- April 24, 2024
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The Grand Club of Palm Coast has just tossed a knockout blow to take the lead in golf memberships.
With most golf courses struggling because of the economy, Grand Club courses comprising Pine and Cypress have jumped the gun with a plan that has already brought a positive response with former members returning and new ones on the verge.
In a stunning reversal, the new golf-only membership fee will be $99 per month or a one-time discounted annual payment of $1,188. Further, it is even less for this year because the new deal is on a monthly basis.
This news should turn things around here and send the Grand Club to the front.
Palm Harbor had clearly become the golf membership leader in Palm Coast, but it just may be that the Grand Club will take the lead in golf memberships. This new policy, one that is for now and the future, has clearly rocked the cradle of Palm Coast golf.
Ace
The affable Chuck Modica, a longtime playing favorite from the original Palm Harbor days, rocked the Golf Club in its Friday game with a hole-in-one.
Modica hauled an 8-iron out of his golf bag and slam-dunked the shot from 127 yards away. He was playing with Carl Johnson, Col. Bob Jones and Mike Pasiecki.
Oddly, Jones was a playing partner many moons ago when I scored my only ace, also at the original Palm Harbor Golf Course.
What few writers will relate
Let me digress to another sport just a bit. However, note that Major League Baseball players, my subject, are also golfers, and most of them are very good.
It’s about the Boston Red Sox and their immense failure this year. Boston press reporters won’t tell you what I’m about to because they might be subjected to warnings from the Red Sox brass, and the press box at Fenway Park is precious seating. Even in my time, seating there was not allowed for radio and TV performers — newspaper reporters only.
Simply said, in my opinion, the Red Sox are not in shape. They went to spring training in Tampa and it was a joke even though my friend, and avid Palm Coast fan George Pollio, may disagree. The regulars played two or three innings at most and left the ball park for golf or whatever. My theory is backed by something manager Terry Francona did this past week. He called for batting practice on Sunday, a move he never made before. With Francona, the rule was “Never on Sunday.”
When I covered them for radio in Winter Haven, the team played six and seven innings of every spring training game. The fans who pay big money for what is a special treat, loved every inning but, they too, went their merry way after seven innings.
Players like Jim Rice, Wade Boggs, Dwight Evans and everyone on the team worked their butts off to get in playing shape. Boggs, especially, gave 100% of himself before, during and after the game. Rice stayed in the ball park after his six or seven innings were complete.
In Tampa this year, minor leaguers and future hopefuls played most of every game. That was great for them, but not for the fans, and certainly not for the major leaguers. They liked the free time. but please tell me how to get your batting eye in shape with that kind of limited play.
It will take weeks for this team to find their swings and Yankee rooters are laughing all the way to the bank.
The sad part is that prime seating is paid for in advance. Fortunately, that doesn’t include the cost of a gin and tonic, which is $17 per glass!
