Local golf store moving, but not going
April 2, 2010
With the Cape Region economy as shaky as the rest of the state, seeing a sign saying “Big Moving Sale” was bound to make an impression.
Fortunately, the initial reaction turned out to be far more pessimistic than the reality.
Ruddo’s Golf is finishing up the fifth year of its lease at its current location on Route 1 near Munchy Branch Road. The moving sign on its windows went up during the last week of March. Store manager Pete McCaffrey hastened to reassure me that they were just moving north, and had no intentions of leaving the Cape Region.
McCaffrey said the popular golf store is relocating to retail space a bit further north on Route 1, in the same building as Ocean Boulevard Furniture, near the Bethany Blues Restaurant and the Sleep Inn hotel. “It’s about the same size as the existing store—a little less wide but a bit deeper,” he said. As for the sale, “We’re just trying to make it a little lighter for the move.”
The store is running several specials to reduce inventories, such as 50% off men’s and women’s apparel, all golf bags discounted by 20%, and with what McCaffrey described as “tons of low prices on clubs.”
The new location also benefits from easier and direct access from Route 1, compared to the current spot. “We plan to have bigger signage on Route 1 than we have right now,” McCaffrey said.
The manager said the move is scheduled for mid-April. The moving sale will be going on until they make the switch.
Cape golf team wins first two matches
The Cape Henlopen High School Viking golf team began their 2010 season with a nice pair of victories, despite the usual challenging March weather.
The squad first traveled to Garrison’s Lake Golf Course in Smyrna March 23, and won by six strokes, 170-176. Senior Casey Anderson tied with Smyrna’s number one golfer for co-medalist honors, with a 5-over par 41. “It was windy, and played long because of it. I had one double bogey because of a three-putt.”
Shane Ghigliotty shot a 42 for second best among the Vikings. “That was my first time at Garrison’s. I was having trouble with chunking and then sometimes skinning my irons,” he said. He made one double bogey, four pars, and three bogeys.
Devin Medd made a memorable 43, with 10 of those strokes coming on a single hole. “I bombed one out of bounds with my drive. Then I hit another tree with my second shot, and it landed in front of the tee box. My third one hit another tree, about 50 yards further. Eventually I chipped on and two-putted, but I also had a penalty stroke, for cleaning my ball after it hit the second tree,” he said.
It didn’t sound like Medd will make that last mistake ever again.
James Fenstermaker completed the team scoring that day with a 44.
The Vikings then won their home opener March 25, beating Sussex Central 188-204 in very windy conditions on Rehoboth Beach Country Club’s front nine.
Anderson and Ghigliotty tied with a pair of 45s. “I was really happy with the way I played in the wind,” Ghigliotty said. “My putting is coming along.”
Anderson said, “It was one of the windiest days I’ve ever played. I had huge drives on 1 and 4, and even going down two clubs, I still went over both greens on the second shots.”
Medd described playing that day as “hurricane conditions,” but managed to score a 48. “The nineteenth hole was really tough, with the wind pushing out toward the water.”
Senior Connor Jones made his first contribution to the team scoring, with his 50. “I’m just going to blame it on the wind. For the conditions, I played pretty well.”
The team is scheduled to play Milford High School at Shawnee Country Club March 31, Then they host Seaford High School at Kings Creek Country Club April 1, before spring break.