Getting To Know: Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Brian Rashley who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Seaview is home to two world class golf courses, The Bay and The Pines Courses, as well as a 312 Room Hotel and Spa. Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club located in Galloway, NJ sits on 670 beautiful acres of woodland and seaside land.

The Bay Course opened in 1914 was designed by Hugh Wilson and Donald Ross. The 6,300 yard course is not a test of length, rather a test of imagination, accuracy and short game. The Bay Course presents a Scottish links feel, dramatic seaside views, deep pot bunkers, plus small undulating greens. The course is the current host of the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by ACER as well as 9 holes in the 1942 PGA Championship.

The Pines Course was opened in 1929 designed by William Flynn and Howard Toomey. Unlike the Bay Course, the Pines winds its way through New Jersey Woodlands presenting elevation change and doglegs abound. The course measures just under 6,800 yards, features many large bunkers, and gently sloping large greens. The 16th hole was the site of Sam Snead's miraculous 60 ft chip-in to win the 1942 PGA Championship; His first major.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
When traveling to the Jersey Shore golfers have plenty of options. There are over 20 courses within the region that vary and range in pricing and architectural style. However, none of the courses in this area have to offer what Seaview has. We have two championship style courses in our Bay and Pines that are extremely different in layout albeit being 500 yards apart from each other.

The Bay Course affords golfers the ability to play a true Donald Ross and Hugh Wilson classic. For any golf enthusiast playing a Donald Ross Course is a treat. The Bay is also a links style course which is rare in the North East. The course affords golfers scenic views of Reeds Bay, Brigantine and the Atlantic City Skyline.

The Pines Course is more traditional in style to the North East and present a longer more demanding challenge from tee to green. Where the Bay is open, each hole on the Pines is lined with tall Jersey Pines that make any errant shot an almost guaranteed penalty.

Most importantly when looking for a place to play we feel the story behind the courses are almost as important as the courses them selves. When you play our courses you are walking the same fairways as some of the games greats. From Sam Snead winning the 1942 PGA Championship to Stacy Lewis, Annika Sorenstam and others as the current host site of the ShopRite LPGA Classic presented by Acer, golfers are immersed in a world of legends and history as they make their trek around our two award winning golf courses.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Both Courses put a demand on accuracy but in different ways. The Pines Course requires accuracy off the tee with tree lined fairways on each hole. The Bay Course puts more of a premium on approach shots as the greens are quite small. The one similarity to both courses is the slope of the greens. Most of the greens slope from back to front so for players to manage their way around the course coming up short on a hole is the best miss. Very few greens have bunkers or trouble directly in front of it which allows for a variety of pitch or chip shots to the green.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
The accolade we are most proud of is being one of 25 courses in the world to host a major that is open to the public. It is rare that any player can play a course that hosts a major, but Seaview offers that unique opportunity. Players can walk in the footsteps of Hogan and Snead and relive the 1942 PGA Championship. We have also been voted best course in state by golf.com and consistently appear on the best courses you can play list for New Jersey. Our golf shop has been recognized as a Top 100 Golf Shop as well as a multi Platinum Award Winner by The Association of Golf Merchandisers.

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
The signature hole is our 2nd hole on the Bay Course. This 436 yard par 4 plays directly out to Reeds Bay. Off the tee the players will face a very demanding tee shot as OB lines the right side and a deep bunker and fescue complex guards the left side. Once players have successfully reached the fairway the difficult part begins. Most players will be hitting long irons and fairway woods into this green which is one of the flatter surfaces on the course. The difficulty comes from Mother Nature. The final 50 yards of the hole open up and are exposed heavily to the trade winds the generally blow from right to left and into the players the face. The tricky part for golfers is gauging how much wind is actually blowing. From the fairway the players are guarded by tree's which will trick a player into thinking their is less wind when in fact by the green (when the ball is at its highest part of the flight) the wind is blowing 10 to 20 mph stronger which will most likely put any errant shot in the hazard which surrounds the green behind and to the left and right. However once on the green players will be awarded with a fairly flat putt and a breathtaking view of the Atlantic City Skyline and surrounding shore communities.

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
My favorite hole is the 16th hole on the Pines Course. The hole is a 219 yard Par 3 that plays about a club down hill from the tee. There is a cross bunker that is about 60 yards short of the green but is perceived as being much closer. The right side is guarded with a deep bunker and left side has a large mound which can either kick balls on the green or into some surrounding tree's. The reason this hole is my favorite is because a major piece of golf history took place on this hole. Before the second nine was built in the mid 50's the Pines Course was just 9 holes. The 16th hole was then the 8th hole of the old rotation and played as the 17th hole in the 1942 PGA Championship. A young golfer by the name Sam Snead stood on that tee with a one up lead and two holes to play against Jim Turnesa. Snead missed the large green leaving him about a 60 foot chip. Snead calmly stepped up and holed the chip shot giving him a 2 & 1 victory and his first major championship of his young career. Anytime you can step foot on a hole that gave way to one of the most memorable shots in major championship history is special, and something that cannot be said for most courses.

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
One of our signature dishes in the Coastal Grille is our daily grilled cheese special. Our talented culinary team takes a traditional sandwich and creates special and unique offerings that vary from day to day. The most popular is the buffalo chicken grilled cheese.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
62 is our Course record in Tournament Play on the Bay Course. Three ladies hold that record. In 2005, both Laura Davies and Jimin Kang shot 62 and in 2014 Jennifer Johnson shot 62. All rounds were during the ShopRite LPGA Classic.

Back Tee Stats
Par: Bay 71 Pines 71
Yardage: Bay 6,366 Pines 6,731
Slope: Bay 70.4 Pines 72.4
Rating: Bay 124 Pines 123

More Information
Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club
401 South New York Rd
Galloway, NJ, 08205
609-748-7680
www.seaviewgolf.com