Pollinator Garden Being Established At Deerfield

In an exciting joint effort between Deerfield and the University of Delaware’s Department of Plants and Soil Sciences, a pollinator garden is being established on #11 at Deerfield. This project will promote support and maintain pollination by birds, bats, butterflies, moths and bees by supplying food in the form of pollen and nectar that will ensure that these important animals stay in the area to keep pollinating our crops for continued fruit and vegetable production. UD’s Professor Erik Ervin, Chair of the Department, and his Graduate Assistant worked with Deerfield Superintendent John Jacob and his crew to establish the soil and seed base required earlier this month. This work will benefit the wildlife at Deerfield as well as improving the overall ecosystem of White Clay Creek State Park. Look for this area on the right hand side of #11 the next time you play Deerfield.

COVID-19 UPDATES

5/6/20 – Golf & Banquet Update At Deerfield

Deerfield is still open for golf only (one person per gas cart beginning Friday 5/8/20, DE residents only), with all in-person tours, events, weddings, brunches, parties, golf outings, meetings and banquets now postponed through Thursday June 11, 2020.  We are hopeful to reopen for events – even if somehow limited with guidelines not determined yet – on Friday June 12th.  Our sales team is working diligently with clients whose dates may have been impacted to resolve this evolving situation with the best solutions possible.

  • Deerfield is currently limited to Delaware Residents Only and one golfer per cart – no caddies are permitted.  You are also welcome to walk and carry or push your own cart.  All social distancing guidelines and expectations remain in effect.  There can be no accommodation for “same household” guests based on the Governor’s most recent modification.  Due to limited golf carts, carts are available on a first come first served basis and cannot be guaranteed.  We will do everything possible to make a golf cart available to you as quickly as possible, and have modified the tee sheet to help maximize cart availability.
  • You are still required to wear a mask during pro shop check-in, and wherever social distancing standards of 6+ feet cannot be maintained.  You are further required to maintain all appropriate 6+ feet of social distancing on the course at all times throughout the round.  Not adhering to these standards will lead to you being asked to leave the property.  We will be circulating team members roughly once per hour during prime time to assist guests who may need to be reminded or require assistance.
  • Deerfield is still accepting touchless payment with credit card or pre-paid only for golf, please (no cash)
  • Merchandise purchases essential for play is permitted (touchless credit card only) but the Pro Shop will be closed to unnecessary shopping among non-golfers
  • All social distancing standards must be followed in the Pro Shop (the floor is marked for your convenience) with ONE GUEST in the Pro Shop at a time.
  • The driving range and putting green are open (social distancing of 6+ feet always for safety)
  • Lessons will continue but only on an individual basis where all social distancing standards of 6+ feet are maintained.
  • Packaged snacks and soft drinks are available in the Pro Shop (no cash – just touchless credit card purchases, please).You are not permitted to bring alcoholic beverages onto the property.As before, cups have been modified to reduce contact points – rakes and ball-washers are removed – no touching of flagsticks, please.
  • We will not be able to provide a pencil or a scorecard – we recommend printing one HERE or printing from our website prior to your round
  • You may call the Pro Shop with questions, but we strongly advise you access www.deerfieldgolfclub.com for the latest tee time availability and information or you may email us at info@deerfieldgolfclub.com.

Brunches With Santa Are Back! Remember To Make Reservations Before Its Too Late

Christmas table setting with festive decorations close up
Christmas table setting with festive decorations close up

Talk to the pros, and they’ll tell you that the odds of hitting two holes-in-one the next time you play golf are 67 million to one, against. Talk to the brunch pros, on the other hand, and they’ll tell you the odds of enjoying brunch are, well, pretty darn great.

That’s because in these politically charged times there are still a few things that can bring us together as a nation. And one of those things is a festive holiday brunch.

The Best Brunch Wilmington Delaware Has Ever Tasted…
We don’t just pride ourselves on having world class golf club events, we’re also proud to offer the best brunch in Wilmington DE that anyone has ever tasted; the brunch people of all ages drool thinking about all year long. And already we’re gearing up for one of our favorite annual traditions — Brunch With Santa Claus!

Brunch began in England, and sadly it took about 30 years for it to catch on here in the U.S. But once it caught on it quickly became a favorite tradition. Whether you like all-American breakfast classics like pancakes, omelettes, and bacon, or the ethnic-inspired breakfast fare that became a major trend on restaurant menus in 2015 (things like chorizo scrambled eggs or coconut milk flapjacks), brunch truly does have something for everyone.

Best of all, more and more golf associations like ours are now offering festive holiday brunches. New Year’s Day, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving brunch, and brunches with Santa are a few family favorites, but we never miss an opportunity to host another festive holiday brunch.

Not only is it a perfect excuse to gather with your family and tuck into all your favorite breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desert dishes; it’s also a fun family tradition. So if you’re looking to make new holiday memories and start a new Christmas tradition, then RSVP your seat at the table for a Brunch With Santa near you!

It feels good to be named as the best brunch in Wilmington Delaware, but it feels even better to be a part of our neighbor’s family traditions. Just remember, no matter where you live or which holidays you celebrate, these yuletide celebrations tend to get booked fast. So if you want to find a brunch restaurant for the holidays, make sure to get your reservation in as soon as you hear that first Christmas song play on the radio.

It’s Almost Time! Brunches With Santa Claus Are Back Christmas 2015

fruits and salads on the holiday table in the restaurant

The English language is notoriously hard to learn. Not only is the grammar nonsensical, but pronunciations are totally random. But there’s really one special trait that sets American English apart from the rest: we have more words, by far, than any other language.

Brunch. Christmas. Buffet. Santa Claus.

There might be happier words in the English language, but probably not very many. And when you combine them, the result is one of the most wonderful phrases of the year — Brunch With Santa Claus!

Yes, it’s almost that time of year, when two beloved American traditions are magically combined for one glorious event. On special Sundays in December, the all you can eat Sunday brunch buffet is combined with jolly old St. Nick, fused together with the magical adhesive properties of good ol’ fashioned American Holiday spirit. Moms and dads can indulge in the amazing buffet, while kids can indulge in the holiday excitement by meeting Santa.

Brunches were imported to the American cultural tradition from England almost 100 years ago, but it’s only in recent years that brunch has become a staple of American traditions. Brides now spend an average of $457 for morning after wedding brunch buffets. That’s not much compared to the average $28,385 wedding budget, but it is a lot for breakfast (even if you are getting breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the price of one). Meanwhile, Holiday brunches have become part of Easter, Mother’s Day, and even Valentine’s Day celebrations.

Coming Soon: Brunch With Santa Claus!

So this Christmas, discover the culinary magic of brunches with Santa. Combine your love of brunch with your love of the Christmas spirit. Treat yourself to all your favorite breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert items in one fantastic meal. Your whole family will love it, because the best Sunday brunch buffets have a little (or a lot) of something for everyone. Kids menu items feature all your young one’s favorites, while adults have been known to get lost at the dessert station on their way to the carved meat station.

And did we mention Santa Claus will be there? For Christmas 2015, come discover why Brunch with Santa is fast becoming an annual holiday tradition for Americans of all ages.

Fact Check: Americans Who Play Golf Add $176 Billion To the Economy

Golf bag on the course
Golf bag on the course

Golf news junkies would be forgiven if they missed one headline this summer: the annual PGA Expo in Las Vegas.

Golf fans were probably more likely to spend their summer on the links themselves, or watching tournaments on TV. But the PGA Expo is still a huge draw for many in the golf world; the expo allows companies to show off the latest in golf equipment and training techniques for helping amateurs learning to play golf. And Ed Several, one of the event’s organizers, says that golf is bigger than the casual fan might realize.

“Golf is not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle and it’s a business,” said Several. “When you can turn a passion into a business and make that a career, we encourage that.”

And according to experts like Several, Americans who play golf generate a total economic impact of $176.8 billion for the U.S. economy every year. Those numbers come from SRI International, a California research institute which found that golf equipment and services generate $68 billion annually. And when you combine that figure with the money generated by golf club events, tournaments, schools where people learn how to play golf, and other golf-related activity, you arrive at the massive sum of $176.8 billion.

How did golf become such a big business? As early as the year 1900 there were already more than 1,000 golf clubs operating in the country. Over time, more women started playing the sport (23% of pro golfers are women), swelling the sport’s ranks. Plus, golfers are allowed 14 clubs in their bag at any time, and most golfers spend quite a bit of money hitting that number.

In 2011, the World Golf Foundation reported that 25.7 million Americans play golf each year, spending an average $137 on golf equipment alone, to say nothing of membership dues and clothing. If you’ve ever spent much time playing yourself, no doubt you know a few golfers who spend more than $137 by several orders of magnitude.

So for the golfing professionals who gather at the annual PGA Expo, there’s more than just love of the game uniting them. The beloved American pastime is also big, big business.

The Importance of Skill Testing

Skill Testing & Why It Is Important

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We’ve all seen it: someone with a very unorthodox swing or style, but can get up and down from anywhere. From the outside looking in, it would appear that one would need to change their “technique” because it does not reflect everyone else’s. For this exact reason, golf instructors and students alike need to understand how important skill testing really is.

How many people would look at Jack Nicklaus’ putting and say, “you’re too bent over, we need to get you more upright with a straighter back”? Or, refer to Jim Furyk’s pitching and say, “you’re too close to the ball and your lower body is moving too much!” The fact is, there is no ONE right way to play golf. The golf ball doesn’t understand what you look like; it only understands the moment one is making impact.

This is where skill testing comes into play. Skill testing measures your current ability to play golf and dictates what one needs to work on. Such as, if one has great technique, but has a hard time scoring, then perhaps there is more going on internally that would require Mental Toughness training and guidance. If one is not scoring because of missing a key skill, then skill training may be encouraged via lessons. The key is knowing that skill testing is never “cut and dry.” Because there are often many variables, it should be left up to the coach/instructor to determine the appropriate steps that are needed to improve the students’ game.

Personally, I have witnessed many unorthodox swings and styles produce very good scores when skill testing. I have also witnessed “good” technique produce very bad scores. Whether one is an instructor or student, always be sure to find someone who will test your skills first before making arbitrary changes to your individual game. Let the scores guide you on what you need to work on, and in what order. Know your game and make it better– skill testing can take the guessing out of this for you!

If you are interested in taking a lesson to improve your game, don’t hesitate to contact Ben Austin, PGA or Deerfield’s Head Golf Pro, Michael Tobiason! Click here for more details!

Quiz: Should I Host a Brunch After My Wedding?

Eating Brunch

According to the most revered Brunch historians (aka, Wikipedia), brunch was invented in England and took a staggering 30 whole years to migrate to the U.S. What kind of Americans took 30 whole years to appreciate the beauty of brunch, we may never fully understand. That’s because in 2015, brunch is almost universally popular. It’s equally perfect for a morning-after hangover breakfast as it is for a formal Easter meal with your entire family.

In fact, the meal is so popular that it’s fast becoming a staple of many U.S. wedding weekends. So if you’re on the fence about planning a Sunday brunch after the wedding, here’s some questions to guide your decision making…

Is there room in your budget?
With the average budget of a wedding ceremony plus reception costing more than $28,000 this year, not everyone wants to spring for abrunch after the wedding, too. And let’s not forget the rehearsal dinner (average price: $1,184). Even so, in 2013 brides and grooms spent an average of $457 on a Sunday brunch after the wedding, well within the average wedding budget. If you do decide to host a Sunday brunch after the wedding, most cities offer a wide range of options.

How many out of town relatives do you have?
One of the most joyous parts of any wedding is finally getting all your cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents, extended relations, and, yes, even that one uncle who sometimes drinks too much all together in the same place doing the electric slide. But weddings can often be expensive for your out-of-town guests. If you plan on having a lot of friends and family fly or drive into town for your nuptials, then a brunch after the wedding might be very much appreciated.

Does your venue offer brunches?
Some of the best places to have a wedding and reception also regularly host brunch buffets. If so, then you can probably plan a delicious day after wedding brunch brunch without going through the lengthy process of finding yet another venue and caterer.

Finally, do you want a brunch after the wedding?
This might seem basic, but it’s important to stop and ask how you really want your special day (read: special weekend) to go down. If you really have your heart set on a wedding brunch, then you deserve the best brunch of your life.

And since most couples won’t find much time to eat during the reception, the brunch after the wedding is essential.

Tips From The Deerfield Golf Academy Part Three

Tip #3 – Pitching

 

 

Having a hard time controlling the distance of your pitch shots? More than likely, you’re having issues with your backswing and follow through. Ideally when we pitch, our back swing and follow through should be about the same distance. To visualize this, think about a child on a swing set. When the child swings back, if they didn’t add any additional momentum then their forward swing would be about the same distance. A more common problem that we see at the Deerfield Academy is swing distance issues- golfers either take a big backswing and small follow through, or vice versa.

Think of pitching in terms of knees and hips. If your backswing goes knee high, your follow through should match that. If you go back as high as your hip, that’s how far your follow through should be.

If you’re having issues controlling your distances or struggling with consistent, solid contact, then Deerfield Golf Academy is the place for you! Ben Austin, PGA and Michael Tobiason are here to help you improve and enjoy the game of golf even more!

These photos provide a good visual for getting a sense of keeping the length of backswing and length of follow through relatively the same. Work on this and you’ll be playing like the pros in no time!

Why Choose A Golf Club For Your Wedding Events?

Bride and Groom

This year, the average couple will spend an average of $28,385 on their wedding, which includes about $1,184 on the rehearsal dinner alone. Throw in a Sunday brunch for those out-of-town relatives at an average of $457, and it’s clear why brides want everything to be just right on their big day.

And while churches have long been a popular choice for wedding ceremonies, they’re often hard to book, have strict rules, and aren’t open to all couples. That’s why more couples are choosing to book golf club events for wedding ceremonies, rehearsal dinners, receptions, and Sunday wedding brunches. So why choose golf club events over the alternatives?

1. The Great Outdoors
Golf club events have one huge advantage over other potential spaces: they have a large amount of outdoor space at your disposal. And since Hudson Valley Weddings reports that 35% of modern weddings take place outdoors, that’s a must-have for many brides and grooms. Even if you choose to say “I Do” indoors, outdoor settings are essential for truly memorable wedding photos.

2. Stately Architecture
Golf club events are popular destinations for their superior architecture. Romantic wedding places don’t just provide a plethora of picture perfect moments, they also improve the environment of your whole day.

3. All In One
Many wedding planners book one venue for the rehearsal dinner, another for the ceremony, and then yet another venue for the reception. And ferrying around grandparents, young kids, and visiting friends can turn a happy day into a logistical nightmare. Fortunately, golf club events offer flexible spaces for any occasion, from dinner and brunch spots to gorgeous ballrooms for grand receptions destined to end up on all your friends’ Pinterest boards!

4. Dedicated Wedding Specialists
Most golf club events have an entire team of staff members who specialize in creating perfect events. That means you’ll have a professional, experienced team to make sure everything turns out just the way it did in your dreams.

While other wedding venues might be able to offer one or two of these benefits, only golf club events can offer brides and grooms everything they need in a single package.