Forest removed next to Rookery golf course
May 2, 2025
A timbering operation is cutting and removing most of the trees in a formerly densely wooded tract of land just east of The Rookery along Broadkill Road.
The property’s conversion to the final phase of the Woodfield Preserve subdivision is visually stunning, especially for Cape Region golfers who may have played the popular public course since its opening over two decades ago.
Thirty-five new homes will be built in this section, along with four streets and a pond to be sited adjacent to the Rookery’s practice range.
The rectangular property sits just north of the third fairway. It was bramble-filled and thick with trees. For several years an abandoned car sat in the woods, about twenty yards from that border. The car was still there on April 25.
When the Rookery first opened, the left rough of the third hole featured white out-of-bounds stakes. After some years the course took pity on golfers by changing the border stakes to red/green – hit in the woods, drop a ball near the cart path, and play on with a single stroke penalty.
With six home lots taking up that space along the third fairway, it will be interesting to see if those stakes change color again.
Cape golf team wins again at Hooper’s Landing
The Cape Henlopen High School golf team traveled again to Hooper’s Landing in Seaford April 29 to face Laurel High, twelve days after their April 17 defeat of Delmar at the same course.
The Vikings did not stay with the same set of starters, however, giving other players a chance to complete the six-match minimum required for DIAA state championship rankings and qualification.
Kingston Davis earned medalist honors for the third time this season with a three-over par 39 on the front nine to lead his team to the 168-235 victory. Jacob Gabbard’s 40 put him in second for Cape in his sixth start. Jack Tunnell shot a 42 for third best. Dalen Daminger and Joe Skelly tied with 47s, while Eddie Ghabour finished his round at 49.
Viking head coach Bill Geppert was pleased that Gabbard and Ghabour were able to meet their six-match goal. “We’re trying to make the team as competitive as possible for the conference tournament and the states.”
SAS wins squeaker
The Sussex Academy Seahawks won a close-fought match against Delmar April 30 by a single stroke, 163-164, on the par-35 front nine at Kings Creek Country Club.
Delmar’s Caleb Richey and the Academy’s Ryan Dostal shared medalist honors with a pair of 39s. Sam Metz scored next for the Seahawks with his 40. Quentin Bowman and Austin Dostal finished the SAS team scoring with two 42s.
SAS head coach Doug Grove said, “They were a little off and so were we. All in all, we were fortunate to win. We’ll take it and move on.”
Royals play St. Anne’s
Delmarva Christian Academy traveled to The Links at St. Anne’s April 29 to play against host Middletown High School and lost 169-187. However, the match gave the Georgetown team valuable exposure to the golf course’s challenges. It is the site for this year’s DIAA state golf championship at the end of this month.
Hayden Mazurek and Aidan Quintana earned co-medalist honors for the Cavaliers with a pair of 39s on the par 35 front nine. The Royals’ Avery Brown posted a 41 for the best DCA score. His teammate Joel Perry finished fourth overall with his 42. The other two Royals whose scores counted were Avery McCoy (49) and Connor Wall (55).
Sigel passing
Jay Sigel, a legendary Philadelphia area golfer with an amazing amateur record that stretched over decades, died April 19 at age 81 from pancreatic cancer.
Among many other titles, Sigel won the U.S. Amateur, the British Amateur, and the U.S. Mid-Amateur. At age 50 he joined the PGA Tour Champions, winning several titles and over $9 million.
I met Sigel last year at a book signing event for John Riley, author of an award-winning biography of Bill Hyndman, another fine amateur from the Philadelphia suburbs.
When I contacted Riley about Sigel’s passing, he said he was working on Sigel’s autobiography. “Jay was widely recognized as the greatest amateur since Bobby Jones. When he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, he called me and said, ‘We have to do my book, and I don’t have much time.’ We had discussed the possibility of a book when I interviewed him for my book on Hyndman.”
Riley continued, “A month ago when Jay received news that his cancer had spread and he had little time remaining, I told him how sorry I was. He said, ‘That’s ok, I’ve had a great life. I wouldn’t change one minute of it.’”
Local club competition results
The Mulligan’s Pointe Ladies League played a Crier’s Tournament April 29, the day before the Delaware state income tax filing deadline – which proves that the league managers have a sense of humor.
Karen Feuchtenberger, Valerie Grib, and Pat Burke won the first flight. Rita McConnell, Allison Sapka, and Pam Pichola won the second flight.