Golf News for March 6, 2017

Curtains remain hanging inside, however, vandals have degraded the property, breaking windows and tagging the walls with graffiti.

These eerie photos of deserted golf courses reveal a new normal in America — Business Insider recently explored two closed golf courses in northern New Jersey, both of which are being turned into housing developments, to see firsthand what courses across the country look like as they become abandoned.

Ken Bowden, Influential Golf Writer and Noted Jack Nicklaus Collaborator, Dies at 86 — The highlight of Bowden’s career was collaborating on 12 books with Nicklaus, including “Golf My Way”, which has sold more than 2.5 million copies since 1974, and, in 1997, the Golden Bear’s second autobiography, “Jack Nicklaus: My Story”.

Old Game, New Rules. What Impact? — The words “change” and “golf” are not joined at the hip. But last year’s U.S. Open provided a clear illustration on how the sport functions, and doesn’t function, through its rules-making apparatus.

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If you’ve found your way here, you either love golf, or Maine, or, as we do, you love playing golf in Maine.

We Take Dead Aim, providing an informative site for golfers who play, plan to play, or dream of playing golf, and especially in Maine. We also provide timely news and opinion for those who work in the golf industry. Whether you’re an owner, marketing director, pro shop manager, teaching pro, architect, vendor, player, or the all-important Golf Course Superintendent (whom we believe to be the most important component of the entire industry), The Golf of Maine combs the internet daily, sharing information that will make your golf experience more enjoyable.

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Golf News for March 3, 2017

Simon Hobday as seen with the trophy after winning the 1994 U.S. Senior Open Championship at Pinehurst (Copyright USGA/Robert Walker)
Simon Hobday as seen with the trophy after winning the 1994 U.S. Senior Open Championship at Pinehurst (Copyright USGA/Robert Walker)

1994 U.S. Senior Open Champion Simon Hobday Dies — “I’ll go with the flow, and there will be plenty flowing. You can bet on it.”

Tricky trees to make for unique week in Mexico — “It is very narrow,” world No. 1 Dustin Johnson said before detailing his strategy this week of severely curtailing his use of the driver, normally his best club in the bag.

Major Proposed Changes — All the golf world is abuzz with talk of the proposed changes. The USGA provides a detailed look at each proposal, scheduled to go into effect in 2019.

Summer Golf Course Intern — Country Club in Boothbay, Maine is looking for a Summer Golf Course Intern.

5 Things Not to Do When Bringing Music to the Golf Course — We started hearing music on the course in Maine last summer. As music lovers, it caught our attention. As golf lovers, it distracted us. Will we have to bring our own music this summer to fight fire with fire?

Even New Courses Need To Address Water Use Issues — A Case Study: During a recent bunker renovation, native areas at The Stock Farm were expanded. The project improved playing conditions and helped save water.

And Now For Something Completely Different: THE GRASS IS ALWAYS SCREAMER – Golf Course Aerating Machines Are Terrifying And Mesmerizing [VIDEO] — Aerating golf greens helps keep the playing surfaces in good shape, but honestly, we’re stunned that a Bond villain hasn’t used an aerator as a instrument of pain yet, because, uh, look at this thing.

Golf News for February 28, 2017

Great Big Bertha Epic Driver
Great Big Bertha Epic Driver

Callaway Golf Has Created Its Most Epic Driver Yet — Callaway Golf estimates that a normal driver takes 500 to 600 steps to create, whereas the Epic needs more than 1,000. The equipment maker boasts that the Epic is the most complicated driver it has ever made.

Maynard takes helm as GCSAA President — Bill H. Maynard, the director of golf course maintenance operations at the Country Club of St. Albans in St. Albans, Mo., has been elected to a one-year term as president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) at the association’s annual meeting Feb. 9, held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show in Orlando.

Fowler shrugs off Miller critique: ‘A win’s a win’ — Fowler’s victory at the Honda Classic failed to impress Johnny Miller. Sheeesh, everybody’s a critic!

Kids learn about golf — and life — at Honda Classic — The boys and girls from Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach have been taking classes with the nonprofit organization about the history of golf and the rules of conduct on the course. They watched videos. They learned game etiquette, what to wear and how to read a scorecard, as well as other aspects of the game.

A $10 Weekend With Bill Murray, Tour To Play On Facebook Live, New UA Bags — Murray is giving away a pretty epic prize package as a way to raise money for next month’s Caddyshack Charity Golf Tournament that he runs every year with his five brothers.

Golf News for February 25, 2017

highland-1080x675Assistant Golf Professional — Golf Course in Poland Spring, Maine is looking for an Assistant Golf Professional.

Freakishly warm February temps have America’s golfers giddy — We played in New Jersey yesterday, at Neshanic Valley. We’d like to say we shot a 78, but that was the temperature!

Rory McIlroy Defends Decision to Golf With Donald Trump — A hassle has again found McIlory, in the form of intolerant golf fans, despite his stated view that a round of golf with the president is “quite simply, a round of golf.

“Ready golf” encouraged during British Am stroke play — The stroke-play portion of this year’s British Amateur will feature “ready golf” as the Royal and Ancient experiments with ways to improve pace of play.

How To Choose New Golf Clubs That Are Right For Your Game — Industry experts estimate that more than 90 percent of golfers do not have clubs fit to their games.

Bryson DeChambeau ditches side-saddle putting, points blame at the USGA — “They’re (the USGA) not a good organization, and you can quote me on that. I’m part of their family and as family it’s very frustrating to see them stunt the growth of the game.” We think it looked silly…

Schaupeter, ASGCA, looks at “essence of golf course architecture” — “Golf is best when it creates a sense of adventure for the players and allows them to discover a course through their own assertive and heroic play.”

WATCH: Australian YouTube star breaks world record with 395-foot putt —

Golf News for February 23, 2017

Topgolf donated 11,000 left- and right-handed golf clubs, 600 yards of turf squares and 21,000 golf balls to the troops.
Topgolf donated 11,000 left- and right-handed golf clubs, 600 yards of turf squares and 21,000 golf balls to the troops.

Golf Retail Sales Associate — Having recently acquired Goflsmith, DICK’S Sporting Goods is seeking a part-time golf sales associate in the Golf department to join our team in Bangor.

Don’t Try This at Home! — Remember that time Phil Mickelson performed his signature Flop Shot over his 6’4″ short game coach Dave Pelz? Yeah, you can’t do that…

Golf doesn’t have to be four days, 72 holes and stroke play — The event was the World Super 6 and it featured a 54-hole cut, after which the surviving golfers played each other in match play. Not 18-hole matches, mind, you, but six-hole matches. In some ways, it is like fooling with the fundamental forces of nature, because we all know that 72 holes of stroke play is the measure of a golfer? Or is it?

Why a successful Ian Poulter comeback is so vital for golf — Poulter lives for the Ryder Cup. And why wouldn’t he? It’s the game’s biggest stage. His performances in the biennial event have backed up his passion, as Poulter has been Europe’s catalyst and workhorse since he began qualifying for the event.

Topgolf Recycles Golf Equipment to Entertain Military Troops — Global sports entertainment leader Topgolf® is putting its gently used golf equipment to good use. Today the company formally announced its partnership with Bunkers in Baghdad, a New York-based charitable organization that ships supplies to overseas troops seeking leisure-time entertainment and/or physical rehabilitation.

5 of the best announcer calls in golf history — On the 37th anniversary of the famous, “Do you believe in miracles?!” call by Al Michaels at the 1980 Olympics, we highlight five of the best announcer calls in golf history.

Golf News for February 22, 2017

Easy Game, Hard to Play
Easy Game, Hard to Play

Samoset Seeks Assistant Golf Pro — Seeking an ambitious, highly motivated, customer service driven, and team oriented individual to join our golf staff. Duties include but aren’t limited to the following: customer check in, outside operations, tournament operations, merchandising and Club repair.

Who’s the best in golf? It’s not so easy to say these day — The answer is a lot more difficult now, and it could take years to sort out. It’s not an issue this week. The top six players in the world — all of them can reach No. 1 by the end of the month — are not playing the Honda Classic. All of them will be in Mexico City next week for the first World Golf Championships event, a tournament that was scheduled to be played at Trump Doral, as it was in the past.

The history of the Official World Golf Ranking’s No. 1 spot in 13 eye-popping numbers — Most of the names are obvious, but some (Lee Westwood?) might surprise you. In any event, GolfDigest dug deeper into this elite club and found 13 numbers that stood out.