Sports

PGA Tour Tees Off in Plainfield

Barclays Championship delivers a star-studded lineup to the storied Edison club as players vie for $1.35 top prize and FedEd points.

As the top players in the world of professional golf prepare to tee it up at the historic Plainfield Country Club this weekend, New Jersey golf fans are spending more time talking about Irene instead of Tiger.

That's because the disgraced former be-all-end-all of the PGA Tour couldn't earn a spot in the star-studded field for the latest stop on the Tour's FedEx Cup playoff chase. Think the $1.35 million awarded to the winner of this event is good? The players also are vying for 2,500 points in the chase for a $10 million bonus at the season-ending Tour Championship. 

The Barclays Championship field will try to tame Plainfield Country Club, the course built in 1916 by famed Scottish designer Donald Ross. Many area residents pass by the club without even knowing anything about the gem at the top of the hill off Woodland Avenue. The club has hosted the 1978 U.S. Amateur and the 1987 U.S. Women’s Open, in addition to numerous state and regional USGA and PGA of America championships. The club is most definitely on the radar of the golf cognescenti, ranked 28th on Golfweek's list of "America's Greatest Classic" courses, 70th in the U.S. by GOLF Magazine and 71st in the U.S. by Golf Digest.

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In an era when many of the PGA Tour stops are played at brand-new, long and monstrous courses built for spectator golf, Plainfield is one of the classic courses that earns raves from the players, even after they struggle to master the intricate, undulating greens and tight, tree-lined fairways.

So, as longtime Tour stars such as Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and Steve Stricker try to fight off young studs such as PGA Champion Keegan Bradley, Ricky Fowler and Adam Scott, you'll have a chance to see some great golf on a course you might not otherwise have a chance to check out.

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Here is more of what you'll need to have a blast this weekend: 

What The Barclays Championship, part of the "FedEx Cup" playoff system that will deliver $10 million to top point earner at the end of the season-long competition. Oh, and this week's winner earns $1.35 million from the $8 million purse.

Where Plainfield Country Club, 1591 Woodland Avenue, Edison

When Today through Sunday; barring weather delays, play will go on from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Parking You don't just drive to the course and find a parking spot, so drive to Oak Ridge Park, three miles from the club, where you will pay $10 and jump on a shuttle to the course. The shuttle will run from the course to the lot until 7 each evening.

Star-gazing You'll see virtually everyone from the PGA Tour's top 123 players. While some fans like to walk the course looking for action or simply follow their favorite player, you also can find a place in the stands that gives you a view of three other holes. The driving range is also a great place to watch players warm up before they take to the course.

Don't be that guy Cameras are not allowed on the course. Of course, you can have your smartphone with you (keep the ringer on silent), but fight the urge to snap a player in mid-swing or you'll be escorted from the course.

Weather Golfers play through rough elements, unless thunder and lightning strikes (well, they are carrying long metal sticks on a tree-lined playground). The club has an elaborate weather tracker and you can hear a siren warning of coming electrical storms. Get away from the metal stands and out from under trees to get free from any weather mayhem. In the wake of Hurricane Irene, expected to hit the area on Sunday, the final round could be washed out, which would bump play to Monday. 

TV Can't make it live? Tune into coverage on the Golf Channel (3-6 p.m. today and Friday, 1-2:30 p.m. Saturday and 12-1:30 p.m. Sunday) and NBC 3-6 p.m. Saturday and 2-6 p.m. Sunday).

Did you know? Plainfield was founded in 1890 as the Hillside Tennis Club. Ross built the golf course in 1916 and the rest is golf history.


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