Staying on course
HARMONY — Tim McNulty never envisioned owning a golf course. It was not on his bucket list, to be sure.
He and his wife, Ann, bought the land where Strawberry Ridge Golf Course now sits as a farm.
“Turning it into a golf course was strictly a business decision,” McNulty said. “With farming labor and other costs, we felt that was the way to go.
“It wasn't my dream to own a golf course. To this day, I haven't played a full 18-hole round here.”
But he knows the course inside-and-out. McNulty, Ron Smith and Jeremy Raithel have taken care of the facility for years, with help from others.
“At the risk of sounding corny, we really are like an extended family here,” McNulty said. “Our workers go above and beyond, always doing the unexpected.
“Their help is irreplaceable.”
Smith and Raithel are at the top of that list.
“We work together on every aspect of this course,” McNulty said. “Putting in bunkers, improving cart paths, building tables ... everything.”
Strawberry Ridge opened in 2000 and McNulty has been working on improving the course annually ever since. The facility features a driving range and chipping area where golfers can practice every element of the game.
A kids' course has been carved out — no hole longer than 100 yards — where youths can learn the game.
But, just like farms, golf courses are dependent on the weather.
“We just had too much bad weather last year and couldn't get the greens seeded for that course,” McNulty said. “That's delayed us a year or so before it will be available.
“When it does open, we plan on having a Little Chippers League established. It will be a one-of-a-kind place where young kids can learn the game of golf.”
Strawberry Ridge's practice range is one-of-a-kind as it is. For the price of a bucket of balls — $6.50 — golfers can work on all types of shots.
“The driving range is there and the chipping area offers shots out of all types of bunkers and levels of grass,” McNulty said.
As for the course itself, Strawberry Ridge has 12 leagues, including three — Penn Power, Crossings and Elks — that have been there almost as long as the course itself has existed.
And McNulty has made certain that the layout of the course remains unique.“No two holes are alike here,” he said. “There's a lot of God-given beauty out here, too. What I like the most is you can play the course two different ways, conservatively or through high risk-reward.“This can be a highly strategic golf course.”McNulty's favorite hole personally is the 292-yard par-4 No. 14 because “it is totally secluded. You don't see any other golfers or any other hole ... It's total serenity.”But as for a signature hole, Strawberry Ridge doesn't offer one.It offers several.“Our golfers all have different favorite holes,” McNulty said. “One likes No. 17, another says No. 2, some like No. 8 ... It's all about personal preference.”The course has three par-5 holes — the longest being No. 12, playing 559 yards from the white tee — and five par-3 holes. The shortest hole is No. 8, which plays 142 yards from the white tee.“We have plenty of grass bunkers and water comes into play on quite a few holes here,” McNulty said.The restaurant at the facility offers a variety of sandwiches and food choices and “our steaks are second to none,” McNulty said.Golf fees on weekdays with a cart are $35, $30 for golfers age 55-62, $28 for golfers 62 and older. Regular fee with a cart on weekends is $41.McNulty urges golfers to call ahead for course availability.“This is the best weather we've had to start a season in three years,” McNulty said. “I'm optimistic we can have a good year.”
