In 1962, three of the biggest names in professional golf — Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player — had banner years, winning the U.S. Open, Masters and PGA Championship, respectively.
Economic development in the area also had a banner year from golf in 1962 when the Ramblewood Country Club opened its doors at 200 Country Club Parkway in Mount Laurel.
For weeks before the club opening, local newspapers advertised houses for sale near the course, with some ranging from $18,300 to $26,000.
Harry Goodwin, a member of the Ramblewood club's board of governors, boasted that the club would have pools, courts for tennis, basketball and volleyball and, with a seating capacity of roughly 500, the "largest country club dining room and ballroom in South Jersey," according to a press report at the time.
A newspaper ad shows housing growing up around the "new" Ramblewood Country Club in 1962.
Although the country club started as a members-only facility, within a couple of years it opened to the public.
One of its golfers was Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski, who played 17 years in the NFL and was with the Eagles from 1977 to 1986.
While still playing football, several Eagles charity events sent Ron to Ramblewood, said to B.J. Jaworski, Ron’s son and president of Ron Jaworski Golf, the collective name given to the similar facilities that have ties to the former Eagles quarterback.
Ron met the original owner, Richard Goodwin, and was in awe of both the man and the site, he said.
"My dad, being the entrepreneur that he is, always kept in touch with Richard and said, 'Hey, if you ever think about moving on, if you ever think about selling, keep me on top of the list'," B.J. told 70and73.com.
Ron Jaworski, left, and Tyler Vincent, director of golf for Ron Jaworski Golf, have overseen updates to the golf courses during their tenure at the site formerly known as Ramblewood Country Club.
During the Goodwin family's ownership, there was an effort to turn the golf course into a residential development, but rulings by the Township and, later, several courts nixed those plans, according to press reports.Â
Fast forward to 2016, when Jaworski and several others purchased Ramblewood Country Club, making it the seventh of Jaworski’s purchases.
"When it went up for sale, we knew we could really take Ramblewood to the next level," Ron said. "We couldn't be happier that we got the chance to purchase it and we look forward to continuing making this a place the whole community can enjoy."
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After the purchase was final, a renovation and refurbishing of what has become Ron Jaworski’s Ramblewood Country Club was completed, Ron said in an email to 70and73.com.
"We have gutted and redone the whole clubhouse, ballroom and tavern, built an outdoor pavilion, redone the pro shop and enhanced the outdoor wedding areas," Ron said. "We have completely redone all the bunkers on the property, redone carts' paths, upgraded our irrigation (and) built new forward tee boxes for beginners and lower-swing-speed golfers."
Brian Bayliss, general manager of Ron Jaworski’s Ramblewood Country Club, left, and B.J. Jaworski, president of Ron Jaworski Golf, discuss some of the events held at the site.Â
The club also allocated "a ton of time and expense" in its commitment to have top-notch playing greens, Ron said.
The country club's dining areas were renovated, and culinary staff was added, including an executive chef, B.J. said.
Staff for the facility and Ron Jaworski Golf consists of PGA Professionals, Ron's wife, Liz Jaworski (she is Chief Leadership Officer) and non-family members who are professionals in areas like soil management and food and beverages, B.J. said.
Three courses — Red and White (both built in 1962) and Blue (built in 1972) — can be played, depending on the player's skill level, B.J. said.
B.J. also said the club prides itself on more of a diversity of players in age, race and sex than many courses.
"It is not only great to see more different types of people embrace the game of golf, it is great for the future of golf," he said.
Besides hosting rounds of golf for the amateurs and the experts, Ron Jaworski's Ramblewood Country Club is home to regional and local fundraisers, such as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Dunkin' Cup, which raises money for charities in several states, including New Jersey.
A sports bar adjacent to the country club named Seven Tap Tavern and banquet rooms are also growing in popularity, enhancing the country club's reputation as "a staple in South Jersey," B.J. said.Â
"I've worked at other places that do weddings, and they start to, for lack of a better word, feel the same after a while," said Brian Bayliss, general manager of the country club. "(Here) every day there's different colored napkins, different color linen, different flowers, some tables are here, the other tables are there and every day the room looks different."
IF YOU GO:
Ron Jaworski’s Ramblewood Country Club is at 200 Country Club Parkway in Mount Laurel Township. Its amenities have varying hours depending on seasons and events, so consult its website.
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