Villa Roma to Host Democrat Tourney

By Fred Stabbert III
CALLICOON — August 11, 2000 – New Villa Roma Golf Course Superintendent Jeff Coccodrilla is excited about this weekend's 19th annual Sullivan County Democrat Golf Tournament at his course in Callicoon.
“The course is in great shape,” Coccodrilla said Wednesday. “We had a great spring (for keeping the course green) and my crew have done a really good job.”
The 56 two-man teams in the amateur tourney can expect to see several upgraded tee boxes, new landscaping on several holes and a course that is in excellent shape.
Coccodrilla said he will have the course playing moderately “difficult” by double cutting the greens and having the rough “at normal height.”
“We'll bring in two crews — a morning and afternoon crew — to make sure everything is right,” Coccodrilla said.
“The rough this year is much more plush than usual because of the excessive rainfall we’ve had,” Coccodrilla said.
Villa Roma Golf Pro Matt Kleiner is also looking forward to his course’s 11th year of hosting the Democrat in its 19-year history.
The first shots of the Democrat will be fired at 8 a.m. this morning in the first of two qualifying rounds.
“All the teams will be qualifying from the black tees,” Kleiner said. “It will separate the men from the boys.”
Kleiner said the course will be set at 6,499 yards from the black tees and he expects to see the top teams come in at between four and five under par.
Kleiner and Coccodrilla have also reviewed all the pin placements for the tourney, which will be changed after every round.
Coccodrilla, who lives in Callicoon, is in his first year at the Villa Roma and previously worked for 13 years at Woodloch Springs in Hawley, Pa.
A “low-90s” golfer who “loves the game,” Coccodrilla said he enjoys his new challenge of keeping Villa Roma's 18-hole championship course in tip-top shape.
“Everybody here has treated me excellent,” he said. “And I’m getting positive feedback from the players.”