Golf Styles, August 2007
Originally part of the Panther Ledge Farm Estate of Clendenin James Ryan Jr., Panther Valley Golf club – despite its brief history – has hosted many famous dignitaries over the years.
Situated in Allamuchy, amid acres of landscaped countryside in the northwestern part of the state, is the private equity Panther Valley Golf & Country Club.
The property was originally part of the Panther Ledge Farm estate of Clendenin James Ryan Jr. Clendenin, a NJ delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1948, was grandson of Thomas “Fortune” Ryan, a New York financier. Thomas had a seat on the New York Stock Exchange and was active in politics, especially the Tammany Hall machine.
Thomas Ryan made his fortunes with coal mines, banks, public utilities, railroads and tobacco. At one time T.F Ryan had controlling interest in 30 corporations. He died in 1928, as one of the ten richest men in the country, leaving more than $200 million to his descendants.
Black Angus cows were bred and raised on Clendenin’s 4,000-acre cattle farm. The farm’s name is still legible on stone pillars at the gateway entrance to the club near the pro shop. The top four holes of the golf course (15, 16, 17, and 18) were used by the Ryan family as their own layout on what is now known as the Adult Swimming Pool.
All 18 holes of this Robert Trent Jones Sr. design were ready for play in the fall of 1969. Although the style and charm of the pools and cabana seem like vestiges of an earlier period, they were completed and in use in 1970. When Panther Valley opened the grill room, the locker rooms and pro shop were housed in a barn and silo, later called Temperance Hall. The present–day pro shop occupies this spot.
The Panther Valley Ledge Farm Residence, a.k.a. The “White House,” was modified to serve as the dining facility and official clubhouse. Although a 1988 fire destroyed a portion of this building, some of it was saved. The present day 25,000–square–foot clubhouse contains the locker rooms, lounge and dining rooms on the same site.
“Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the 32nd president of the United States, was a frequent visitor with Allamuchy resident and close friend Mary Rutherford, whose estate was located across and up the road,” said assistant golf professional Bucky Kavanagh, who has worked there for more than 30 years. “FDR would travel from Washington aboard the Ferdinand Magellan, his specially built Pullman presidential railcar, to nearby Hacketstown. Mary’s two sons, Winthrop and Guy, were founding members of the club.”
The golf course housing community had its first residents in 1969. Frank H. Taylor and Traveler Insurance, the developers of the community and builders of the golf course, sold the country club to its members and it was renamed the Panther Valley Golf & Country Club in 1977. One hundred eleven proprietary certificates were sold for $3,000 each.
“Over the years th,e number of proprietary certificates was raised to 290. We are almost at that level today. Swimming, ten.nis, weekday and dining memberships are also offered on a nonproprietary basis. Today, the membership enjoys a full service club with an annual budget approaching $4,000,000,” said Joseph Kuntar, the seasoned general manager at the club.
Growth and improvements are ongoing at Panther Valley. The first phase of a master plan developed with The Roger Rulewich Group began this spring. The focus of the initial work is on 425–yard par 4 third hole and adjacent 521–yard par 5 11th. All the tees on the third are being redone. The two existing fairway bunkers on No. 3 are also being combined into a larger one.
“A stream sitting between the third hole’s tee boxes and the adjacent 11th green had been problematic and susceptible to seasonal water levels. It has been all but eliminated and stone retention walls have been added that address the water problem, further enhance the overall character of th.is area and seem like they’ve been here for a long time,” said Pat Campbell, Panther Valley’s 16–year–certified golf course superintendent.
The two green–side bunkers, an additional two near the green, and one fairway bunker, were redone on the 11th. Even though the course is in great condition, some of the greens have changed over the years.
“A reason for the work is to bring back the look and feel to those early days when the bunkers, tees, greens and fairways were very much in the style that Mr. Jones intended. The selection of Roger Rulewich was a natural one. He was, after all, Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s chief architect when the course was built in ’68,” added Campbell.
A 6,800-square-foot practice area incorporating a putting green with surrounding pitching fairway has been added behind the pro shop and adjacent to the driving range.
“1l1e old practice green needed to be replaced, as did the small seasonal water collection area that sat next to it. Although it was an adequate green unto itself, it really didn’t prepare players for the actual conditions of the greens on the golf course,” said Campbell.
The overall course, with bent grass tee to green, is well maintained. The greens are mature, look and offer a lush feel when you walk on them, but run smoothly with a good pace. The layout includes some tricky and long par4s (the 425-yard third, 456-yard fifth and 439-yard eighth). No. 12 has a small two-tiered green, and doglegs. Some find the greens difficult to read because of the subtle undulations. In addition, water hazards come into play on at least 13 separate occasions.
There are active programs for men, women, and juniors. The caddie program trains students who are available to carry upon request, mostly on weekends. The club hosted the New Jersey amateur championship in 1994 and 2003, and the Garden State’s senior amateur in 1996.
“We have a wonderful, supportive and friendly membership,” said head professional Dan Pasternak.
In addition to a special golf course there are additionally some magical places on the property. The commanding presence and elegant interior of the white house, the step back in time at the cabana and cement pools, lighted tennis courts, the overall lushness of the grounds and setting, the quiet location and the richness of history offer a distinctive country club experience.Some have referred to it as a hidden gem. To many of its members, it is paradise found.
