Each year, as Spring makes its way into New England in much the same manner a maiden climbs a greased Maypole, the eager golfer grows impatient. “When will this snow melt? Golf is hard enough without looking for the errant drive of a white ball in white snow!”
Then, it arrives, in slower-than-slow-motion. The river ice breaks, the birds return, the snow gets real dirty and ugly before finally disappearing for good, and the golf courses begin opening, from South to North, in the same pattern that the lakes ice-out and the croci bloom.
Just as slowly as this annual drama unfolds, the group in front of you seems to stand at address over their drives for the entire Spring. They search interminably for their shanks and slices in the recently revealed forest floor, contemplate their four-foot putts for 40 seconds too long, and hunt endlessly for the plugged drives that, by some Easter miracle, found the fairway. Continue reading “Speed Up Your Own Pace of Play Without Hurrying”
The new owners of the Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono continue to make improvements to the course as the 2018 golf season gets underway. The course has been open for two weeks and the full 18 holes are in play with riding carts available.
Kevin McCarthy is the new majority owner after purchasing it from Harris Golf Inc. His management company, Resurrection Golf, is operating PVCC and handling the upgrades.
Did you know you can play 35 rounds of golf, each round on a different Maine golf course, for only $399? Each year our friends over at The Maine Golf Trail assemble a promotional package and make it available to the first 60 individuals, allowing that select group to play a round of golf, at no additional cost except for cart, at 35 of Maine’s unique golf courses. Some other minor restrictions exist at a couple of the courses on the trail, but mostly you get to play when you want, where you want.
The list of courses included for the 2018 season can be found at the link, and as of March 30th, the word was that only a couple of Golf Maine Passports remain before they hit the target of 60… So, send your inquiry to info@golfme.com, and do it SOON!
See you on one of the many courses in Maine opening this coming weekend!
Aerial view of beautiful new clubhouse at BBHCC, recently recognized by Golf Inc Magazine as one of the best designed, new clubhouses in the world
President George Herbert Walker Bush to receive ASGCA Donald Ross Award — This award, given annually since 1976, is presented to a person who has made a significant contribution to the game of golf and the profession of golf course architecture. It will be presented to Bush in April as part of the 2018 ASGCA Annual Meeting in Houston.
The Golf Industry Show — The biggest trade show for those who make the course playable is this week. Get regular updates via posts from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America Facebook page by clicking link.
“We have now⛳ golfed ⛳ over 1000 km! Which is insane!”
Jack Wyman continues torrid summer play at Match Play Invitational— “I’m going home. I’m going to bed. I’m tired, man,” said Wyman, the top seed and reigning Maine Amateur champ. “It’s mental warfare. That’s all it is. It’s a completely different game than stroke play. You’re kind of playing against yourself and trying to figure out how deep you can dig.”
Aroostook County Country Club Golf Tournament Raises More Than $27,000 for Scholarships — The 12th annual TD Bank/NMCC Golf Tournament raised $27,651 for student scholarships for the Northern Maine Community College Foundation during last week’s tournament and auction. Thirty-one teams of three participated in the scramble at the Aroostook Valley Country Club in Fort Fairfield.
Annual Children’s Dyslexia Center golf scramble returns — Spring Meadows Golf Club is gearing up to host their 12th annual Teddy Bear Scramble golf tournament. The event, a fundraiser for the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Portland, is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 23; registration begins at 7 a.m. with a shotgun start to follow at 8:15.
Drexel golf aide ‘had to disqualify myself’ from U.S. Amateur — This, friends, is why golf is different from all other competitive games. “The 23-year-old Drexel graduate from Bensalem and his caddie were the only two people to know about the breach, but the thought of keeping it to himself never occurred to him.”
82 days, 1,850 km, 14,000 shots: The world’s longest hole of golf — Now THIS is our style of golf! It all started when the pair met in Kenya and Rolston, inspired after hearing of Rutland’s epic bike ride, suggested they embark on a golfing adventure. “We actually putt out on the 18th hole of Mongolia’s only golf club,” says Rolston.
Sang Moon Bae completes his military work, planning return to golf — “The 31-year-old has spent the last 21 months as a rifleman in the army, honoring the requirement for all able-bodied Korean men between the ages of 18 and 35 to undertake military service as a deterrent to North Korean aggression.” We’re awaiting word of North Korea’s response. Is there a single golfer in NK?
The mathematics of golf — In a new review, Dr. Steve Otto, Director of Research and Testing at The R&A, which along with the US Golf Association (USGA) oversees the Rules of Golf, has highlighted some of the ways that mathematics is used to understand golf and determine many of the equipment rules. The paper is published in a recent issue of the Proceedings of The Royal Society A and was written as part of a Royal Society meeting, Mathematics for the Modern Economy.
Join Us at Our Junior Golf Open Houses!—Junior Golf Maine will hold two open houses to promote junior golf opportunities in Maine. The first open house will be held 2-5 p.m. Saturday, June 3, at Val Halla Golf Course, 60 Val Halla Road; and the second 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 10, at Waterville Country Club, 39 Country Club Road, Oakland.
Territory Manager, CCE Golf Cars —Country Club Enterprises, the region’s largest golf car distributor, is seeking an aggressive, confident, and competitive professional with a solid background in outside business development. You must be comfortable working independently and building strong business relationships. The job will entail golf and utility vehicle sales in the state of Maine and part of New Hampshire.
Roberto De Vicenzo deserves more than to be remembered for Masters scorecard blunder —This man’s story is why golf is a great game, greater than all the rest! As for the rule, it must harken back to the days when two Scotsmen would come off the 18th, arguing about who won, and one of them throwing the final bit of gamesmanship at his opponent, “But, Ol’ Tam, ye signed th’ card, th’ scair is yoors.”
Sustaining the Soil —“You have to understand that the biological piece of the equation is a major player here.”
Little shop of horrors —A combination of flammable and hazardous materials, electrical outlets, poor lighting, noise, abundant equipment and high employee traffic can make the maintenance shop a danger zone for any employee.
Water… in Moderation —The basic cultural practice of irrigation is generally considered to be a no-brainer in golf course management. When an inadequate or excessive amount is provided, turf roots fail to grow and function normally.
MILITARY PERSONNEL PLAY GOLF IN BERLIN IN POST WW2 BERLIN, GERMANY, JUNE 17, 1946 [courtesy Old Golf Images]Par for the Course: Fenn-Ross tourney a real throwback —In 1896, a nine-hole golf course was opened, making Poland Spring the oldest resort course in the United States. The purpose of the golf tournament is to raise funds for the Poland Spring Historical Preservation Society, which supports the Maine State Building and All Souls Chapel, two of the most striking buildings on the resort’s beautiful grounds.
Sun, fun and beach reads: Which golf books to take —It’s Memorial Day Weekend, traditionally the start of summer across much of America. Mainer’s are a bit more circumspect about hitting the beach with a book just yet. But, as Yankee’s, we do plan ahead! We’re well into “Tommy’s Honour” at present, and will review it when finished.
The Golf of Maine 