Golf

The trouble started with the new clubhouse. Woodcrest Country Club , a pleasant 6,528-yard par-71 layout in the southwest corner of Cherry Hill, dates to 1929, when the Camden area's Jewish elite, unwelcome at other golf courses, started its own. The building committee reviewed plans for a new clubhouse in 2002. Members agreed to borrow $8 million from Sun National Bank of Vineland, controlled by members of the Brown family , Woodcrest members and owners of trucking giant NFI Industries, to finance the new clubhouse.

Player              School           Class        Major Dan Drazen          Rutgers-Camden Jr.        Economics Brendan Kelly          Villanova          Sr.        Finance Andrew Mason       Temple             Sr.     Real estate Michael Serensits    Drexel             Jr.        Bus. admin. Greg Verde             Cabrini             So.

St. Joseph's Prep edged regular-season champ La Salle by two strokes to captured the team trophy at the Catholic League golf championships yesterday at the Golf Course at Glen Mills. Led by individual champion Kevin Melnick, who carded a 3-over-par 74, the Prep had a team score of 492 in the nine-team competition. Monsignor Bonner's Steve Minnick and La Salle's Kevin Genuardi shot 75 each.

A mob associate paid cash for a five-day "golf getaway" in Florida for Camden Mayor Milton Milan and his girlfriend, in the winter of 1998, witnesses testified yesterday. The jury in Milan's corruption trial saw a videotape of the mayor and his then-girlfriend, Kathryn Santa (now Milan's wife), and Camden attorney and mob associate Daniel Daidone at Philadelphia International Airport, about to board a plane to West Palm Beach. The silent video was shot by Philadelphia Police Det. Marcelino "Mark" Pinero, who has been assigned to an FBI organized crime squad for the past 17 years.

Sugar Ray Leonard was in Philadelphia to host the 2d Inner City Golf Classic yesterday.

Golf is hot; tennis is not. No, the Ryder Cup is not more popular than the U.S. Open, which starts today. But in the last five years, golf - slow golf, boring golf, too-privileged golf - has risen in popularity as never before. The 1998 Statistical Abstract of the United States reported that the number of golfers skyrocketed from 13 million to 25 million during the previous two decades, while the number of tennis players fell from 34 million to 18 million. Golf has Tigermania.

No matter how they fared in this week's AJGA tournament at White Manor Country Club, Zachary and Erica Herr had a wonderful time sharing the highs and lows of each round with each other at the end of the day. It's a strong brother-sister bond between Zachary, 15, and Erica, 14, two rising stars on the nation's junior golf scene. And they're being joined by their 12-year-old sister, Madelein, who played in her first AJGA event last month in State College. The entire family is involved.

The owners of the bankrupt Rancocas Country Club in Willingboro may sell the property to developers despite a deed restriction limiting the land to use as a golf club, a federal judge ruled yesterday. The owners of the 130-acre site, which closed last month, had sought the ruling because the property could be sold for more money if used for development. However, township officials and residents adjacent to the golf course argued in briefs filed with the court that a restriction in the deed limited the grounds to use as a golf course.

The 75 Warminster residents who sat through last week's raucous, 5 1/2-hour Board of Supervisors meeting heard Ray Regan, the board's lone Democrat, accuse his Republican counterparts of a "massive financial cover-up on the golf course. " It was not the first time that Regan had cried foul about the financial condition of the township's Five Ponds Golf Course, claiming it was a drain on the township's resources. But this time, his volley came on the heels of an announcement that the course would show a profit - thus leaving the residents baffled.

Plans for an Arnold Palmer-designed golf course in Whitpain Township are one step closer to becoming reality. On Monday, the Whitpain Board of Supervisors approved two subdivision plans for a private golf course community at DeKalb, Morris and North Wales Roads, known as Normandy Farms. Franklin Realty Development Corp. in Whitpain and Hansen Properties of Horsham plan to develop the 350-plus acre tract into an 18-hole golf course and a 750-house development. During its meeting, the board voted, 4-0, to approve the request of David P. Greger to subdivide his 65-acre property at North Wales Road and sell a portion of the land to Franklin and Hansen.

VIRGINIA WATER, England - Graeme McDowell was left to bemoan the sometimes obscure rules of golf after he was docked 2 shots on the last hole in a "freak" scenario at the PGA Championship on Thursday. The former U.S. Open champion was on course to break par in his opening round at Wentworth when he approached the ball after hitting his drive into the bushes to the right of the fairway. The ball, which was lying on a bed of branches, moved slightly - costing him a shot - and because he didn't replace it, he was handed another penalty stroke by the European Tour referee.

Burlington Township won the NJSIAA State Group 3 and Tournament of Champions boys' team golf titles on Monday at Hopewell Valley Country Club. The Falcons carded an overall score of 303, led by Kevin Sarlo - the individual runner-up in Group 3 with a 1-over-par 73. Sarlo was joined on the leaderboard by teammates Brandon Roche (third, 74) and Nick Carpetti (fourth, 76). Mainland was third to Burlington Township in Group 3 with a 339. Middle Township, paced by David Hicks (second, 74)

First fried chicken and now golf? There's just no telling what can get a player in trouble with demanding Red Sox fans. Embattled Red Sox ace Josh Beckett was booed off the field at Fenway Park Thursday night when he was pulled after just 21/3 ineffective innings against Cleveland. The pitcher, one of three Sox accused of spending games eating fried chicken and drinking beer in the clubhouse last season, now is under fire for playing golf. Beckett was scratched from a start last week because of stiffness in his side.

GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP, N.J. — Brittany Lincicome obviously can't wait to get back to the Seaview Resort in another month. And not just because she's the defending champion of the LPGA's ShopRite Classic (June 1-3 on the Bay Course). There are also the hotel's tennis courts. Not to mention those casinos across Absecon Bay. If they only had a dock to park her new fishing boat, the venue would be complete. The 26-year-old Floridian is hardly one-dimensional. So don't expect to find her pounding balls on the driving range until the moon comes out. That's not her style.

Cody Danzen of St. Augustine shot a 1-under-par 71 to win the individual title, and the Lafferty brothers helped Cherokee to its first team title in the 31st annual Carl Arena/Al Rifkin golf tournament on Thursday at Running Deer Golf Club in Pittsgrove. Danzen finished two shots ahead of Vince Kwon of Cherry Hill East and Washington Township's Joe Russo, who tied for second at 73. Blaine and Liam Lafferty joined teammates Brett Fernandes and Colin Geary in carding a 319 for Cherokee, which edged runner-up Middle Township (322)

Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square hosts thousands of golfers who hit thousands of balls into water hazards each year. This week, four people from Michigan decided to retrieve some of those strays - by diving into the ponds. According to Willistown police, the four were arrested at the club early Wednesday. In their white van and trailer, police found scuba equipment and about 8,000 golf balls, some marked "White Manor Country Club. " Police said the four claimed they had permission from White Manor to retrieve the balls from the murky water hazards and resell them.

A land dispute is threatening construction of the golf course in Sao Paulo, Brazil, for the 2016 summer games, when the sport is to be played at the Olympics for the first time since 1904. Malvern-based designer Gil Hanse's firm will build the golf course. The city might have to find a new site, meaning the project would start from scratch and possibly not be ready for test events in 2015. The city said in response to the Associated Press that it just became aware of the situation on Thursday and was "evaluating the measures it will take.

Golf courses come in all shapes and sizes, some in mountain ranges and others on less-imposing terrain. Those that are easier to navigate help to boost a beginner's confidence, while others are designed to challenge the most-seasoned player. Most golfers live for the first day of the year they can hit the links. Others don't wait; they travel during cold winter months to warmer climes to play. For them, golf is a lifestyle. They go for the camaraderie, to win bragging rights, to conduct business, to make contacts - and even for exercise.