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What is fling golf? That is the most common question I hear working behind the counter at the American Classic Golf Club as golfers check in and notice the unique New Swarm Sports FlingSticks hanging near the counter.  When asked that question, I enjoy explaining what fling golf is and encouraging people to give it a try. It is always great to see people interested and excited to give it a try sometime.  I also get a laugh seeing just how shocked people are to find out you only use one club, the FlingStick, when playing and can avoid the full set of regular golf clubs.   

FlingGolf, created by Alex Van Alen, is an innovative sport which combines aspects of lacrosse, baseball, and hockey with golf.  The game can be played on any golf cours e, and to play FlingGolf all you need is a FlingStick and some golf balls.  Your FlingStick will act as your driver, irons, woods, wedges, and putter, so there is no need to lug around a full set when playing this sport.  To fling the golf ball, simply load the ball up into the channel at the end of the stick and throw the ball from the tee to the green.  Around the greens, there are many chipping techniques and putting is done with the striker pad on the head of the stick.  There are also many different styles that can be used to fling the ball, and you will find the shot that works best for you as you play more often.  

Here at the American Classic, we offer FlingGolf and have rental FlingSticks in which you can rent out for your round. FlingSticks can also be purchased at flinggolf.com if you want your own stick.  Since FlingGolf can be played alongside regular golfers, I feel that this is a great way for non-golfers to get out onto the course and have fun with their golfer friends.  The fact that fling golfers will only use the FlingStick and not a full set of clubs allows for pace of play to be kept up with anybody. 

I love regular golf and will always play as much as I can, but I also truly enjoy FlingGolf.  FlingGolf is a nice way to get out onto the course and chuck some balls around, and I have fun trying to improve and increase my fling distances off the tee.  Sometimes I like to bring a FlingStick out onto the course with me during my regular golf rounds to throw a few for fun (or when my regular golf game is lacking).  Bringing out the FlingStick can be a great way to find a fairway and change things up on the course.    

The last few summers here at the American Classic we have organized a laid back summer fling league on Friday evenings, and it was nice to see many new people out on the golf course for the first time who wanted to get out but struggled to pick up regular golf.  We will be bringing the league back this year and I cannot wait to see everyone out flinging again! We are also very excited to announce that we will have fun food and drink specials, making the fling evenings even better!  

Before the FlingGolf Fridays return, we will also be hosting a great FlingGolf fundraiser event to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on May 14that 6:00 PM.  No FlingGolf experience is required, and $15 dollars will cover the cost of your round and rental stick. All greens fees purchased will go to LLS!  Sign up HERE

Hope to see you all flinging this year! 

– Sam Cresta, Assistant Golf Professional at American Classic Golf Club

Last week in our blog, Austin wrote about how it is fun to golf with others.  While it is very fun to golf with others and is something I enjoy very much, I have empathy with those who would rather not be paired up with strangers at the golf course.  Sometimes, we all just want a relaxing solo round to ourselves or a nice round with the one friend we brought with us.  Evening twilight rounds or really early morning tee times can still allow for this type of round, but most rounds played at busy times will likely not give you that luxury. 

Golf courses have to pair people up to achieve a steady pace of play and to also ensure the maximum number of golfers can use the course on a given day.  Since this is something you will likely experience at many golf courses you may play, I wanted to talk about some tips to help make your paired up round stress-free and fun!

Tip #1: Maintain Pace of Play

I think one of the biggest misconceptions I have seen related to pairing up is that people may not enjoy playing with you based on skill level. Many people do not want to play with strangers because they feel they are not good and do not want to interfere with a stranger’s round.  From what I have seen working at the American Classic Golf Club and playing many other golf courses, people do not care how good you are.  What they care about is how fast you play.  It does not matter what you score and shooting a 110+ can still be enjoyable with any person, regardless of skill level, if you do not hinder pace of play and pick up when necessary.  So, play fast and have a great round with players of all skill levels!

Tip #2: Play the Tee Boxes for Your Game

A good way to keep pace with any player is to play the tees that best fit your game. If you are paired with experienced golfers who decide to play from the back tees, do not feel like you have to play back there with them.  Playing from forward tees will not only make your round more enjoyable but will also help keep your group moving.  

Tip #3: Play One Ball

It can certainly be annoying getting grouped with somebody who constantly drops 2-3 balls onto the tee after their first tee shot. This not only slows the pace of play within your group and the course, but it can also hinder your playing partners rounds.  Some people might not know they are not supposed to do that, so if you happen to get paired up with somebody who is constantly doing this, politely asking them to play one ball will likely get them to stop.  If the course is not too busy and your group is on board, then by all means play an extra shot or two here and there but avoid doing this right out of the gate.  

Tip #4: Don’t Show Off 

For more experienced golfers, I think the easiest way to ruin a golf round with strangers is to show off.  Constantly talking about how good you are and always looking to one-up you’re playing partners can make for an annoying round. Many people you may be paired up with are not looking for competition and did not show up to the course to watch how good you are.  Play your game as you want to the best of your ability but avoid showing off to your playing partners!  

Tip #5: Be Friendly 

This is a good way to be in anything you do, but this is especially true in golf.  Even if you are unhappy to be paired, there is no reason to be rude to your playing partners.  There is no need to be ultra-social and outgoing, and it is totally fine to do your own thing on the course by yourself or with your one friend you came to the course with.  Regardless, being friendly and somewhat social with your playing partners will make for a great round no matter who you are paired with.  

I understand the pressures that can come with playing with strangers.  I used to dread being paired up with strangers too, but now I enjoy it.  Stick to these tips and keep an open mind, and who knows you may just meet some great people in the process!

-Sam Cresta, Assistant Golf Professional at American Classic GC

Have you often wondered about how you can make your lawn at home look like a golf course? Multiple times throughout the year, we are asked “What do you guys do to keep your grass looking so alive and green?” People see the beautiful bluish green colors and are amazed at how well the grass looks. With some proper care and grass knowledge, we are excited to share with you how to make your lawn look like the golf course.

The first step in having a beautiful lawn is to understand your soil and the climate you live in. Here in the Mid-Atlantic region, we have one of the toughest climates as it can get as hot as the south in the summertime, and as cold as the north in the winter. You can always pick different grasses that blend together and bloom when one goes dormant, but it’s important to choose when you want your grass looking the best. 

For most people, summer is when you want your lawn looking the prettiest as it is when you are able to enjoy it the most. Because of this, you should pick a grass that does well in warmer weather. Fescue, Rye, and Bermuda grasses are a few types that we have on the golf course, and they do well in different ways. The Fescue and Rye can sustain the summer months when properly watered and not cut too short, while the Bermuda doesn’t require much water at all, but only keeps it’s green colors in the hot summer months. If we were to suggest which grass to choose, we recommend going with a fescue and cutting it no shorter than 3 inches, and allowing it to grow a little longer in those scorching hot summer months of July and August.

After you understand your soil and climate, and choose the right grass type, it’s also important to have irrigation. When it’s not raining on a consistent basis, your grass needs to be watered to stay alive. The important thing to know when watering is that you don’t want to over water because the sitting water can cook the grass in the middle of the day, and that you should try to avoid watering overnight as that becomes the time when fungus and other diseases thrive. We suggest watering early in the morning for the sun to help dry up the excess water, and occasionally watering throughout the day to help keep the grass cool. When you see us watering on the course in the middle of the day, it’s not to grow the grass, but to keep it cool and prevent it from burning up.

If you want to have a beautiful lawn, not as much work and effort is required as you would think. Understand your soil and get it aerated every now and then to allow oxygen to get to the roots, and choose your desired grass type and water it correctly. If you do this process in the Fall and overseed again in the Spring, you will be very happy with the results.

Knowing this information will help turn your yard around in no time, and you’ll be able to take those practice swings you’ve always wanted. . . at least until you take that first divot and cry a little inside after all your hard work and money gets chopped up. We can tell you that in this moment, you will finally know how it feels to work on the grounds crew at the golf course. Enjoy your grass though, and let your neighbors be jealous of how beautiful it is. 

-Austin Ebersole, Head Golf Professional at American Classic Golf Club

Concerning COVID-19 & Golfer Safety

UPDATED: May 18, 2020

In light of COVID-19, we have decided to start online bookings with pre-payment as well as prepayment over the phone. 

Governor Carney has decided to allow golf courses to remain open at this time. For the foreseeable future, we will be open everyday from 7 am to 6:30 pm. Inside the Pro Shop and Cafe will be closed, but we will be accepting tee times via online and over the phone. We will also be operating out of a service window that is located out front of the building. You will need to check in at the service window. If you need to use the restroom, you may enter the clubhouse to use the restroom.

Details on how to book your tee times below:

If you book online you will be required to prepay at the time of booking. This will help keep you safe, as well as, keep our staff safe during this time.

If you know someone who does not use our website or online bookings, please have them give us a call at 302-703-6662 and we can process their credit card over the phone when they book a tee time. If you have a group of two or more and do not want to pay for all players, please have them call in to pay for their greens fees ahead of time as well.

NO MORE CASH TRANSACTIONS! We are trying to limit hand to hand transactions, so you may purchase club credit or use a credit card online or over the phone! Club Credit is like a gift card but goes directly onto your account and can be used at anytime for almost anything (carts, drinks, snacks, greens fees, etc). Club credit never expires!

We are still accepting walk in golfers at this time, but we cannot guarantee tee times for those who do so. As one of the only recreational activities allowed to stay open, we are expecting to be busy on warmer days. The safest way to guarantee a tee time is to book and prepay online or over the phone.

Another note: please do not hang out in the parking lot with your golfing group before or after your round. Gathering of any kind is prohibited. 

YOU MUST WEAR A MASK TO COME INTO THE CLUBHOUSE TO THE RESTROOM & While using the putting green, checking in at the front desk, and any area you are within 6 feet of another golfer. 

How check in will work:

1. Prebook/Pre call to schedule time and pay.

2. Show up just 5-10 minutes before tee time.

3. Check in with staff AT SERICE WINDOW IN FRONT OF CLUBHOUSE.

4. Play your round! Yay! Fun!! Please stay 6-10 feet away from each other while playing.

Other Fun News! :

All tee boxes are now OPEN! Woooo! #FreshSod

Our online pro shop is up and running. If you would like to purchase gift cards, clothing, or other golf equipment, you can now do so on our online store. After receiving payment, we will ship your order directly to you.

We are now offering a 3-hole rate! If you just want to get outside and play a few holes, the price will be $9 for 3 holes (holes 7, 8, & 9)! This is available everyday from 8am-9am & 3pm-5pm. Please call to book 3 hole tee times! We do not have the capability to allow you to book that online. Also, if a 16 year old or younger wants to come and play 3 holes it is just $5!

AND YOU CAN BUY BEER TO DRINK DURING YOUR ROUND!!!! We can sell 6-packs for on the course.

Thank you for your continued support. We will get through this together. If you have any questions please give us a call or email us.  Again we are sorry for any inconvenience. Please stay safe & healthy everyone!