Ladies Hit the Links at Jaworski's Valleybrook

Most men aren’t tough enough to play in this kind of heat.

On evenings like these, the pro shops are usually full, but the first tee is usually empty.

Golfers are more likely to be recalling great shots taken on more fair afternoons than to be practicing their short game on the driving range in the midst of the heat wave.

Some men even watched from the balcony as the crowd on the driving range grew and grew; eventually it began to overflow.

Women golfers from the area packed the links on Wednesday evening at for the Ladies Night League, despite the temperature still lingering around 90 degrees. More than 70 would-be golfers packed the driving ranges and practice greens of former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski’s Blackwood country club as PGA professionals (and brothers) Tom and Dick Smith worked with them.

It was the second week of the Valleybrook Ladies League and the evening’s lesson was on the short game. The real focus, however, was on the sheer amount of women who turn out for the league In general.

“We have done similar activities with other facilities, but nothing quite this big,” Tom Smith remarked, noting Valleybrook’s ability to accommodate the group's size.

Tom and his brother run The Dick Smith Golf Academy.

“Dick and I have been doing this for quite a few years and typically the ladies events are smaller," Tom said. "But because the combination of the facility—which is perfect at Valleybrook—and our teaching techniques are good for beginners, they seem to like it over here.”

In total, 120 women have signed up for the Valleybrook Ladies League, an unexpected number for a league that is only in its third year. 

“Every year it has grown fairly dramatically,” Tom added, admitting that it was great to see so many people brave the heat for their league night. “We were very surprised at the number of ladies that showed up.”

Each clinic follows the same formula for the Smith Academy teachings: Simplicity.

The golf swing can get into a beginner's head very quickly. It is the only game where “thinking too much” can become contagious. The risk of overwhelming a newcomer to golf on the complexity of the swing is always a present danger.

“We basically teach what we call the five fundamentals,” Smith explained, detailing that elements of the grip, the player's stance, posture and alignment are all covered in a manner that beginners can digest. “It’s very simplistic. We don’t load you up on things you have to remember.”

While covering the fundamentals, each week of the Valleybrook Ladies League has a different focus—from basics to short game and from rules to etiquette. After each lesson the ladies head out to the course for nine holes to apply what they have been practicing, and getting a chance to also play one of the area's better courses.

Due to the overwhelming response at the Valleybrook Country Club Ladies League, registration is actively full and only a waiting list remains available. Further information on the league and the Dick Smith Golf Academy can be found here.