones looks forward to his new job as head golf professional at The Golf Park at Rehoboth. Readers learn how fun it is to play Old Landing Golf Course in the teeth of a driving snowstorm.
February: In a rare column on government policy, I argue for the inclusion of golf course acreage in the density calculations for planned communities. The Sussex County Council’s response is a respectful silence. At least, that’s how I view it.
March: The column’s continuing series on the design and construction of The Rookery discusses the work done during the winter. Delores Springer, tournament director for the Cape Region’s Pink Ribbon Golf Classic, is featured in an extensive interview. Column readers and others take advantage of the opportunity to do more for breast cancer services by increasing the tournament’s proceeds by over 35% from the prior year. Thanks very much.
April: Coverage of the Cape Henlopen High School Viking golf team takes over much of the column’s coverage for the spring. After blasting Delmar to start the season, the varsity wins its next four matches to rise to a second place ranking in the state. Cyclonic Golf, the local golf shoe company, marks its improving business by relocating to a larger location in Lewes. Trish Ritthaler shows her husband how to play golf by calmly dropping in a hole-in-one on the 10th hole at the Golf Park at Rehoboth.
May: The Viking golf team drops a few matches to arch-rivals Dover and Caesar Rodney, which moves the team down a notch or two in the state rankings. They recover a bit and finish second in the Conference and fourth in the State tournament at Shawnee Country Club. The Memorial Day weekend arrives with the grand opening of the second set of nine holes at Baywood Greens in Long Neck.
June: The column discusses some of the new personnel joining Chris Adkins and Pete Oakley at The Rookery as they prepare for their July opening. Over 70 junior golfers descend on Rehoboth Beach Country Club for the Rehoboth Junior Open. Column readers test their golfing knowledge again with another sadistic golf trivia quiz by this writer.
July: The Rookey opens up for public golfers in the Cape Region. Readers somehow manage to avoid being subjected to a shot-by-shot description of my first round. Heritage Inn and Golf celebrates its third month of operations, and general manager Bryan Derrickson is pleasantly surprised at the good turnout for the July 4th weekend.
August: Rob Witsil wins the golf knowledge contest, which proves that Witsil reads more than law books. Delaware Technical and Community College opens up a new turf management program at the Owens Campus in Georgetown.
September: I discuss a few things that tee me off about golf. Herb Shupard aces his tenth career hole-in-one. Despite the performance of their Cape Region store, the owners of Golf Day begin to liquidate the company.
October: Fourteen colleges compete at the inaugural Rehoboth Beach Invitational at Kings Creek Country Club. Stanley Zontek of the USGA’s Greens Section shows the greens committee at Shawnee Country Club how to use Dawn detergent to kill moss. The Delaware State Golf Association announces a major upgrade in their handicapping software service for local clubs.
November: The Rookery is pleased with the results of their first three months of operation. Cape Region golf course superintendents outline their plans for renovation and restoration over the coming winter.
December: Christmas shopping for golfers is made easier with columns on pro shop specials and golf books. The Golf Park at Rehoboth discusses their plans for converting their Creekside Course into a housing development, after disappointing earnings results.
Thanks for reading the column. I look forward to another year of writing about Cape Region golf.