Seaview History 101

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/press/atlantic/article_16b18ba5-d063-5b1c-8557-3cfb363cfb09.html


A weekly feature that answers reader questions about people, events, history and news in southern New Jersey.

Q: What is the history of the Seaview Country Club?
Connie Siuta, Long Beach Island


Answer Guy: Nestled in the woods of Galloway Township, the Seaview has a long history as a regional landmark.

Charles H. Geist opened Seaview Golf Club on Nov. 17, 1914, according to The Press of Atlantic City's archives, and it was the pinnacle of luxury.

Paul Jau, whose grandfather Maurice was head pastry chef there from before the Great Depression to the 1950s, said the links attracted such big names as Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman and comedian Bob Hope.

And it's no wonder. According to Michael Tidwell, the newly appointed director for sales and marketing, back then, valets took patrons' cars before a round, washed them, filled up the tank and returned them at the end.

But the club had money troubles.

A $2,000 tax hike prompted Geist to announce an unsuccessful bid to secede from the township Aug. 15, 1937. Following Geist's death, the club was auctioned Aug. 30, 1939, in a sheriff's sale. Geist's estate owed $500,000, archives show. Florence H. Geist, her daughter and Harold S. Schutt, president of the club, bought the 169-room clubhouse, 500 acres of land and three golf courses for $65,000.

Marriott Corp. bought the property in 1984 and named it the Seaview Marriott Resort . When LaSalle Hotel Properties bought the Seaview in 1997, it contracted Marriott to run the property. It was then called the Seaview Marriott Resort & Spa. LaSalle invested $3 million in the property in 2004, but by 2007, performance had slumped.

In February, LaSalle announced its intentions to change management. Dolce Hotels and Resorts and Troon Golf took over at the 670-acre property - which now includes a 297-room hotel, restaurants and two 18-hole courses - on May 8.

It is now called Seaview Golf Resort.

Got a question?

If you have a question you would like the Answer Guy to tackle, call 609-569-7489, or mail your question to The Press Answer Guy, The Press of Atlantic City, 11 Devins Lane, Pleasantville, NJ 08232. Questions can be faxed to 609-272-7224. E-mail: answerguy@pressofac.com

Posted in Atlantic on Sunday, May 17, 2009 4:00 am


BUT THAT'S NOT THE HALF OF IT.

IT APPEARS THAT THE ANSWER GUY ONLY READS THROUGH THE OLD NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS AND MAKES A FEW PHONE CALLS, BECAUSE THIS STORY IS YET TO BE TOLD MORE TO COME - BK