Category: Superintendents

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

The Golf of Maine News for May 4, 2017

May 4, 2017
War Drums Drown Golf Claps in Korea

Bangor Municipal Golf Course offering PGA Sports Academy/Junior League — Bangor Municipal Golf Course is switching its youth programs this season, replacing the First Tee of Maine program with the PGA Sports Academy and the PGA Junior League, according to Bangor Muni head pro Rob Jarvis.

Maine Ranked Most Fun State in New England — For Mainers, the best part is the subhead: “Massachusetts lags behind at the back of the pack.”

Speaking of Fun, Golf and Maine — “Realizing that the moose wasn’t likely to move, my buddy and I each teed off, hitting our shots over the moose and landing our drives safely on the distant fairway. The moose was not that impressed.”

LePage plan would bar local pesticide rules — A Washington lobbyist, golf course managers, pesticide company owners and environmentalists walked into a bar… no, wait, we meant… crowded into a legislative hearing room Monday to debate a proposal that would strip municipalities of their ability to regulate pesticides. Maine is one of only seven states that allows local regulations of pesticides.

Rockland Women’s Golf Association tees off with scramble, luncheon, meeting — RWGA has been in existence for decades at RGC.

37 things all golfers should and actually can do before they die —  We think this list can be pared down to 30 or so.  As it stands. we’ve done seven of them… Long way to go!

The 10% Rule — Philosophy for golf, and for life: Keep your head down, and give thanks to your Superintendent.

Installing Fake Bunkers? It’s Time To Get Real — In our humble opinion, the Disneyfication of golf courses must stop.

Your favorite games to play on the golf course — What’s it gonna be today? Bingo-Bango-Bongo? Sixes? Nassau?

In South Korea, a former golf course is now an unlikely bulwark against North Korean attack — Our favorite scene in the classic film, M*A*S*H, is the golf scene…

Avid golfer Corey Lanerie (‘I work to play golf’) riding Lookin At Lee in Kentucky Derby — We’ll be putting our money on Lookin’ At Lee in solidarity with the golfin’ caddie…

Rocky River golf course goes to the goats for mowing help — And no hassles with HB-1 Visas…

Would You Try This on Your Home Course?

Golf News for April 29, 2017

April 29, 2017
Got Golf on The Brain? Good for you!

MSGA celebrating centennial year —A meeting of a select group of golf courses assembled at Portland Country Club in 1917 to form the MSGA, which today serves as an association of member clubs that span the state. Visit www.mesga.org.

Playing regular golf is ‘good for your brain’ — Keep this one in your bag for the next time you hear, “You’re playing golf AGAIN?!”

Eight Reasons Why Putting Greens Play Differently In The Afternoon — We almost always play afternoon golf, and now have additional excuses for our putting.

13 most shocking findings from GOLF’s Survey of the American Golfer — Regarding #2, see our earlier piece on how to speed up your pace of play without hurrying. The PGA handed out the first Slow Play penalty in decades yesterday. While we’re young…

Why Are Carts Occasionally Restricted To Cart Paths? — With all the rain we’ve had, this seems obvious. When they say “cart path only”, please adhere. Better still, walk!

The definitive ranking of John Daly’s 51 greatest, gaudiest and grisliest moments — Happy Birthday, Long John! Daly arrived on the scene at the same time we took up the game. We have our own story about the time we followed John during a Master’s practice round. His caddie was kept busy picking up cigarette butts.

Portland to Pebble: Two friends, 800 miles, one hell of a golf trip — The other Portland… One of these days we’re going to golf the entire Appalachian Trail.

How Much Would You Pay To Play Golf Alongside Jason Day And Michael Phelps? — Charitybuzz is back with its second annual Golf Auction, a veritable bucket list of opportunities to play alongside pros and celebrities. Read the fine print, though. “Play” means a 5-minute meet & greet, and you have to get yourself there.

Golf News for April 26, 2017

April 26, 2017
Fly the Hostile Skies of United

Clubhouse Attendant at the South Portland Municipal Golf Course — Temporary for the Golf Season (14-20 hours/week). Part Time, Flexible and Various. Early mornings, days, evenings and weekends. $10/hr – includes 2017 course membership. Application Deadline – May 5th

PGA Junior League Golf registration opens — “PGA Junior League Golf is a fun, social and inclusive opportunity for boys and girls ages 13 and under to learn and enjoy the game of golf.”

Immediate Rules Change Limits Video Review — “Yesterday, with what only can be called lightning speed, the USGA and R&A changed the Rules of Golf by enacting a decision intended to limit the use of video review and, the game’s governing bodies hope, stem the tide of rulings prompted by viewers calling in infractions.” We give a hearty golf clap! But we want stronger language that completely excludes ANY viewer participation on rulings.

Why Do Golf Courses Aerate So Much? — “Aeration holes filled with sand topdressing will allow excess water from the soil to evaporate, promote root development and improve drainage.” And, we like to limit our putts to two when the greens are freshly punched!

New USGA and R&A Video Rules Missed the Elephant in the Room — “What’s completely missing from the new rules is the way that rules infractions are discovered, reported, and the timing in which these notifications happen.”

Pro finds his clubs destroyed after United Airlines flight — “I was going to complain but I must admit I’m a little intimidated by United.” Fly the thuggish skies…

Ping buys Nike golf patents — “Federal patent records released Tuesday answered one of the lingering questions about Nike’s exit from the golf equipment business: What will happen to Nike’s sizable portfolio of golf equipment patents?”

Please participate in our weekly poll found in the upper-right corner: “What is the estimated impact of golf on the Maine economy?” We need to break the tie! Results next week. In the meantime…

Your Humpday Golf Lesson

Golf News for April 24, 2017

April 24, 2017
To the Golfmobile, Golfman!

Maine Senior Tour Tee Times — Thanks to the Maine State Golf Association for compiling this list. Players are encouraged to use the MSGA Message Board to find a player to fill out their group if one more is needed. This is also the best way for an individual to find a group to join up with.

Maine Golf Course Openings — The list grew over this past weekend! Send news of course openings to us in the Comments Section below!

Maine Public Radio: Trump, The Golfer In Chief — By far the most prolific presidential golfer was Woodrow Wilson, who played nearly every day but Sunday — some 1600 rounds — including all through World War I.

Legends of Golf: Jack Nicklaus, Kid Rock win first ever Skins Shootout — We’re waiting for The Resistance to issue a release complaining about this.

Ko hires 2017 Caddie of the Year as new looper — Alternate headline: How to go from Caddie of the Year to Unemployed in 3, 2, 1…

Why Do Little Fat Ladies Beat Me At Golf: How To Play Better Golf — And the award for “Least Politically Correct Book Title of 2017” goes to…

‘This is the worst vandalism I’ve ever seen’ — Environmentalist extremists dump a banned, toxic herbicide that stays in the ground for five years, on 14 greens at a golf course to protest what they imagine to be the environmental sins committed by golf courses. Are we the only ones who see the irony in that?

The ultimate golfer’s guide to Ireland — ...And a belated Saint Paddy’s Day to yourself!

11 Golf Carts Guaranteed to Turn Heads At Your Club — Tricked out golf carts of the Rich & Famous.

Monday Morning Tee-Off