It was June 1981, and Merion Golf Club was preparing the course for the U.S. Open. Goldman Sachs had reserved Merion for the day, to celebrate the “Open“ and hold an outing for their regional institutional clients.
As breakfast was served, the players introduced themselves. Their home golf courses included most of the top courses throughout Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. When it was my turn, I said, “George Stasen, Cobbs Creek Golf Course.” For an instant the room was silent – none of these elite players knew what to say. But I knew my home course should be revered as highly as any exclusive golf club.
I started playing golf – at John Bartram High School, in Southwest Philadelphia where I was born and raised. To play Cobbs I would take public transportation to the 69th Street terminal, walk to the second hole, and tee off. Occasionally I would pay, but only when I got caught!
Cobbs was my sanctuary. During the school year played on Wednesdays, and on weekends, I caddied. The course had no official caddy program we were “stealth caddies,” just kids who loved golf. I was typically the only white caddy in the group, but we all got along because we shared a love of the game.
Sometimes, I caddied for players who were members of elite clubs. Many of them had even learned to play golf at Cobbs, and they knew what the rest of us knew: that Cobbs was a top course, worthy of the same level of respect as any of the nation’s premier country clubs.
I have played many of the finest courses in Scotland, Ireland, and the U.S., but my fondest memories are of playing at Cobbs Creek.
To give back to golf, I co-founded M-Tek, the developer (according to many experts) of the World’s Finest “Autonomous Mower and Mowing System” for golf courses. We are preparing to sell the company. After the sale, we will make a substantial contribution to the Cobbs Creek Foundation.
As they say in Scotland, “Hit it Far and True!”
George Stasen
610-399-3180