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Barry Dear, Head Golf Professional

Barry is an experienced P.G.A Professional, bringing with him over 22 years of experience as a competitive player and professional. Barry played all four years for UNC-Greensboro (NC) on a full scholarship, after which he held several assistant and head pro jobs at various clubs in Florida, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.  Notable are his teaching activities at Okeeheelee GC in Palm Beach County (most populated county in FL), where he started an extremely successful junior program.  Barry has spent some time on the Florida mini-tour circuit, the Hooters Tour, and on the New England tour, where he won once and had several top 5 finishes. He continues to play competitively in the Philadelphia Section, a very competitive PGA section, where he has had some success and remains ranked within the top 20.  As mentioned, Barry is a good, experienced teacher, and many of his former students have had success in competitive golf.  He is just now beginning to have time to do some teaching now at Garrisons, and in keeping with the pricing philosophy of Garrisons Lake Golf Club, his rates are extremely reasonable (see the Rates page). Oh - don't forget to ask Barry about his friends in golf, like Phil M . . .

DRESS CODE & COURSE POLICIES:
Golfers are required to wear a collared shirt, and jeans/cutoff shorts are not allowed.  In addition, each player is required to have his own golf bag and set of clubs.

See Map and Get Directions  (From DE 1 toll road, take exit 114 to Rt 13, course is 2.2 miles to the south, on right.)

Some Garrisons Lake Golf Club History:
This newly renovated championship golf course is built on a 160-acre tract and was originally built as a private country club in 1962.  It was closed in 2003 after a developer bought the property and announced plans to build 450 homes. Dedicated government officials and the local community persuaded the General Assembly to allocate $3.3 million to purchase the property.  In 2006, the Delaware Division of Parks and Recreation began renovations of the course and the surrounding area. The renovation project was completed in sixteen months. 

The completely rebuilt greens are larger and more undulating.  Originally round/oval for the most part, they now feature undulations and irregular shapes, and they are complemented with larger greenside sand bunkers.  Tee boxes have been rebuilt, with four sets of tees to accommodate all skill levels.  A new well and pumping system are in place, and the driving range/practice facilities conveniently located close to the first teebox have also been rebuilt.  

The pro shop and food concession buildings between the parking lot and practice area are of modular construction, in keeping with the overall concept of minimizing costs in order to keep greens fees low.  The Delaware State Golf Association, a private non-profit organization, has formed a new corporation to operate and maintain the facility for the State of Delaware.

Garrisons Lake Golf Club was originally built as a 9-hole course in 1962, with the second nine added in 1963.  The original founders & owners, Charles and Dorothy Ewing, planted approximately 8500 trees, most of which remain today.  Over 400 trees have been removed to improve playability and to enable good air circulation.  The remaining trees along fairways have been pruned to allow equipment access, and many more trees are scheduled for removal in the coming months.  While the layout remains basically the same as originally designed by Edmund Ault, the renovation changes were designed and overseen by Ault's son Brian.

As of September 12, 2008, the course is again open for play.  Tee times are required, with tee times starting at 8:00 AM Monday - Sunday.  Tee time intervals are 12 minutes currently, and will continue for several months in order to reduce traffic on the course as it matures and grows in.

View a photo album tour of the course, taken pre-opening (July 31, 2008) - click here.