Inn at Pocono Manor - Anniversary Celebration for Golf Journalists and the Public (United States)
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Inn at Pocono Manor - Anniversary Celebration for Golf Journalists and the Public (United States)
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Category: North America & West Indies / Carribean islands - United States
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on 2012-04-04
Inn at Pocono Manor Announces Centennial of Historic East Course Holes Designed By Legendary Donald Ross & William Flynn
The Inn at Pocono Manor, which opened in 1902, is the longest continuously operating resort in the Pocono Mountains and one of the oldest in North America. Throughout the last century, the 110-year-old resort, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, has distinguished itself within hospitality and within golf, adding 36 holes designed by three legendary golf course architects. In recognition of a century of golf, the resort has announced a Centennial Celebration for Pocono Manor’s historic East Course, a Classic Era course which originally opened in 1912 with nine holes by Donald Ross, that were expanded to eighteen by William Flynn in 1924. The resort’s West Course opened in 1959 with nine holes designed by George Fazio as a modern complement to the East Course's classic-era routing and style. The West Course expanded to 18 holes in 1965.
“It is indeed an honor for our team at The Inn at Pocono Manor to join together in this celebration of one of America’s great classic courses,” said Lisa Green, acting general manager. “Few of these courses remain from a century ago, and fewer still with two such recognized golf course architects.” Ms. Green continued with, “We’re thrilled we can share in this remarkable milestone with golf experts and with the public in this season-long celebration.”
"I'm personally very pleased to be a part of the history of this incredible classic golf course," said Greg Wall, head golf professional at the resort. "My father, Art Wall, Jr., who won the Masters tournament in 1959 and for many years represented Pocono Manor as touring professional, remains an active part of the legacy of this beautifully-designed course. As does the remarkable Jack Cuttle, who was Head Pro here for a remarkable 50 years! So much golf history has occurred at Pocono Manor, as well as countless memories for my family. It is an honor to help usher the East Course into its second century!"
Pocono Manor’s East Course Centennial Celebration will kick off May 15 & 16, 2012, with a 2-day event for Golf Media and Golf Historians, which is designed to reach back over a century of the game. Highlights will be:
· Kick-off Reception on May 15th that will feature an overview of Pocono Manor's 100-year golf legacy, supported by dozens of historic photographs and documents.
· On May 16th, Pocono Manor’s head professional, Greg Wall, will don early 20th Century golf attire and, using historic hickory-shafted clubs, compete against event participants using their modern-day equipment in a long-drive contest on the first hole.
· During the 2-day Anniversary event, players will have the opportunity to transport themselves to an earlier era on the East Course’s original practice green through the use of an early 20th-century hickory-shafted putter, where they can try to sink a putt under the same conditions players faced in 1912.
· Also on May 16th, guests will be able to golf the historic East Course all day long, and, if they’d like, move over to Pocono Manor’s West Course with holes designed by George Fazio.
· It’s golf, and so the melodious sounds of Bagpipes will be heard -- the great symbol of golf’s birthplace in Scotland.
In all, participants in Pocono Manor’s 100th Anniversary Celebration Kick Off event will experience golf as it looked and played in the game’s infancy in America.
The Public will also be invited to join in the celebration with a special Anniversary Twilight rate of just $19.12 every Thursday after 2:00 pm during the months of April, May and June -- in recognition of the East Course’s 1912 opening date. Additionally, the Inn at Pocono Manor is featuring the historic East Course in a special Centennial Golf Package, which will last throughout the 2012 golf season.
Special Centennial Golf Package includes:
· Deluxe guestroom accommodations for two nights
· Breakfast each morning of stay
· Dinner each night of stay
· Unlimited greens fees with one cart round daily
· Commemorative gift
· Taxes & gratuities
From $340 per person midweek / $435 per person weekend, based on double occupancy.
The Inn at Pocono Manor -- Celebrating 110 Years of Hospitality
Originally opened in 1902 as a summer retreat for the Friends in Philadelphia, The Inn at Pocono Manor has grown from 700 acres on the crest of Little Pocono Mountain to a comprehensive all-season resort on 3000 acres today. In the beginning, the resort’s original Inn -- magnificently renovated in 2011 -- was joined by palatial summer “cottages” for wealthy families from Philadelphia, with many still remaining within these families. The Inn even made history with its first general manager, a woman named Mary Emma Wister who had very few female peers as managers of lodging establishments within the United States at the time. Through the years, the Inn’s main lodge grew in size -- including the addition of an eight-story tower in 1920s providing striking views to the Delaware Water Gap -- and became one of the first year-round resorts in the Poconos.
In 2011 more than $5 Million was invested in comprehensively renovating The Inn at Pocono Manor’s historic main lodge. Renovations included all public spaces, event and meeting rooms, restaurants & lounges, and guestrooms. The extensive renovation retained and updated the spirit of 1902 through a sophisticated color palette, fine wood finishes, elegant period-style furnishings and window treatments, sumptuous linens and bedding, and state-of-the-art HVAC systems. Included in the renovation was the reopening of the long-closed massive stone fireplaces in both the upper and lower lobbies on the Inn, once again welcoming guests with the warm glow of the hearth.
Golf Champions who have played The Inn at Pocono Manor’s Classic Era East Course include:
Arnold Palmer
Sam Snead
Tommy Bolt
Jack Burke
Walter Burkemo
Cary Middlecoff
Roberto DeVicenzo
Orville Moody
Gene Littler
Charles Coody
Jerry Barber
Doug Ford
Art Wall, Jr.
100 Years of Golf at Pocono Manor: An abbreviated Historical Timeline
1912 First nine holes designed by Donald Ross open for residents of the large summer cottages in Pocono Manor, as well as for guests of the Inn.
1920-24 William Flynn, designer of Shinnecock Hills and many other classic courses, designs the second nine holes, which open for play for the 1924 golf season.
1925 Jack Cuttle begins his 50-year career as head professional at Pocono Manor.
1927 The numbering of the East Course is changed; starting that year, play begins at original hole #5. This hole sits next to the current clubhouse, which was originally built as the “summer cottage” of the Strawbridge family, noted clothiers in Philadelphia.
Early 1930s Pocono Manor opens a caddie camp, which remains for the next decade.
1946 The first golf cart appears at Pocono Manor, purchased by the Whitten family. Initially the Whittens still use caddies to carry their bags while they ride the course.
1950 Art Wall, Jr. of nearby Honesdale joins the PGA Tour, and represents Pocono Manor as the course’s touring professional.
1953 Representing Pocono Manor, Art Wall Jr. wins his first of 14 PGA Tour events, the Fort Wayne Open.
1959 A new nine holes, called the West course, are cleared and built by George Fazio. The cost of clearing the land of timber and rock is so expensive that the second nine holes are not constructed.
1959 Representing Pocono Manor, Art Wall Jr. wins the Masters tournament by making birdies on 5 of the last 6 holes, the greatest final-round charge in the history of major golf tournaments. He is later named PGA Player of the Year.
1961 In August, a series of matches among top pros is played on the original course, renamed the East course, for a TV program called “All Star Golf.” Cameras are mounted on the tailgate of station wagons to hold them steady for filming. Art Wall Jr., Tommy Bolt, Jack Burke, Walter Burkemo, Cary Middlecoff, and Sam Snead participate over five weeks. Bolt defeated each man until Wall beat him to earn $2,000. Jimmy Demaret, a three-time Masters champion, was the on-course announcer for this match.
1961 Construction begins on Interstate 380 adjacent to Pocono Manor. In return for using a quarry on the property, the road builder agrees to clear land for the second nine holes of the West course, which are completed in 1965.
1968 Arnold Palmer plays a match against Art Wall, Jr. on the East course. Palmer hits his tee shot into the creek on the 77-yard 7th hole, and makes double bogey.
1968 The ski hill and toboggan run on present hole #5 is closed. Remnants of the ski lift can still be found in the woods to the right of the fairway.
1975 Art Wall, Jr. wins the Greater Milwaukee Open at age 51, the second-oldest player ever to win a PGA Tour event. (Sam Snead, age 52) .
1975 Jack Cuttle retires. Ted Johnson becomes head professional at Pocono Manor
1977 The Pocono Northeast Classic, an LPGA Tour event, takes place on the West course. Debbie Austin wins the event by one stroke over Sandra Post.
1978 Art Wall, Jr. wins the U.S. National Senior Open
1984 Greg Wall (Art’s son) becomes head professional at Pocono Manor.
1986 – 1989 Greg Wall coordinates pro-am events each year on the East course. Participants include his father, Art Wall Jr., and several major champions: Roberto DeVicenzo, Orville Moody, Gene Littler, Charles Coody, Jerry Barber, Doug Ford, plus others.
1988 Art Wall, Jr. plays in the last of his 31 Masters tournaments. Greg Wall teams up with his father as caddie.
2012 The East course at Pocono Manor turns 100 years old. Over the past 87 years, Pocono Manor has had just three head professionals: Jack Cuttle, Ted Johnson, and Greg Wall.
About The Inn at Pocono Manor
The Inn at Pocono Resort blends a century of hospitality with the demands of 21st Century travelers. Lovingly referred to as the “The Grand Lady of the Mountains” and a National Registry of Historic Places property, The Inn at Pocono Manor opened in 1902 as a country retreat for Philadelphia Quakers. Today it is the oldest continuously running Resort in the Poconos and one of the oldest in North America.
The Inn’s main lodge and event space were comprehensively renovated in 2011, restoring turn-of-the-last century charm to the historic facilities and integrating state-of-the-art technology expected by today’s travelers. The all-season resort boasts 237 beautiful guestrooms, and 25,000 square feet of flexible meeting and event space that can accommodate up to 500 guests. The Exchange at Pocono Manor restaurant features superb dining with an eclectic flair. The Old Lamplighter Lounge serves specialty beverages and pub fare throughout the day.
Complete recreational amenities are available at The Inn at Pocono Manor, including signature golf, horseback riding, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, the luxurious Laurel Spa, fishing, clay shooting, cross country skiing, and more. Striking views of the Pocono Mountains are visible from all sides of the resort’s main building. Complimentary wireless Internet is available throughout. The Inn at Pocono Manor features two 18-hole signature golf courses, including the East Course dating to 1912, with its first nine holes designed by Donald Ross and second nine by William Flynn, and has been host to golf legends like Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer and Jerry Barber. In 1959, the West Course opened its first nine designed by George Fazio. Throughout the years it has remained a favorite with long ball hitters.
A destination within the Poconos for over a century, the 3000-acre Inn at Pocono Manor is minutes away from Crossings Premium Outlets, Camelbeach Water Park, Camelback Ski Mountain, and the Mt. Airy Casino. The AAA three diamond-rated Resort is within two hours of New York City, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
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