Hall of Fame Hockey Player’s Goal Is to Clear the Way at Greate Bay Country Club

June 29, 2011 - PRLog -- A golf course's challenges grow over time, and what was once a sapling has turned into a barricade for golfers at the Greate Bay Country Club – especially left-handed golfers.

Even top athletes used to swinging clubs – or sticks – can find the tree towering over the fairway on the 5th hole an absolute menace to a pleasant game of golf.

"Bob Clarke is a lefty," said Mark Benevento, owner of Greate Bay Country Club. "Even though Bob is a whirlwind with a hockey stick, that left-handed drive causes him to play right into that tree."

Clarke, a Philadelphia Flyer from 1969-84, led his team to two Stanley Cups during his 15-season playing career, and was named league MVP three times. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1987. Clarke had three 100-point seasons and twice led the league in assists. He was also known for his skills in the face-off circle.

But all of that means nothing to a tree that's getting wider and taller with every day of this beautiful summer.

"We're having a great season for golf," said Joel Inman, General Manager of Greate Bay Country Club. "But the good weather seems to be giving that tree an extra growth spurt."

Last season the country club offered the fate of the tree up to club members in the form of a fund-raising drive to benefit The First Tee of Greater Atlantic City, an organization that shares and teaches the game of golf and its inherent positive values to young players.  Greate Bay members could contribute to either saving the tree, or removing the tree. Each dollar pledged was a vote for one side or the other. The first side to reach $6,000 could claim victory.

The votes were cast, and this year the tree will come down, and Clarke is bringing his ax.

Steve Coates, an Egg Harbor Township resident, is also a former hockey player who has been the Philadelphia Flyers color-commentator since 1980 and is good friends with Clarke.

"We've got a tree surgeon who will attend the ceremony when Bob Clarke and Steve Coates use a two-man crosscut saw to take down the tree," Inman said. "And we're working with the youngsters from The First Tee to identify the right spot to plant the new trees that will take its place."

Even Annika Sörenstam, LPGA great and eight-time Player of the Year, weighed in during a visit to Greate Bay, commenting “I don’t see the point in that tree.”

"Bob Clarke doesn't like that tree," Inman said, and then he laughed. "That tree almost taunts him."

Tree Cutting - July 8 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. including refreshments, photo ops and press conference.

Greate Bay Country Club is one of South Jersey’s premiere private golf and lifestyle facilities. In providing the full country club experience, Greate Bay Country Club offers members championship golf, private dining, a complete racquet and fitness club and excellent facilities for corporate events and private parties, including weddings. The golf course at Greate Bay is fully equipped with a classic award-winning 18-hole design by the legendary Willie Park, Jr., a driving range, and short-game practice facilities.  For more information, or to visit the Audubon-certified course, call 609.927.5071, or visit www.greatebay.com.  

The mission of The First Tee of Greater Atlantic City is not only to share and teach the benefits of the game of golf and its inherent positive values, but to nurture and enrich today's youth in a way that will better enable them to become productive and contributing members of tomorrow's society.  For more information about The First Tee of Greater Atlantic City, please visit www.thefirstteegac.org.

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