Category: Owners/Architects

The Golf of Maine News for May 22, 2017

May 22, 2017
Gorham Country Offers Complimentary Rounds to America’s Bravest

Gorham Country Clubs Hosts “Thanking The Men & Women Who Keep Us Safe” — This Memorial Day weekend Gorham Country Club would like to thank veterans and current members of the armed forces, firefighters and police officers with a complimentary round of golf. Contact Gorham Country Club for details.

Par for the Course: Bridgton Highlands boasting new look, less trees — “If you have not played Bridgton Highlands in a number of years, you might not recognize the course. The new look is part of an overall plan of the ownership, general manager Jim Mains, the course management group of Dan Hourihan, and superintendent George Thomas. Their goal was to open the course and make it more playable.”

The New Superintendent’s Survival Guide — This article breaks down the areas of opportunity for a new superintendent and shares strategies and career tools that will help you find success in your new superintendent position whether you are a true rookie or seasoned veteran with a new address.

14 Rules of Golf Etiquette You Are Probably Breaking — These are all good practices to act on immediately, if you haven’t already observed these common courtesies. We’d advise even shorter search times on #5.

RELATED: A Quick Nine: What are your rules on gimme putts? — Situational ethics apply…

This is your turf — How green is your valley, apron, fairway and green? These basics will enhance results for both the professional Superintendent and the suburban lawn warrior.

Regions Tradition 2017: First golf experiences from the gallery — What’s your first golf gallery memory or experience? Share it in the comments. 

This week’s Poll Question regarding rakes and bunkers is currently running 63% IN to 37% OUT – If you haven’t voted yet, watch this video before you decide…

The Golf of Maine News for May 18, 2017

May 18, 2017
Gavin Dugas teeing off at the 2017 NCAA DIII Championship on May 17, 2017. (Photo by Mike Dugas)

Men’s Golf Places 36th at the 2017 NCAA Championship, Dugas Makes the Cut — Husson’s sophomore Gavin Dugas made the cut as an individual after carding a 148 (72-76), becoming the first golfer in program history to make the cut since Husson joined the NCAA in 2004.

Dugas, Clark, Flynn, Plourde among MSGA scholarship winners — Eric Dugas of Pittsfield, Seth Clark of Seal Cove, Hunter Flynn of Presque Isle and Bailey Plourde of Newcastle are among 13 high school seniors who have earned college scholarships from the Maine State Golf Association Scholarship Fund.

Golf Retail Sales Associate — DICK’S Sporting Goods is seeking a part-time golf sales associate in the Golf Department to join our team in South Portland.

When golf goes to Washington — A golf course is not a massage parlor, hot-tub facility or tanning salon. And yet, since at least the early 1980s, the federal government and specifically the tax code has in fact done just that.

So You Want to Establish a Handicap Index… What’s Next? — Welcome to the club! In order to establish a Handicap Index, a player must first join a licensed golf club. A licensed golf club doesn’t have to be a private golf club or a “green grass” facility.

RELATED: Handicap Chair Occupies Important Seat at the Table — A club’s handicap chair serves as an advocate for golfers while making sure scores are fairly and accurately posted.

659 Venues Spanning 43 Countries Around the Globe To Host Women’s Golf Day Events on June 6 — Is your club participating? Only one location in Maine, Bucksport Golf Club at this date. View the map.

10 Gorgeous Golf Courses For Sale — Have you ever dreamed of owning your own golf course? Well, now’s your chance. For just a small fee, you can turn your dream into reality. Here are 10 notable golf courses currently for sale across the United States.

Playing Golf on Acid with Hunter S. Thompson — George Plimpton, Hunter S. Thompson and this other guy, and one of them has a shotgun in his bag.

Shotgun Start Gets a New Meaning

The Golf of Maine News for May 17, 2017

May 17, 2017
Get one for your favorite Super! Click image to see more at birthgolfdeath.com

‘Enough to make Ben Hogan puke’: Golf’s Commentary Booth Classics — It’s all bikini waxing and short skirts at Augusta National.

How Golf Maintenance Work Sparked an Apparel Company — “I wanted to create fun and hip graphic designs for fellow members of the industry to show their love of their job away from the course.” We can’t wait to see the Superintendent’s staff walking the runway, showing off their new fashions.

Tripp Davis completes renovation work at Jimmie Austin Golf Course — This project includes construction of a four-hole practice course offering different grasses, sands and design features, for the University team.

How To Play The World’s Most Exclusive Golf Clubs — Which Top 100 golf courses have YOU managed to sneak onto?

Golf hole at The Hamptons shortened due to homeowner-filed injunction — This story reminds us of all the out-of-staters in the 1980s-90s who, having purchased expensive condos on Portland’s waterfront, woke up SHOCKED to discover how early the lobsterman fired up their engines!

How to repair a ballmark properly — Confident that no visitor to The Golf of Maine would need such advice, we only know that several groups ahead of us, each round, have never even thought about their ballmarks. Fix two or three extra ones each time and the Golf Fairies that live in the greenside bunkers will nudge your lipouts back into the hole. Trust us, Bill Murray said it’s true.

ECCO Golf Launches ‘The Rookie’ — Those Europeans are coming up with all sorts of schemes to grow the game by generating interest among the younger demographic and breaking down existing barriers that people encounter when taking up golf.

New club gives members access to nine US golf courses — Travel a lot? This membership might be for you.

Dallas School Funded By Byron Nelson Golf Tournament — You will probably see some of the school’s kids out on the golf course this week, acting as junior caddies and reporters. North Texas native and champion golfer Jordan Spieth even hosted a youth golf clinic yesterday.

Is this the best idea for bringing Millennials into the game?

The Golf of Maine News for May 14, 2017

May 14, 2017
Mother and 7-time Major Champion Julie Inkster

Hole-in-One at Barren View — Nate Mugford recorded his first ever hole-in-one on Tuesday playing at Barren View Golf Club. He aced the 129-yard second hole using a pitching wedge.

Newry reduces golf course assessment — The Sunday River Country Club has had its land value decreased by $1.3 million by the town’s assessor, according to town officials.

Mother’s Day and golf are linked — “What does Mother’s Day have to do with golf? John Wanamaker helped Anna Jarvis organize in 1908 “the first official Mother’s Day celebration at a Methodist church in Grafton, West Va.” Recognize his name? Each year, the Wanamaker Trophy is awarded to the last major champion of the year.”

Five of Clubs golf game explained — We love this format. Which five clubs would you carry? Related: Golfer Shoots 65 With Just Two Clubs and a Putter!

Spirituality center tees up for golf retreat — Always able to appreciate the spiritual side of the game, we would eagerly attend more retreats if golf were involved.

How long must a hole-in-one be to count? — If you’re playing from a recognized teeing ground on a correctly measured hole with a definite yardage, it doesn’t matter if the hole is 430 or 65 yards. We haven’t had our first hole-in-one yet. Have you?

How many golf balls do tour pros carry? You might be surprised — With 29 balls in the water at the 17th Island Green on Friday, this is a timely question to ask.

How to watch a tour event, by the PGA champ’s wife — And the mother of their children!

Opinion: Singh on the Stadium Scent — “The notion of new commissioner Jay Monahan presenting the Tour’s most prestigious trophy to a man the organization has been at legal war with for years is titillating.”

Confirmed: PGA Tour pros hate the USGA — “We interact with the USGA once a year at the U.S. Open, which from our view is usually a debacle. Five or six things that feel ridiculously unfair are guaranteed to happen to you that week, like losing a ball in the rough one yard off the fairway, or seeing your stopped ball suddenly roll 30 feet off a green. Unless you’re the guy holding the trophy at the end, you leave bitter.” The author’s name is a wee bit suspect…

The Lasting Legacy of Women’s Golf at Pebble Beach — This Mother’s Day, we celebrate the pioneering women’s golf played at Pebble Beach Golf Links — going back to when it was known as the Pebble Beach Course at Del Monte Golf and Country Club.

A collection of golf swings from women champions of the past. Mickey Wright, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Patty Berg, Kathy Whitworth, Nancy Lopez, Joanne Carner and more.

The Golf of Maine News for May 11, 2017

May 11, 2017
‪Open the office: ✔️‬
‪Greens mowed: ✔️‬
‪Sprinklers on: ✔️‬
‪Put schedule together: ✔️‬
‪Eat breakfast: ✔️‬
#ThankASuper

The First Tee Links of Maine kicks off new season at RGC — The cost of the program for students is only $60 for the six-week program. Scholarships are available. For more information, to register a child, or volunteer, call Rockland Golf Club at 594-9322 or Jim Povec at 704-280-7595.

Sugarloaf Golf Club named Maine’s best by Golfweek — The ranking marks the first time in more than a decade that Sugarloaf has landed atop the Golfweek rankings. Belgrade Lakes, Sunday River, Kebo Valley, and Ledges rounded out the top five in this year’s rankings.

Making a Difference: Gary’s House gets ready for Celebrity Golf Tourney — On Tuesday, June 20th, you’ll park at the driving range at 8:30AM and ride the trolley to the course where the day begins with a chef’s breakfast, celebrity meet and greet, and Trish Koch’s famous Bloody Mary Bar. Tee time is 10AM.

Card for One Round of Golf at Houlton Community Golf Club — Valid for one round of 18-hole golf without cart; cart rental required to redeem card. $11. Valid Mon-Sun; call ahead for tee time, 207-532-2662.

Golf broadcaster hits back at ‘vulgar’ online critic with impassioned defense of new tournament — We think Golf Sixes should be filed under “We have to kill the patient in order to save the patient.” Your thoughts?

Adidas gets out of golf equipment, selling businesses for $425 million — Busy week… Sign Rory, sell the clubs.

Why Golf is My Safe Haven — “MainLine Today” Editor Jim Finnegan waxes philosophically on how he escapes everyday stresses by heading for the green.

Throwback Thursday

The Golf of Maine News for May 7, 2017

May 7, 2017
Thank a Golf Course Superintendent if your course is appealing to the eye.

The European Tour is experimenting with a shot clock and pyrotechnics this week — We admit to being a wee bit old-fashioned, but, please, PGA, no, don’t do this here. We hope The Wall is built before this tries to invade the U.S. Tour.

How to play golf with a hangover — We love the stoic honesty of The Brits. “Now, the most obvious way to prevent a hangover is to not drink so much the night before. Clearly this is unrealistic.”

Rakes in or out – golf’s great debate — We are currently grappling with whether we prefer rakes to be placed at rest in or out of the bunkers. We’ve always believed that, already being a hazard, why not leave them in the bunker, as it is ALREADY a hazard. However, this brief video has changed our minds, and the voices in our head have begun the debate anew…

5 Tips to Reduce Your Spring Maintenance — The GCSSA has declared this week “Thank Your Super” week. We will feature more news for Superintendents in recognition of the tireless efforts of these hard-working members of our golfing community.

Golf Facilities: Focusing on What Matters Most — Limiting course accessories and expanding native areas allows maintenance staffs to spend more time on primary playing areas.

Rocky River golf course goes to the goats for mowing help — For “Thank Your Super” week, we’re linking to this innovative method of keeping your rough trimmed without having to leave the maintenance shed.

Why Golf is Poised for Growth, Finally — “The industry owes superintendents some recognition and gratitude for doing more with less. Golf’s demise could have been worse without the ingenuity of superintendents.”

Hickory golf finding a home at Country Club of Greenfield — Today is National Hickory Golf Day, so here a couple of stories about the resurgence of the old game.

Hickory Friends & Facilities Participating in National Hickory Golf Day — Nothing in Maine yet, but we’ll get cracking on it soon!

Make Sunday Your Funday!

The Golf of Maine News for May 5, 2017

May 5, 2017

Midcoast Maine’s Premier Amateur Golf Championship — Since every decent drive seems to plug in this wet season, I’ll plug  an event that will take place in better weather…

Husson women’s golf to join Empire 8 — “Husson University women’s golf program will be one of the eight women’s golf programs who will be joining the Empire 8 Conference as an affiliate member starting with the 2017-2018 season.

Thurlow’s view: My introduction to golf — “While I was still in high school and working at Cherry Hill Nursery, they had a landscape job at the Kennebunkport, Maine, golf course. … I got about 150 feet and down I went: 15,000 pounds of iron down for the count, sunk into the fairway and 100 miles from home.”

Why It’s Important to Work to Change Perceptions — In Town Meetings across the country, water and golf is on the agenda. In Maine, there is no shortage of water on the courses, with much more scheduled to fall in the coming days.

Rules of golf: Rakes in bunkers — It’s complicated… We enthusiastically disagree with the ‘feelings’ of the Rules of Golf on this, thinking that once in a bunker, one is already in a hazard, so a brush with a rake is incidental. Ultimately, it is a matter for the committee to decide where it wishes rakes to be placed.

Golf is hard. You gotta problem with that? — “Every spring, when we Northern golfers joyfully pick up sticks, we rediscover that this sport is hard. It is complex, unnatural, and often punitive. And that’s just the rules.”

Mowing Patterns: Aesthetic vs. Function — “Can you imagine watching a professional sporting event that’s played on grass and not seeing some type of mowing pattern visible?” We prefer patterns that lead directly toward the hole.

Friday Flashback, The 1925 Open Championship at Prestwick