For golfers who are considering a trip across the Garden State, a great place to start is historic Atlantic City Country Club, located just across the bay from the state's top gambling resort. However, the only drawback to opening a golf road trip

at Atlantic City Country Club is you may not

want to play anywhere else.

     For decades, ACCC was a highly exclusive

private club. Then, under the ownership of Harrah’s

casino, the club became an even more exclusive

destination for high rollers. Some of the greatest

names in golf, other sports and entertainment of

cut divots into these lush fairways.

     Today, Atlantic City still has the same feel of an

extremely high end private, but the club is open to

limited public play under the direction of the Ottinger

Family Group, who purchased the course on April 15,

2014 from Caesar's Entertainment.

     "Atlantic City Country Club is truly a gem," said

Liz Norton-Scanga, spokesperson for the Ottinger

family. 

     It doesn’t take long to realize how special the

course is. It could happen the moment you pull up

to the first tee and realize its an extension of the

putting green, or when you spot the old bell that

was once used to signal golfers that the last ferry to

Atlantic City was about to leave. You might sense it

when you see the monument marking the place

where the term birdie was first coined. Perhaps it

will be when you pick up one the wooden rakes in

the bunker or while you are admiring at views

across the bay toward the city.

     The clubhouse is a museum of both the rich

history of this club and also the game itself. After

all, the term birdie was coined here. ACCC has

hosted six USGA championships – including the first

US Open victory by Babe Didrickson Zaharias in 1948 –

and was the site of the first official Champions Tour

event won by the lanky Texan Don January.

     The course itself , which opened in 1897, was

originally designed Scotsman Willie Park, but has

seen its share of renovations, most recently by

contemporary architect Tom Doan. While the club

has changed hands a few times, the club probably

enjoyed its golden age under the ownership of

South Jersey golf legend Leo Fraser.

     The elegant clubhouse boasts fabulous service at

breakfast, lunch and dinner. For weddings,

banquets and special occasions there are precious

few facilities that offer such dignified ambiance.

     Among New Jersey golf courses, Pine Valley and

Baltusrol tend to hog all the acclaim. However,

more than a few discerning golf experts place

ACCC as near equal to those renown facilities.

Certainly the club belongs near the top of the

nation’s most underrated golf courses.

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