By PAUL GIORDANO
Courier-Post Staff
Medford resident Joe Martin is on target to reach his goal of playing the ``Top 100 Golf Courses in the United States'' as rated by Golf Digest magazine.
Since April, when the quest stood at 91 played, Martin, a retired South Jersey educator with 36 years of service, has added seven more courses to his list. He started this summer in California where he played The Quarry at La Quinta (No.‚73) and then drove to and played the Valley Club of Monticeto (No.‚88) and the Pasatiempa Golf Club (No.‚94).
From California he traveled to Oregon where he played Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club Witch Hollow Course (No.‚86) and the Cross Water Country Club (No.‚80). He then flew to Hawaii and played The Prince Course (No.‚43) in Kauai and the Mauna Kea Golf Club (No.‚69) in Kamuela.
``That just leaves Augusta (Ga.) National (No.‚2) and the Shadow Creek Golf Club in Las Vegas (No.‚20),'' Martin said. ``I have a little knee problem right now, but I hope to complete the 100 by October.''
Martin has a scorecard, signed by his playing partners, of every course he has played. He even has a looseleaf binder, listing every course, date played, score and how many times played.
And by the way, he has played top-rated Pine Valley 11 times.
Shot at million: The Arthritis Foundation, New Jersey Chapter, has scheduled a million dollar hole-in-one contest, Sept.‚21-24, at Golf Land in Voorhees.
Players achieving specified shots during qualifying times advance to the semifinals on the afternoon of Sept.‚24 and then compete to advance to the finals, also that same afternoon.
During the finals, each participant takes one shot at a target hole 160 yards from a designated tee. Anyone making a hole-in-one during the qualifying days automatically becomes a finalist. A hole-in-
one scored in the final shootout by one or more players will also net $1 million. Additionally, contestants can win other prizes, including a Myrtle Beach, S.C., golf vacation package for two. Call (856) 616-8000.
Changing places: Thomas J. Kuhar, president and CEO of Ole Hansen & Sons, Inc., has appointed Patricia Vanderstine as general manager of Blue Heron Pines Golf Club. Vanderstine comes to Blue Heron Pines from Brigantine Golf Links, where she was employed for 12 years, the last seven as general manager in 1993.
Paul Giordano writes about golf for the Courier-Post. He can be reached at (856) 486-2424 or by fax at (856) 663-2831.
