Southern Delaware GC’s new golf cave opens wide
February 28, 2025
The Cape Region’s newest golf amenity is now open for business and certainly pleasure. The Pearl, Southern Delaware Golf Club’s practice range/relaxation emporium, was last mentioned in the January 17 column as construction work neared completion.
The fun begins at 4:00 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. It continues thereafter during evenings from 4:00 p.m. through 8:00 p.m.
The range includes 8 heated bays, two of which feature FlightScope Simulator technology complete with viewing screens. More FlightScope systems will be added later.
Bar-height stools sit behind the counters separating the bays from the Pearl’s interior, which also include four-top tables, additional chairs, and mounted televisions.
The adjacent Big Oyster Brewery provides food and beverage service with access to drinks, sandwiches, appetizers, and what some call “handhelds.”
Hourly bay reservations for up to six players per bay cost $40 for a FlightScope-equipped bay and $20 for a standard bay.
To make reservations, call the SDGC pro shop at 302-491-7933.
First Tee program signups and fundraiser tournament
The First Tee-Delaware is seeking registrants for its spring program sessions which begin the week of April 7.
The long-running successful nonprofit youth development organization uses golf to impart valuable life lessons and character-building opportunities.
Winter programs are held at the Boys & Girls Club in Rehoboth and the Sussex Family YMCA.
The spring On-Course Life Skills Programs take place at participating Cape Region golf clubs, including American Classic, Bear Trap Dunes, Hooper’s Landing, Kings Creek CC, Mulligan’s Pointe, Plantation Lakes, The Rookery, Rehoboth Beach CC and FTDE’s newest partner location, Southern Delaware Golf Club.
Not all locations hold classes during all four session periods, however. For enrollment information, go to the “Register My Child” page at firstteedelaware.org.
Scott Allen, PGA, the organization’s Director of Development & Programs, oversees the southern Delaware/Eastern Shore of Maryland programs. “We’re working with about 10 kids at each location, and I have 3-5 volunteers helping me each week.”
The “lead coaches” group include volunteers such as Tony Fox (Hooper’s Landing), Paul Harrington (Plantation Lakes), Sam Mussellman (Ocean Resorts, MD), Jon Pettyjohn (Bear Trap Dunes), Fran Simeone (Mulligan’s Pointe), Gail Lugullo (Mulligan’s Pointe and Boys & Girls Clubs), and Judy Wetzel (American Classic).
Allen said FTDE’s junior coaches are “awesome,” including Corey Duke (Sussex Tech), Jacob Gabbard and Gabby Hamstead (Cape Henlopen), Sarah Lester-Stranick and Sam Petty (Sussex Academy), and Luke Peyton (Indian River).
Additional volunteers are always welcome. Email Allen at ScottTFTDE@gmail.com.
First Tee Delaware’s largest downstate fundraiser, the Delmarva Scramble, is scheduled for April 22 at Rehoboth Beach Country Club. Players and sponsors can register at FTDMS25.givesmart.com.
Allen said, “We’ve filled the field the last few years. We’re also looking for local businesses that can become corporate sponsors, purchase hole signs to be displayed on the course, and/or donate gift certificates that we can use as prizes or in our silent auction.”
E-Z-GO – carts and club operation services
Brandon Haddock is one of my annual gifts to myself when I go to the PGA Show. The communications director for Textron, corporate parent for E-Z-GO of Augusta, GA, is a delight to chat with about all things golf and beyond (https://ezgo.txtsv.com).
This year we focused on two new products – the Special Edition Phantom cart and the company’s new Pace management software program for course operators.
E-Z-GO’s limited edition Phantom cart, modeled by Textron communications director Brandon Haddock at the 2025 PGA Show
The Phantom is what happens when someone says, “Let’s add as many bells and whistles as we can onto our baseline lithium battery-powered cart.”
The white cart with fancy black trim elements comes with LED headlights and turn signals, a tinted flip windshield, a huge soundbar on the back of the roof, plush seating materials, car-like operating pedals and steering wheel, a locking glove box, and larger than normal tires with milled wheels.
I believe the phrase Haddock used was “tricked out.” With a suggested retail price of $15,768, this limited-edition cart certainly meets that definition.
Haddock also discussed the vehicle’s IntelliGauge, which goes beyond the usual battery life indicator. Its small screen shifts its displays by touch, providing data on mileage and hours of operations. It can control how fast the cart can go, giving not only parents but also club operators the opportunity to enhance safe operation. Even more important, the gauge includes a security pin element to block unwanted cart use.
The Pace system is aimed at club operations. A web-based Shield system permits ready access for vehicle lockdowns, site location data, geofencing off-limits areas, and generating vehicle use reports.
A screen system gives cart users access to two-way communication with the pro shop, an interactive touch screen, and immediate access to mapping showing the no-go areas. Food and beverage ordering can be done on-course, reducing lag time for breaks. Music-loving golfers can pair up their own music library or tune in their favorite local FM station to the soundbar.
The on-board GPS system updates accurate pin locations within one meter and displays accurate distance measurements on the par 3s.
Three other systems are available through partnerships with other providers. These include on-time weather data and storm alerts, real-time scoring data and leaderboards for tournaments, and even a heat map elevation display for greens.