SPRING 2021 | VOL 11 NO 1 SNEGOLFER.COM SNE Golfer TEE OFF issue

GOLF ASSOCIATIONS MAKE BETTER FOR ALL Contents Southern New Golfer | SNEGOLFER.COM

PAG E 10 PAG E 12 PAG E 30

RISING STAR PROFESSIONAL GOLF NEPGA GOLF

COVER STORIES RIGA: THE RIGA CSGA: 122 YEARS MASS GOLF HOSTS 05 DOES IT RIGHT 13 SERVING GOLFERS 28 TOURNAMENTS

NEW GOLF SEASON CONNECTICUT 09 FACILITY 15 PASSPORT 16 GOLF

WESTERN MASTER’S MAP & 36 MASS GOLF 40 REMEMBERANCE 42 LISTINGS

TRIVIA

[MASTERS]

10. 1956 10.

1. When was the first Masters held? 29 9.

2. Do they sell tickets at the gate? Eisenhower D. Dwight 8.

3. How many times did win? Bridge Sarazen (Gene) 7.

4. How many times did win? Bridge Nelson (Byron) 6.

5. How many times did win? ’64) and ‘62 1958, ( Three 5.

6. What is the name of the bridge on the 13th hole? 1986) and 75 72, 65, (1963, Five, 4.

7. What is the name of the bridge on the 15th hole? ’53) and (1951 Two, 3.

8. What president had his own cabin on property? beforehand purchased have must No, 2. 9. Bonus: Within 10, how many times did he visit? 1934 March 1. 10. What year did CBS start televising the event? Editor/Publisher editorial BRUCE VITTNER [email protected]

Welcome to the first issue of 2021. This is now the 32nd year of this Sales Manager publication that began as Ocean State Golf in 1990. When I was young I JIM GRAY thought anybody 32 years of age was getting old. I hope this publication is not getting old to you. Account Executives This is now our third year of publishing online-only. The cost savings JACOB RESENDES have helped everyone, including our advertisers who saw the rates cut in half. The advertisers also see a huge benefit as their ads are linked right Graphic Design to their websites. Isn’t it nice to see an ad and click right on it to book a STEPHANIE MARTINEAU tee time, purchase a product or get information--Ahhh the 21st Century. I’ve probably heard our headline from the June 2020 issue a hundred [email protected] times—Covid-19 was the Vaccine for Golf. I can’t take credit for the quote, it was Glenn Bourque owner of Chemawa Golf Course in No. Attleboro Web Design who mentioned it to me. But the playing of golf was booming last year blackdoorcreative.com once the states figured out that golf in the outdoors was probably the best sport to be playing. But the part that was missed by the golfers who Contributing Writers had trouble getting tee times was that all the ancillary income that golf BRUCE BERLET courses derive from tournaments; food and beverage, cart fees (early on), TODD CAMPBELL and functions in their dining rooms were almost completely devoid. SCOTT CORDISCHI Let’s make this the year that everyone plays golf as much as they BILL DOYLE wish and you can also play in a few tournaments and have a brew after KATHARINE DYSON playing. Men and women have found, or refound, the joys and benefits of playing golf and socializing with friends. Golf really is the sport of a JAY GEARAN lifetime. CHRIS KING Back to this issue! The golf associations in southern New England MIKE KIRBY have been around for 120 years. Just think about that number. We wanted CHRIS MIRACLE to give a readers a little insight into all that these associations do for us as JOHN TORSIELLO golfers. Enjoy Tim Geary’s, John Torsiello’s and Mike Kirby’s stories about DAN VUKELICH the state golf associations in our area. When Dave Adamonis, Sr. and I started this publication in 1990, it was Joe Sprague, Sr. at the RIGA who For Advertising Information connected us with all the right people in golf to get started. Congratulations to the students who won scholarships from the R.I. Call: Superintendents’ Assn. and to CVS for donating $1.5 million even without 401-464-8445 a tournament. Jeff Dantas has been a fixture in golf in our area, and he has just opened a new driving range in Warren that will be a huge success. E-Mail: As always Bruce Berlet does a fine job covering Connecticut Golf. I [email protected] can’t wait for the Travelers to get here in June. I hope that some of the readers get a chance to play in the Myrtle Beach World Amateur Golf Tournament in late August. It is a truly fun experience that this writer has experienced 16 times. Southern New England Golfer is published I had back and alignment problems last Fall and visited Dr. Jessica 4 times per year: Spring, June/July, August/ Papa in Cranston, RI. She helped me so much that I asked her to write a September, and Fall. Occasional emails will go little column talking about how to make golfers (especially older ones!) out to subscribers throughout the year. feel and play better. See her column on page 28. We have a story about an aerospace company that decided to switch Mail all articles, releases and other items to: gears and develop a single-rider cart with a great attached waterproof tablet. It was Covid that gave them the impetus. The Mass. Open is at Oak Editor, Southern New England Golfer Hill in Fitchburg this summer and Jay Gearan has a nice story about Gene P.O. Box 10038, Cranston, RI 02910 Sarazen who won the event in the 1930’s. His earning--$450 that include Materials will not be returned unless $25 put in by the Mayor. accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed I know you enjoyed watching The Masters. My good friend and envelope. All rights reserved. colleague, Dan Vukelich, was there in 1999 and has a story about it in this issue. Take advantage of the Map Listings pages near the back of Southern New England Golfer is not the publication. It is a great place to find where to play next. There are responsible for advertising copy. Corrected a few new courses listed, and a couple dropped out because they said advertising will be placed in future issues. they were too busy and didn’t need promotion. That map listing is on our website all year for your convenience. Keep your head down and swing easy, and we’ll be back on June 6 with our next issue. © 2021 Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited. BRUCE VITTNER We think you deserve a spot on our wall.

Begin your customer-owner journey today. Learn more about Navigant Credit Union’s digital services and products at navigantcu.org. Instruction - TODD CAMPBELL

2. Center Face Contact curves. One of my favorite sayings is the Learn to hit the sweet spot of the club by face sends it on the starting line and the 4 Keys to using foot spray powder to track the location path bends (curves) it. My TrackMan launch of your contact points on the face. Off center monitor has a unique feature that shows the Consistency hits tend to “deflect” the face open or closed path vs. face relationship at impact and why depending on where you strike it. This feeling the ball reacted the way it did. Understanding It’s one thing to say you’re not of the club twisting in your hands leads to the face vs path relationship is big in consistent when it comes to your golf you gripping the club tighter. Check your developing a consistent ball flight. One of game, but if you don’t understand why you distance from the ball. If that seems correct, the most effective ways to change your path are inconsistent then its really hard to fix place 2 tees in the ground a bit wider that is to put something in the way and forcing the problem. When I ask my students why the width of the clubhead and try to sweep you to swing differently. We typically will use they are inconsistent, they usually give me the ground in between the “tee gate” you just alignment sticks placed in the ground on the answer that they need to practice. While created. You will now be hitting the ball solid certain angles to achieve the desired path by I love to hear that they are going to practice, and up in the air. swinging and avoiding the sticks. Using the I then ask them what they are going to video feature on your phone is a great way to practice, and here lies the problem. If you do 3. Face Direction understand your path as well. not understand why the ball travels the way it The clubface direction at the time of impact does, it is hard to change the outcome of the will determine where the ball starts. If the You will now be able to control the shot. Understanding and practicing some face is open - ball starts right, face closed amount of curve in addition to striking it basic ball flight principles will definitely help – ball starts left, face straight – ball starts solid and getting proper height on your you become a consistent ball striker. straight. Grip placement and overall lighter shots. It’s tough to focus on everything at grip pressure can help time the rotation of once, my recommendation is to start at 1. Ground Contact the face so that you can start the ball on ground contact and work your way through Learn to sweep the turf in the middle of your your intended line. A stronger grip will lead like I listed above. If you would like a more stance. Most irons are played around the to a closed face while a weaker grip will lead in-depth analysis of your ball flight, feel free middle of your stance. If you fail to make to an open face. Do slow motion swings to to contact me at: [email protected] to any ground contact, you will hit the top half develop an awareness for how much the set up an appointment at our Golf Academy of the ball leading to thin or topped shots. club needs to rotate to square up to your in Cranston, R.I. ■ Try to relax your hands and feel like the club intended line. You will now be starting the drops from the top of your swing. Adding ball on-line, solid and high. some weight shift to the lead side will allow Todd Campbell writes an instruction you to sweep the ground in the correct spot. 4. Club Path column in each issue of snegolfer.com You will now be hitting the ball up in the air. The Path will help determine how the ball

FREE CUSTOM FITTINGS IN-STORE!

G425 SIM2 MAX EPIC SPEED

UTILIZING THE BEST FITTING TECHNOLOGY IN THE RETAIL GOLF INDUSTRY! • FULL SWING TECHNOLOGY • CERTIFIED FITTING EXPERTS • COMPLETE SET CUSTOMIZATION • TRADE-INS WELCOME

HARTFORD AUBURN CRANSTON DANVERS BRAINTREE 75 Brainard Rd. 619 Southbridge St. 60 Freeway Dr. 4 Newbury St. 2 Campanelli Dr. (860) 522-6829 (508) 407-7692 (401) 467-8740 (978) 777-4653 (781) 848-9777

Free fitting does not apply to the Performance Centers. Visit us online worldwidegolfshops.com@ 5 COVER STORY By T.F. GEARY teamed with both many of the premier courses, both public and private, to offer The RIGA packages to its members, which are competitive but basically fun days. Does it Right. There are a total of five packages offered annually with six courses in each ince its establishment in to lead and receive a salary, but his title package. It allows members access to 1902, the Rhode Island Golf was Executive Secretary. many courses that they would seldom, if SAssociation has evolved and The first Executive Director was ever, be allowed to play. grown, but its basic mission, to benefit Joseph Sprague Sr., who served for “These packages are unique to the golfing citizenry of Rhode Island, has many years before retiring and being Rhode Island,” said Ward. “Every golf remained steadfast. replaced by his son, Joe Sprague Jr. association in the country now have Today the smallest state has a When Sprague Jr., left to become what they call play days, where you go membership of over 4,000 (almost a Executive Director of the Massachusetts to individual golf courses, but there is 50-50 split between private clubs and Golf Association, Ward, who had been no other organization in the country who public courses). There are 53 member his assistant, was named to the top spot packages up private clubs and public courses in the RIGA, including a handful and has been serving in that capacity clubs.” from both neighboring Massachusetts since then. That allows a group to play six and Connecticut. He inherited the indispensable different courses in a season, with the With such an overlap one might office manager, Kate McCurry and since same tee time. It allows everyone the suspect that a turf war might pop up then the staff has added Jim McKenna opportunity to play a variety of different from time to time, but not so, according (Director of Rules and Competition), venues each year, often at courses to RIGA Executive Director, Bob Ward. Katie DeCosta (Director of Women’s where they would seldom or never get “We are very lucky in that regard,” Golf and Member Services) and most access.” said Ward, now in his 15th year as recently, Dalton Balthaser (Manager of Goryl, a long-time member at Executive Director, and his 22nd with the Communications and Technology). Wannamoisett, agrees that the package organization. And although he’s not an official system is one of the benefits that the “Jesse Menachem (Mass.) member of the staff, Joe Pieranunzi, RIGA offers that makes it unique. “We and Mike Moraghan (Conn.) are the has been a tremendous asset to the are the smallest golf association in New executive directors and we’re all very organization and works tirelessly in England but I think we’re the best,” he good friends and talk on the phone many capacities. He is often found on said. multiple times a month during the winter the first tee of every major tournament, For years the RIGA was strictly months, and then during the golf season serving as the starter. a men’s organization, but in 2013, we probably talk twice a week. We have “I think the most important thing it merged with the RI Women’s Golf a very good relationship. We also have we do is provide access to almost every Association. That added another layer a good relationship with Vermont, New golf course in the state,” said newly of responsibility for the staff, which also Hampshire and Maine. We’re a pretty installed RIGA President, Tom Goryl. runs the prestigious Northeast Amateur tight group.” “And much of what we are able to tournament at Wannamoisett. The past year has been a very do is because of the fantastic job Bob Peter McBride is a past President stressful one for the RIGA. First their and his crew do. They really care about of the RIGA, a former state amateur offices, at the Button Hole Short Course us, both as golfers and more important, champion and is the only All-American and Learning Center, fell victim to a about us as average Joe’s playing golf. golfer to have ever come out of devastating fire that displaced them for “Yes we have our Faxons and Providence College. the entire 2020 season. And of course Andrades and Quigleys, but they know “When I was in college, many the Covid-19 pandemic hit. the rest of us play, slam the trunk and players said the RIGA was the best But things began to turn around go to work the following day. It’s fun for golf association in New England,” said when they were able to move back into us and they care about how they present McBride, a member at Triggs Memorial. their offices around last Christmas. “The the tournaments.” “The way the tournaments were run, with building is brand new, we’re back in and The RIGA sets up and runs a variety officials in their jackets and ties, was a everything is looking good,” Ward said. of major tournaments, including both class act. Until the late 1960s the RIGA had no the men’s and women’s state amateur “For our local players the RIGA runs one person at the top of the pyramid. It championships, the , a top notch major tournament schedule. was a board run operation, all volunteers. and several others. Our best players have the opportunity to

Edward Perry became the first individual In addition the RIGA has, for years, compete against the other elite players 7 On Page Continues Story

6 in our state. This also includes our partnership with the USGA.” explained wish it would have been to find a way to senior players’ tournaments.” Ward. “We take care of all course save the historic course in While golf in Rhode Island has an ratings in our state. We also maintain East Providence. off season, there is no down time for the the handicap system. We run some “In an ideal world it would have RIGA staff. qualifiers for the USGA. We help them been awesome if the RIGA could have “There is no time off for us,” in getting their message out, whether been involved in saving Metacomet,” admitted Ward. “Once the golf season it’s the rules of golf, handicapping or he said. “It’s a shame that a 120-year- ends it takes two to three months to put something else. old golf course disappeared. It would the schedule back together for the next There are headaches as there are be very tricky for the golf association year. Then we have USGA business and with all organizations. Ward said the to own and operate a golf course, but if catching up on paperwork. It is a full- biggest is scheduling. “Trying to get somehow I could have figured out how Continued from Page 6 Page from Continued time job, without a doubt.” the schedule in play, to get all the golf to save Metacomet, that would have It became busier in 2013 when courses lined up is not easy. Boards been pretty nice for us.” the then all male RIGA merged with the change annually at private clubs and Although Ward would never ladies organization, the RI Women’s Golf sometimes you get new board members mention it, he is the driving force behind Association. McBride was the President who don’t understand what the RIGA the RIGA. at that time. is all about. When they find out about This past winter he was presented “It was a plus for both associations,” hosting tournaments it becomes an with the New England PGA’s George S. he said. “The women’s portion of the educational process. Then it works out. Wemyss Award. That is given each year RIGA is flourishing under the guidance “Its become more difficult since we to an individual who has been a leader of Katie DeCosta.” lost Metacomet and its only going to get in growing the game and recognizes In addition to offering and running worse as it looks like we’ll lose another exceptional contributions to golf in New so many tournaments, the RIGA rates couple of courses in the next couple of England. ■ all the courses in the association. years.” “That’s part of our responsibilities in our Ward said if he were allowed one Tim Geary is a retired sports writer for the Fall River Herald.

7 Charity Golf

2020 CVS Health Charity Classic $1.5 Million Donation

his past December CVS Health President and CEO, Larry Merlo and PGA TOUR Champions and CVS Health TCharity Classic Co-hosts Brad Faxon and Billy Andrade announced the Charity Classic’s 2020 donation to Southern New England non-profits and charities. This year, the Charity Classic will donate the largest sum in the history of the Charity Classic, giving $1.5 million to non-profit organizations. This brings the total amount donated over the last 22 years to more than $24.5 million. “Now more than ever, our commitment to building healthier communities is vital as we support the organizations that provide significant resources to our most vulnerable community members,” said Larry Merlo, CVS Health President and CEO. “We are grateful to celebrate another charitable milestone with CVS Health colleagues, charity partners, event volunteers and our dedicated Charity Classic sponsors who continue to support our long legacy of giving.” The 2020 CVS Health Charity Classic shifted to a virtual event series. In September, members of the community had the opportunity to lend direct support to the Charity Classic’s long tradition of giving back to the local community through on-line donation opportunities, virtual silent auction and a unique Crave RI celebration recognizing the strength of the area’s culinary community. The mission of the CVS Health Charity Classic is to give back to the community and provide assistance to charitable organizations that focus on helping the community year-round. Donations provided by the 2020 CVS Health Charity Classic provide vital funding to a range of programs serving children and families. In all, 86 non-profit organizations across Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts will benefit this year from the CVS Health Charity Classic, Including: Bradley Hospital’s mission is to deliver health with care by providing a range of family centered, high quality health care services to infants, children, adolescents and young adults with emotional disorders and/or developmental disabilities. Children’s Friend is an innovative leader in improving the well- being and healthy development of Rhode Island’s most vulnerable young children. The Sojourner House mission is to promote healthy relationships by providing culturally sensitive support, advocacy, and education for victims and survivors of domestic and sexual violence; and to effect systematic change. Red Cross is providing ongoing relief to people in need by providing financial aid, emotional support and health services, and by housing displaced residents in hotels. “The Red Cross is grateful to be a longstanding CVS Health Charity Classic charity partner,” said Susan Roberts, Executive Director of American Red Cross in Rhode Island. “The ongoing commitment from the Charity Classic has allowed us, and many of our fellow charity partners, the opportunity to support vulnerable populations who have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated economic and health impacts.” ■

8 Entrepreneurship - BRUCE VITTNER

Dantas is also an inventor. He has patented two golf training tools, one of which was being tried out by a local New Driving Range Opens professional during this interview. “I’ve always hit a draw or a hook, but I am hitting it much straighter after using this in Warren, R.I tool,” commented the pro. That tool is called the deviator and it is an interesting contraption that improves muscle Jeff Dantas has opened up a new driving range on memory. The other tool is called the resistance board and Route 136 (Market St.) in Warren, R.I. that is destined it works the hips to improve rotation in the swing. The to be a huge success. It is located at the former Swift resistance board can be used for many different sports. Driving Range, very close to Windmill Hill Golf Club. The D Golf Center is the name of this new golfing Most golfing people in Rhode Island know the facility. “I didn’t want this to be known as just a driving Dantas name. He is an entrepreneur, having owned range,” said Dantas who has already made many changes different businesses in his 42 years. He was a star golfer to the facility “We have 12 outdoor bays, 20 covered bays and hockey player at Seekonk High School in the 1980’s. and five bays that will have garage doors front and back He turned professional as a golfer in 1992 and has won and heaters that can be used all winter. over 50 golf tournaments. Most of those events were in The range also has two bunkers and a short game the Cape Cod Pro-Am League where he was Player of the area for players to practice. Dantas has ordered all new Year in seven different years. He has the enviable total of mats to be used throughout the facility. “This is going to 14 holes-in-one. be so much more than just a driving range,” commented Dantas played professional golf on the old Hooters Dantas who has already set up a dedicated training room tour in Florida for two years and played in South America within the facility. An automatic ball vending machine for a while. He was an assistant to Al Vallante at Atlantic has been ordered and should arrive soon. Golf for a few years and was the Barrington High School “We are going to have a membership program golf coach in 2007 and 2008 when the team won back- with a dedicated area for the members to use. Other to-back state championships. He then opened up his golf instructors will be able to rent space to teach their own teaching academy, called Elite Golf, in Seekonk in students, said Dantas. A clinic program has already been 2010 where many of the top young amateurs in the area announced and will be starting soon. There will clinics for learned and practiced. beginners, women, juniors and one day that will be open to all. A golf camp is being organized where students will 10 On Page Continues Story

9 be able to play golf at Windmill Hill that is less than two minutes away. D Golf Center is truly a family affair. All three of Dantas’ daughters, Eliza, Ally and Julia work part-time at the facility. “It is so great to have them around all the time,” said a proud Dantas. Another worker at the facility is Luke Robitaille, a student at Curry College whose father used to play hockey with Dantas. “He is a rock-star,” said Dantas. “He has designed all our signage, works in the shop, is working on the website and is always doing something to make this place better,” he added.

Continued from Page 9 Page from Continued D Golf Center is the only public driving range in the area. While I was there people from six different towns were hitting balls and commenting about how glad they were that the facility was back in business and all of the improvements that were being made. A smiling Dantas said that he has put in five parking spaces right behind a few of the mats so that players’ dogs and maybe their family could sit right in the car and watch their practice. Who would have thought of that! ■ To find out more about the facility you can call 401-919-3500 or visit their website at www.dgolfcenter.com Bruce Vittner is the publisher/editor of snegolfer.com and is a member of the Golf Writers of America and Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at [email protected]

Will Zalatoris It was easy to pick this issue’s Rising Star. Will Zalatoris finished second at this year’s Masters in his first attempt. Football legend Tony Romo called his TV partner, Jim Nance, to say that Will Zalatoris was going to win this year’s Masters. Crazy RISING STAR pick—Zalatoris is a rookie and it was going to be his first Masters. As he does in football broadcasting, he was almost spot-on. Many colleges passed over recruiting Zalatoris even though he had won the 2014 Junior Amateur. He signed with Wake Forest on the Arnold Palmer Scholarship and in his first college tournament he was ten strokes better than anyone on his team. Age: He turned professional soon after graduating 24 from Wake Forest in 2018. He won a Korn Ferry Birthplace: San Francisco, CA Tour event in Colorado to earn enough to get his PGA Card for the 2020-21 season. He showed Family: Single his great promise by finishing sixth at the most College: recent U.S. Open at Winged Foot. Wake Forest, 2018 Will has earned $3,047,538 in 24 events, but Turned Pro: 2018 he is on a special temporary membership with the PGA Tour and cannot earn FedEx points. He will next year, you can be sure.

10 Remembering Augusta National - BRUCE VITTNER

Augusta National van picked us up on the first hole and played the way Two Days in and brought us to the local airport to the tournament players do. “I couldn’t pick up Terry who had flown down on believe the elevation changes on the Almost Heaven a private jet that morning,” recalled course. The first hole goes straight Kenyon. downhill and then straight uphill,” “We drove down Magnolia Lane remembered Kenyon who was tired aul Kenyon, the retired and our suitcases were brought to after the walk. The second hole was sportswriter for the Butler Cabin where the foursome one of his best memories. “I hit a PProvidence Journal is one stayed that night. “The cabin has good tee shot for me, then a good of my favorite people in the golf a large center room and the four second shot and had 160 yards to the industry. He covered many sports bedrooms are in each corner of the 5 green. When I hit it, I thought it during his long career, but he always building and each room has its own was going onto the green, but got had an affinity for golf. He covered full bathroom. We ate our meals in the a bad bounce and it kicked in the two Masters Tournaments, but it was beautiful clubhouse,” remembered bunker in front. The pin was about 60 his recent recollection of his playing Kenyon. feet up the steep hill on that green. golf at Augusta National that brought The foursome decided to play I blasted out and it was rolling up out the headline above. the beautiful Par 3 Course as a towards the pin, but then it stopped Paul worked alongside Jim warmup before heading over to the and rolled back 50 feet. I slammed Donaldson and Kevin McNamara Championship Course. “It was so the putt where TSmith told me to aim in the sports department at the beautiful and so much fun. We were and it hit the hole, bounced up in the Providence Journal. Kevin’s father- playing a $2 Nassau, and I, being the air, hung for a second, then fell back in-law, Terry Murray, the retired worst golfer of the foursome, was up in the hole for a par on long par 5,” Chairman of Fleet Bank, has been a 6 chits when I bogeyed the 6th hole recalled a smiling Kenyon. long-time member at Augusta, and while getting a shot for net par. But it Kenyon went on to par the two he graciously offered Kevin and his didn’t last.” par 3’s on the back nine. “On 12 I hit co-workers the opportunity to head After lunch they went over to the a tee shot to within 15 feet, but left down to Augusta National for a practice area (Where the Drive, Chip my birdie putt short,” he recalled. couple of days of golf at this storied and Putt was just held) and there was When he got to number 16, “I hit the and almost mystical haven for golf. only one other group. “It included Jim worst shot of my two days, but it just About twenty years ago Jim Harrick, then the coach at Georgia, got over the water (never more than Donaldson wrote a story about who was a guest of Vince Dooley, six-feet off the ground) and it rolled Murray and his good friend, David legendary Georgia football coach. and rolled and stopped six feet from Chace. Murray played in the Pebble That group went to the first tee, so the hole. I left it short again, but had Beach Pro-Am for many years, and we went to the tenth tee,” recalled a tap-in for par. Jim Donaldson hit a this particular year Chace asked if Kenyon. great tee shot that landed right near he could for him during the “We all had local . Mine the hole, but then proceeded to trickle tournament, so that he could get was T. Smith, it was Tom, but he said into the pond. He gave me quite the inside the ropes and see a golfing everyone called him TSmith. I had him razing as we walked to the next tee, event from the inside, especially at for both days and he was wonderful. said Kenyon who ended the day with a beautiful place like Pebble Beach. He gave me so many clues on where a 94. Murray was teamed with pro Lee to hit it, especially on the green, said “Those two days are something Jantzen and they competed until Kenyon.” that I will always remember. It was a Sunday in the Pro-Am part of the “We all hit good drives down the wonderful experience. On my epitaph event. hill on number 10, and as we started it will say that Paul Kenyon parred all Donaldson wrote a story in the down I said to Jim Donaldson, four Par 3 holes at Augusta National. Journal about the two friends and ‘Growing up in West Warwick, I never It was a thrill of a lifetime, and I’ll the deal at Pebble. Murray thanked thought I’d be playing golf at Augusta always be grateful to Terry Murray him for the story, and Donaldson in National, and he responded, “It wasn’t for inviting me.” ■ his inimitable way said, “Why don’t in my playbook in Darlington either.” you take me to Augusta with Kevin.’’ Said Kenyon, “I parred the two Bruce Vittner is a member of the That got the ball rolling and they par 3’s on the front—mostly with the needed a fourth, so that opened the Golf Writers of Association of help of TSmith, who told me where America and proud to call Paul door for Kenyon. to aim—and I shot 92.” The other 3 “It was the most special thing Kenyon a friend. In the June/ players all shot in the 80’s, although July issue Paul will discuss that I’ve ever done with golf,” recalled let it be known that they used the Kenyon recently. The three writers many of his 11 U.S. Opens he members’ tees at about 6,200 yards. covered while working at the flew down from Providence and After a relaxing dinner and good stayed in a hotel the first night. They Journal, including 1994 when conversation the foursome was off we watched Arnold Palmer play were told to be ready to be picked to sleep. The next day they started up the next morning, and “The his last Open.

11 Professional Golf - SCOTT CORDISCHI

Uihlein Gets Much Needed Win on

e may call allowing him to cruise to Jupiter, Florida the win. “It was hard for Hhome these everybody,” Uihlein said after days, but we here in winning the MGM Resorts southern New England can Championship. take pride in yet another “There wasn’t anybody earning that went out and had an a spot in the winner’s easy wind. Everybody had a circle. Mattapoisett, difficult wind today,” he said Massachusetts native on PGATour.com. and, like Champions Tour “When you’re in a position standout Billy Andrade, a where you’re leading and you Providence Country Day get off to a good start, and School graduate, Peter you have a couple stroke Uihlein captured the MGM which is very significant. If he can lead, you want it to be really, Resorts Championship at Paiute in remain in the top 25 when the 2020- really difficult,” he said. “That kind of Las Vegas this month. 21 Korn Ferry Tour season comes to a eliminates the players and eliminates It was his second career victory close in early September, he will again the pack. When guys try and be overly on the Korn Ferry Tour with his first earn a full exemption to play once aggressive and force things, that’s coming back in September of 2017 in again on the PGA Tour. kind of when mistakes happen.” his debut event on that tour. That win A closer look at Peter’s win at “It was a dream start for me to get earned him a spot on the PGA Tour Paiute Golf Resort’s Sun Mountain off to,” Uihlein said. “I made a nice par for the 2017-2018 season where he course showed that Uihlein was a on 1 and birdied 2-3-4 so it was nice… managed eight top-25 finishes, four model of consistency with all four …I was able to be more conservative top-10’s and three top-five finishes. rounds in the sixties (68, 67, 68, 69). (on the back nine) than I probably That season he placed 64th in Those four rounds under par placed would have needed to be.” the FedEx Cup standings earning $1.8 his final score for the tournament at Peter finished the interview by million in his rookie campaign. The 16-under, four shots clear of second praising what he called a “good team” 2018-2019 PGA Tour season was a bit place finisher David Lipsky who has around him and said that he has a more of a grind for Uihlein who earned been one of the tour’s best performers game plan to get better and better $840,000 that season finishing 133rd this season, currently ranking fourth each week. in the FedEx Cup standings. on the regular season points list. There’s a saying that whatever Now, with the pandemic hopefully Uihlein entered Sunday’s final happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. coming to an end, Peter finds himself round with a slim one-stroke lead Not in this case. bouncing between the PGA and Korn where he and his opponents were Peter Uihlein’s victory Ferry Tours. His current standing on facing very tricky conditions in the reverberated all the way cross country the PGA Tour’s money list is 202nd desert. Peter called the wind on to southern New England where we with $75,356 in earning thus far this Sunday “relentless” yet he was able are all proud of his accomplishment. ■ season. But his standing on the Korn to card a 4-runder 32 on the front Ferry Tour is much healthier thanks to nine which helped him create some Scott Cordischi is a long-time his win in Vegas. distance between himself and the rest sports broadcaster and writes a Uihlein jumped up fifty spots of the field. column in each issue of on the season points list from 73rd From there, he led by anywhere snegolfer.com to 23rd with his most recent victory from 4-6 strokes on the back nine

12 COVER STORY By JOHN TORSIELLO year for golf, despite the fact that courses remained open and served CSGA: 122 Years as havens for those seeking exercise and a respite from the COVID-19 Serving Golfers pandemic. “Like many businesses, we operated remotely with limited staff present in the office at any one were able to stay open and operate time,” said Moraghan. “In conducting safely while those in surrounding tournaments, we eliminated multiple states were closed. touch points.” “The CSGA advocates for golfers As a result of the pandemic, and golf course operators before the CSGA stopped providing items the state government in Hartford,” at its events, such as pencils, tees, explained Mike Moraghan, Executive scorecards, printed `Notice to Director of the organization. “In Player’ and `Hole Location’ sheets. recent years we have helped defeat Scoring was done on-line with two separate initiatives that would players using smart phones to have raised taxes on golfers by enter scores. Information typically millions of dollars. In 2020, it was printed and handed out on the first the CSGA that led the effort to keep tee, was provided electronically. golf courses open when every other Said Moraghan, “We enforced social state in the Northeast closed golf distancing and mask wearing at all courses for a period of time during our tournaments.” Mike Moraghan the spring.” The CSGA was pleased, Moraghan called the CSGA a Moraghan said, that people were able ounded in 1899, the “resource” that provides education to play golf and have golf as a safe Connecticut State Golf for golfers on a variety of issues recreational outlet when so many FAssociation (CSGA) is of “interest and of importance” other activities were unavailable the country’s oldest state golf to golfers, such as handicapping, in 2020. “Given what everyone has association. But being such an course ratings, and the Rules of Golf. suffered through, the `boom’ doesn’t august organization doesn’t mean “And we provide a regular stream of feel like something to be celebrated. resting on your laurels; far from it. golf-related news to approximately There is some satisfaction in In fact, the CSGA launched 40,000 Connecticut golfers on a knowing that golf played a role, and three new initiatives in 2020. The weekly basis throughout the year. We continues to play a role in helping organization introduced the World provide financial support for other many people maintain some level Handicap System (WHS), a combined golf organizations in the state that of fitness and enjoyment during effort by the USGA and the R&A, specialize in particular areas, such a very difficult time. But if people which brought a number of changes as The First Tee, the Connecticut Golf discovered or rediscovered hiking, to the handicap system. The CSGA Course Superintendents Association, bicycling, canoeing or fishing we’re provided education to golfers and as well as multiple women’s golf happy about that, too.” golf handicap chairpersons at clubs organizations, “added Moraghan. Moraghan believes that in order throughout Connecticut to bring The CSGA also provides to retain golfers that picked up the them up to speed on the new system. competitive opportunities for players game last year and to encourage The CSGA also launched of all abilities through its 16-day “One- those who had played the game to “Youth on Course” in Connecticut, a Day” series, and crowns state-wide continue to play more, those who national organization that provides champions in 18 championships manage the game must “keep it subsidized greens fee support for for players of all ages, male and fun, encourage walking, and run lots golfers 18 and under. Youngsters are female. Said Moraghan, “We assist of contests where people can win able to play for $5 at participating the CIAC in conducting its six state things.” courses. Currently, eight courses are high school championships, and Moraghan said Michael Sebetic part of the program in Connecticut also conduct qualifiers for USGA of Kent, Connecticut joined the with more on the way. national championships. Acting as CSGA staff this year as Manager of The CSGA also took the lead in an extension of the USGA, whether Competitions. working with the State of Connecticut it is high level competitive golf or The CSGA functions as an to develop guidelines for golfers to recreational golf in Connecticut, extension of the USGA and provides be able to golf during the COVID-19 the CSGA is effectively the sport’s stewardship for amateur golf in pandemic. Through the CSGA’s governing body in the state.” Connecticut. It supports a variety of efforts, golf courses in Connecticut Naturally, 2020 was a challenging golf organizations in Connecticut, 14 On Page Continues Story

13 including the Connecticut Women’s Golf Association, the Southern New England Women’s Golf Association, The First Tee, the Connecticut PGA, and the CSGA Scholarship Fund in honor of Widdy Neale, a Yale graduate, a career Yale sports administrator, and CSGA Executive Director from 1946 to 1986. The CSGA began awarding college scholarships in 1954, deriving funds from a one dollar charge included in the then handicap fee. Today, the CSGA member service fee continues to be the primary source of scholarship funds. The CSGA also oversees the Connecticut Golf Hall

Continued from Page 13 Page from Continued of Fame, which was established by the Greater Hartford Jaycees in 1955. In 1991, the CSGA assumed stewardship of the Hall of Fame with the intention of carrying on the successful selection process exercised by the Greater Harford Jaycees. Led by and , the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame collectively boasts 21 major golf championship titles: six U.S. Opens, five National PGAs, three National Senior PGAs, two Masters, two British Amateurs, two U.S. Women’s Amateurs and one British Open. You can get more information about the organization by visiting www.CSGA.org. ■

John Torsiello, a long-time golf writers writes a Connecticut related golf column in most issues of snegolfer.com

button R h le 9 Hole Golf Course & Teaching Center OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

* Adult Beginner Classes weekday evenings after work; * 9 Hole Par 3 Golf Course & 26 bay driving range; * Spring, Summer, & Fall Classes for kids ages 7 - 17, with instructional levels: Beginner, Transition, Intermediate & Advanced BUTTON HOLE GOLF COURSE Lessons in Golf... Lessons in Life!

Enriching the lives of young people by providing facilities and programs that develop strong character, teach life values, and champion success through the game of golf.

One Button Hole Drive, Providence, RI www.buttonhole.org 401-421-1664

14 Season Passport

Each course is allowed to have up to three deals, and offer up to four plays per deal. This gives golfers an opportunity 2021 Golf Season Passport to not only save money, but also play their favorite courses more often. You can see the complete list of Available Now Thousands of golfers from around New England have enjoyed the Season Pass and Season Passport and have saved hundreds of dollars while golfing. You can purchase olfers from around New England have been your pass at www.golfwesternmass.com or at www. enjoying the hundreds of golf discounts from snegolfer.com or call 401-464-8445. Gthe Season Passport since 2010. This combined While you are on the website, please register coupon book offers over 200 individual deals at over 75 golf for information about golf events for your area. The courses. Most of the courses are in Massachusetts, Rhode Massachusetts group runs tournaments from time to time at Island and Connecticut, but there occasionally deals in other some great courses, and regularly has over 100 players per states. event. We have played The Crumpin Fox Club, The Ledges The regular price for the 2021 Season Passport is Golf Club, Metacomet Country Club, Crestwood Country Club $64.95, but all subscribers to snegolfer.com can receive a and Blackstone National GC along with many others. You discount of $15 off the purchase price, so it is available for can also get a $10 off coupon from the Golfers Warehouse $49.95 until May 31, 2021 by using the coupon code below. stores in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. There are discounts when purchasing three or more Ron Joseph who has a large group of golfers that play of the passports, if you want to buy it with your golfing every Wednesday had this to say about the Season Passport; buddies. Please call the number below for information. The “We save hundreds of dollars each year on our golfing fees Golf Season Passport includes discounts at many of the with the Season Passport. Each week we look at books and best public courses in New England including Blackstone decide where we are going to play the following week. Since National, Country View, Cranston, Crystal Lake, Gardner some of the courses have more than one coupon, we often Municipal, Fenner Hill, Hazelton, Laurel Lane, Manchester go back to the courses we like the most.” CC, Maplegate, No. Kingstown, Portland, Quarry Ridge, There is a coupon code attached to the ad below. You Rehoboth, Southhampton, Tekoa CC, Triggs, Waubeeka, can use that code at either www.golfwesternmass.com or at Winnepaug and dozens more. There are also some nine-hole www.snegolfer.com to save $15 if you order the book by May courses for those that would rather just play nine including 31. The book makes a great Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Kings Crossing, Louisquisset, Midville and Pinecrest in gift for the golfers in your life, and pass-holders will definitely Rhode island. The Golf Season Passport can be used through save money on their golfing experiences in 2021 with the December 31, 2021. You can see the entire list of deals at Season Passport. www.snegolfer.com. Please call or visit the websites for more information or *Please notice that Rehoboth C.C. closed after the to make a purchase. The Season Passports are mailed the Passport went to press, so you will not be able to use it there. same day the order is received. ■ CT Golf - BRUCE BERLET

this league will offer a relaxed and social environment, very conducive PUTTING MORE for friends and business associates to network, while introducing its First Tee FUN INTO GOLF members to a variety of clubs/ courses throughout Connecticut and Charity here are plenty of aspects Western Massachusetts.” to golf, but enjoyment The membership fee is $95, Events Tshould always be the which will give golfers access to the ultimate reason for playing. events and a complimentary U.S. The Connecticut Section PGA is Golf Association/GHIN handicap. offering another alternative toward The entry fee for each event will that goal with the formation of the vary depending on the facility, with BOOM (Bring On Our Movement) tee times in the 3:30-5 p.m. window. Tour, a social, golf league “on wheels” The program kicked off with two focusing on the networking and informational events at Hops on meeting friends aspect of the game. the Hill Brewery in Glastonbury. For The league focuses on recreational more information and to register for golfers aged 19-40 but all ages over membership, visit ctpga.com/boom- 19 are welcome. golf-tour. The Section is targeting players Lauren Rivard, the Section’s ranging widely in experience and new Events and Communications ability. Formats will be relaxed and Coordinator, is helping market the vary per site, but primarily consist new league. She is a 2020 graduate of scramble, best ball and shamble. of the University of Connecticut, Twenty events are scheduled at where she earned a Bachelor of public and private clubs, starting Science degree in marketing, making May 10 at New Haven Country Club, the Dean’s List in all four years and and most will be nine holes, with a finishing with a 3.88 out of 4.00 few 18-hole weekend opportunities. cumulative GPA. She has obtained “The league is an attempt to numerous certifications in digital continue our player development and social media marketing and pathway that starts with junior golf brings a wealth of skills in creative and to capture the surge of golfers graphics and consumer marketing. from 2020,” said Tim Paragone, She spent almost six years working the Section’s Youth Golf & Player at Ellington Ridge Country Club and Development Specialist. “It provides will be supporting the Connecticut a place for people to golf with friends Section and Foundation initiatives and meet new people while traveling while blending in well with the to different golf course. It also will administrative culture. showcase PGA professionals and The winner of the Connecticut their facilities.” PGA Championship at Wampanoag Tournament Operations Director CC in West Hartford on May 24- Dennis Dungee said the league will 25 will qualify for the Travelers hopefully enhance participation in the Championship at TPC River game. “As golf has seen a movement Highlands in Cromwell on June 24- towards a more inclusive and diverse 27. The Travelers pre-qualifiers are audience, the Section wants to June 16 and 17 at Ellington Ridge provide an avenue for these golfers CC, which will also host the open to travel to different golf courses and qualifier June 21. The Section also enjoy the game,” Dungee said. “Some will again host one of 10 Drive, Chip will have played in competitive golf and Putt regional finals at TPC River formats, while others might not have Highlands on Sept. 26. made it from the driving range to For more information on the [email protected] the golf course. One thing for sure Section, visit www.ctpga.com. ■ is regardless of golf experience,

16 CT Golf - BRUCE BERLET

U.S. SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN AT BROOKLAWN

onnecticut will be the home of a major Annika Sorenstam championship in 2021 as the top senior Cwomen’s players in the world will compete in the third U.S. Senior Women’s Open on July 29-Aug. 1 at Brooklawn CC in Fairfield, one of the oldest clubs in the country founded in 1895. The event was one of 10 USGA championships canceled last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, so Helen Alfredsson of is still the defending champion. The tournament was scheduled for Aug. 19-22, but moved to avoid a conflict with the AIG Women’s British Open at Carnoustie Golf redesigned by noted architect A.W. Tillinghast, and has Links in . continued to undergo improvements under the direction “In an effort to both ensure a strong field and prioritize of architect Ron Forse. our broadcast opportunities, we have made the decision Four previous USGA championships at Brooklawn to adjust the dates of the third U.S. Senior Women’s were won by David Nevatt (1974 U.S. Junior Amateur), Open,” John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s senior managing Jerilyn Britz (1979 U.S. Women’s Open), director of championships, said in a statement. “After (U.S. Senior Open) and Sukjin-Lee Wuesthoff (2003 U.S. listening to player feedback and consulting with our Girls’ Junior). Other notable players in the previous four new broadcast partner, NBC Universal, it was clear that championships include Arnold Palmer, , Gary separating the dates from the week of the AIG Women’s Player, , Chi Chi Rodriguez, , British Open was important to the overall success of the , New England natives JoAnne Carner championship.” and and juniors , Chip Beck, The new dates will enable Hall of Famer Annika , Michelle Wie, , Sorenstam to make her tournament debut. Sorenstam, and . who turned 50 on Oct. 9, was named president of the Outstanding players associated with the club International Golf Federation in December, but was include Georgianna Bishop, winner of the 1904 U.S. encouraged to play before leaving for the women’s golf Women’s Amateur; Gene Sarazen, one of only five golfers portion of the Tokyo Olympic Games. to have won the four major championship and inventor Suzy Whaley, the first female officer in the PGA of of the sand who was an assistant pro before America capped by being president in 2018-20, also emerging on stage and still holds the course will play in the state where she spent most of her life record (63); Fairfield native Julius Boros, an honorary before moving to Florida. Ironically, Whaley inspired member of the club who frequently played Brooklawn, Sorenstam to accept a sponsor’s exemption to the PGA stunning the gallery with a hole-in-one on No. 2 during an Tour’s Colonial Invitational in 2003, the same year that exhibition match in 1961; and President William Howard Whaley played in the Greater Hartford Open that she Taft, another honorary member. qualified for by winning the 2002 Connecticut Section This is one of 14 USGA national championships and PGA Championship. Sorenstam had considered playing open to women whose 50th birthday falls on or before in a PGA Tour event for years, but quickly decided the first day of the competition and have a handicap index against it until Whaley became the first female to qualify not exceeding 7.4. It’s the newest championship, and for a men’s event since Babe Zaharias in the 1945 Los Hall of Famer of England and Alfredsson Angeles Open. captured the first two titles, with American Brooklawn’s first pro in 1899 was legendary Tom runner-up each time. A 120-player field is filled with pros Morris, the great nephew of . In 1911, the and amateurs with exemptions and sectional qualifying acquisition of additional property enabled the course to status. The 72-hole event has a 36-hole cut to the low 50 expand to 18 holes. In 1930, the course was completely and ties. ■

17 CT Golf - BRUCE BERLET

CONNECTICUT OPEN BALLO FAMILY TO BE AT C.C. of DARIEN RECOGNIZED FINALLY

The normally second biggest tournament in The Ballo family of Stamford will finally be the state, the , is July 26-28 at recognized as the Metropolitan (N.Y.) Golf Writers of Darien. Max Theodorakis will Association Family of the Year for 2020 during the be defending champion after winning on his home organization’s virtual national awards dinner Oct. 6. course, Ridgewood CC in Danbury, in 2020 in his pro The dinner was canceled last year because of the debut. The Connecticut Women’s Open was canceled pandemic but will now originate from historic Winged last year because of the pandemic but is scheduled to Foot GC in Mamaroneck, N.Y., site of last year’s U.S. be played June 7-8 at the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme. Open won by Bryson DeChambeau. Information Loretta Giovannettone of Woodway CC in Darien won regarding how and when the event can be viewed will in 2019 at Brooklawn CC. Chris Fosdick of Wallingford be released. CC will be defending champion in the Connecticut Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer Mike Ballo’s State Golf Association Amateur Championship at numerous achievements on and off the course include Hartford GC on June 14-18. Teenager Sophia Sarrazin being a two-time Connecticut Open champion and of the Patterson Club in Fairfield will defend in the longtime instructor while at Woodway CC in Darien. Connecticut State Women’s Amateur Championship His sons, Mike Jr. and Peter, have been standouts at Race Brook CC in Orange. There will be 14 other in college and the Metropolitan (N.Y.) PGA Section major events hosted by the CSGA. championships, and wife/mother Page is a retired Other major amateur women’s events are PGA of America Life Member who was one of the the Connecticut Women’s Golf Association and first 10 women to become a full-time member of the Southern New England Women’s Golf Association organization. championships. The CWGA event is June 29-July 2 at “My father dedicated his life to Woodway and Shuttle Meadow CC in Kensington, and the SNEWGA golf in Connecticut and the Met PGA,” Mike Jr. said. individual championship is July 14-15 at Heritage “And he was passionate and good at it that the whole CC in Southbury. Leslie Li, 16, of Tumble Brook CC family followed his lead and is now doing the exact in Bloomfield captured her first state title last year same thing. The work and years my dad dedicated, in the CWGA Championship, while Jen Holland of my mother also, and now me and my brother follow Lyman Orchards GC in Middlefield won a record in his footsteps just hoping to fill his shoes, it’s such eighth SNEWGA Championship on the way to earning an honor to have all of that recognized.” a fourth straight CSGA Liz Janangelo Player of the Other honorees at the country’s largest and Year Award. longest-running golf dinner since 1952 will be The CWGA started the year having given $680,000 Butch Harmon (Gold Tee Award), Renee Powell in Priscilla Maxwell Endicott Scholarships since the (Distinguished Service Award), (Lincoln fund was established in 1977. The organization will Werden Golf Journalism Award), Dick’s Sporting have a virtual better-ball of two Stableford events May Goods (Bing Crosby Tournament Sponsor Award) 21-22, with all entry fees benefitting the scholarship and New Jersey Country Club (Club of the Year). ■ fund. CWGA will match any additional donations made during registration. Endicott, an amateur golfer of national renown in the 1920s, initially endowed Bruce Berlet is the retired golf writer for the the fund to encourage junior girls’ involvement in Hartford Courant and a long-time member of the game, and contributions from CWGA members the Golf Writers Assn. of America and writes a and friends of women’s golf are added to the fund. Connecticut column in each issue of Scholarships will be awarded in late spring. ■ snegolfer.com.

18 Tournament Golf - BRUCE BERLET

TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP AROUND UNTIL AT LEAST 2030

When Travelers extended its title the future, I think we all felt confident sponsorship for the biggest sporting we would have professional golf event in Connecticut to 2030 on back in Connecticut, but we were March 29, the insurance magnate not sure what Tour that would again demonstrated the depth of its be,” tournament director Nathan commitment to the state’s annual Grube said. “We were exploring the PGA Tour stop. Champions Tour, the LPGA Tour and The tournament began in other opportunities within the PGA Nathan Grube & Andy Bessette 1952 as the Insurance City Open Tour. When the opportunity arose at Wethersfield Country Club, and with a date when 84 Lumber stepped players along the PGA Tour trail. Travelers is the only company to be away, Travelers was right there ready “Telling Andy Bessette that he some type of sponsor for 69 years. to go to bring back PGA Tour golf to can’t do something is not a good It virtually saved the event in 2006 Connecticut. idea,” Grube said during a virtual press after Buick ended its three-year “It was an interesting time conference announcing Travelers’ title sponsorship, leaving golf fans when we didn’t have a lot of stability title sponsorship extension. “When wondering if the PGA Tour would until Travelers stepped in and the we were told we were the week after continue in the Land of Steady tournament became something the U.S. Open, Andy said we’re just Habits. different. With us being off the going to run harder and try harder.” But the golf gods stepped up on calendar and having no tournament When asked about being the only Masters weekend when 84 Lumber date and secure future, we in essence major executive to travel the PGA Company unexpectedly ended started over with Travelers coming in. Tour, Bessette smiled and quipped, its title sponsorship in western It was as if everyone knew we were “It’s good in a way to be the only one Pennsylvania, opening a spot on going to evolve into something else, out there, but I wish I had someone the PGA Tour schedule. Travelers and the event is now that ‘something to talk to.” officials had said they would bea else.’ We never could have gotten Maybe someone will join title sponsor only if the tournament here without them, and the future is Bessette by the end of the new was on the PGA Tour, not the then as exciting as ever.” agreement, which is a six-year Seniors Tour, which is where the Travelers’ presence has lifted extension of a 10-year contract event appeared headed. the tournament to new heights with signed in 2014. “The player who wins But after learning of the schedule purses steadily rising and other in 2030 may be someone who wasn’t opening, Travelers and PGA Tour major commitments helping draw even born when we became title officials scrambled to finalize a four- more marquee players, even though sponsor,” Bessette said. “The date year contract in four days. Instead the event has been the week after doesn’t make the tournament, the of holding a news conference to the U.S. Open for a decade. But even tournament makes the date,” Grube announce the tournament was that possible nuisance hasn’t caused said. moving to the now PGA Tour major problems thanks largely to The tournament, which is June Champions, Connecticut remained a Andy Bessette, the executive vice 24-27 at TPC River Highlands in fixture in golf’s major leagues. president and chief administrative Cromwell, has raised more than “When we knew Buick was officer at Travelers and the only $44 million for charity since its leaving and we were not sure about major title sponsor official to recruit inception, including more than $21 20 On Page Continues Story

19 Tournament Golf - BRUCE BERLET

for more than 800 nonprofits since “Last year was one of the most Mass., who has degrees from Travelers became title sponsor. The depressing things I’ve ever seen, and I Trinity College in Hartford and the new agreement makes Travelers don’t want to be depressed two years University of Massachusetts. “We the longest-running title sponsor in a row,” Bessette said. “While it was have a wonderful facility that attracts in tournament history, and as part weird to have no fans, safety was so many stars and a fan contingent of the extension, the company will our main concern, especially being remain the Official Property Casualty the third event back (after the PGA that is second to none in size and provider of the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Tour’s three-month sabbatical). The enthusiasm. Connecticut and the Champions and Korn Ferry Tour. most powerful aspect is we pulled it PGA Tour are fortunate to have a

Continued from Page 19 Page from Continued The tournament has been able off in the throes of a pandemic and company like Travelers that helps to sustain its significance in the that we could raise $1.6 million for deliver an outstanding experience region thanks to the dedication of charity thanks to the phenomenal every year for our players, golf Travelers, its supporting sponsors help of our sponsors. We take a lot fans and local nonprofits. We are and an 11-person staff headed by of pride in that.” extremely excited about the future of Grube. Since Day One, Bessette’s Travelers put up its full title the .” mantra has been “never accept the sponsorship of $12 million, and most The number of fans who will status quo,” and steady improvement sponsors also didn’t want refunds be able to attend is certain to be includes getting input from players, because it was “the right thing to more than the 38 people who were caddies and others associated with do.” “We did what we did because of standing around the 18th green as the PGA Tour. what the tournament means to the Johnson finished off his first of four “We’ll do everything we can to community,” Bessette said. “Being wins last year. There also will be make things better,” Bessette said. the third event after the restart, it more media access than the handful “We try to be as good a friend to was important to make everything as of press allowed on the premises in everyone year-round and want to good as possible.” 2020. “It’s always safety first,” Grube know what we can do to make life as It’s a major reason the said, “but we feel very good that we’ll comfortable as it can be during the tournament drew seven of the Top- have fans, though the environment tournament. I’ll walk down the street 10 players in the world and is on changes all the time. But players are in Hartford, and someone will stop the way to matching or surpassing saying, ‘I can’t wait to be back playing and say, ‘Thank you for saving the that with early commitments from in front of your fans.’” Travelers Championship.’ That’s the No. 1-ranked , the An enthusiastic Bessette then pride in the community, charitable PGA Tour Player of the Year and chimed in with the tournament’s new giving, the community’s excitement. FedExCup champion in 2020, No. 6 battle cry: “We want fans.” These are all the reasons we keep and reigning U.S. Open titlist Bryson “I want somebody to go scream doing this.” DeChambeau, No. 7 , and yell with me rather than just me,” The tournament is part of a No. 11 and Bubba Bessette said. “Nathan and I were PGA Tour that annually gives more Watson, who will try to match Hall out there (on the 18th green) saying, to charity than all other major of Famer Billy Casper’s tournament ‘Yeah, this is really cool, but we’re sports combined. Other sports record for wins (four). just here by ourselves.’ There’s a have sent officials to see what “The Travelers Championship pretty good chance people are going Travelers personnel are doing to be has all the right ingredients and to have to wear masks, but that’s a so successful, including raising $1.6 established itself as a premier PGA small price to pay to be able to be million last year despite no fans being Tour event thanks to the inspirational back out and watch the event and allowed because of the COVID-19 leadership provided by Travelers, just be safe.” pandemic. There also were no pro- the dedication of thousands of Alan Schnitzer, chairman and ams, corporate tents or concessions, volunteers and the passionate fans CEO at Travelers, was also on the but pro-ams will return and a limited who watch or attend every year,” virtual call and pointed to community number of fans “in the thousands” said PGA Tour Commissioner Jay relations as a major part of the will be allowed this year. Monahan, a native of Belmont, company’s commitment, including 21 On Page Continues Story

20 Tournament Golf - BRUCE BERLET

providing half of the 4,000 volunteers needed to run the event. “So many historic and exciting moments in golf have happened at the Travelers Championship over the years, but it’s the amazing moments that are made off the course that capture the real value of our hometown tournament,” Schnitzer said. “As a company rooted in taking care of its customers and communities, the charitable mission of the Travelers Championship reflects who we are as an organization. This tournament is important to so many people across the region – both Continued from Page 20 Page from Continued as an economic driver for the state and as a funding source for hundreds of charities – and we are proud to continue its legacy for years to come.” The tournament’s legacy includes receiving 15 “Best of” awards from the PGA Tour, including Tournament of the Year (2017), Players Choice (2017 and 2018) and Most Friendly (2010, 2012 and 2017). Travelers’ presence has led to many significant enhancements to TPC River Highlands, including a 23-acre practice facility, a multi-million-dollar course improvement project and a 40-square-foot clubhouse that opened before the 2019 tournament. The purse has increased by $200,000 annually for six consecutive years, reaching $7.4 million in 2021. “The event may be branded with our company name, but this is really Connecticut’s tournament,” Bessette said. “Together, we have made it one of the best stops on the PGA Tour for players and fans. It’s the ethics of what we care about, so that’s why it’s so important to make things as good as possible because the PGA Tour is so different from every other sport. “It also gives us brand recognition with the (television) broadcast going to more than 200 countries. It has been a phenomenal and unbelievable experience for all of us, and we look forward to the future.” The date for ticket sales is to be announced. In February, Travelers announced it would match any donations made up to $1 million to help The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp in Ashford, one of the event’s primary charity beneficiaries that sustained major damage from a fire. The first two rounds, as well as early coverage the final two rounds, will be on . The final two rounds will be live on CBS. For more information, visit TravelersChampionship.com. ■

Bruce Berlet was the long-time sports writer for the Hartford Courant and writes columns in each issue of snegolfer.com

21 Women’s Golf - KATHARINE DYSON

stressful times.” The CDC also noted through boxes of family papers and The Covid that getting fresh air, exercise and photos; reorganize my garden; and sunshine is vitally important and dig into the hodgepodge of items in Effect: 2021 lessons risk of infection, decreases the basement. I discovered the great anxiety and improves well-being. delights of take-out, shopping on line Last March following the first So why not golf? It was outdoors and how many films that I’d never day of the Players Tournament at TPC and social distancing was easy. It heard of were available on Netflix. Sawgrass in Florida, Jay Monahan, took off. Numbers soared. Golfers Loved “Longmire.” Most important of golf commissioner, shocked the logged 13.9 percent more rounds all, I found creative new ways to keep golf world by announcing that all in 2020 than in 2019. New England in touch with family and friends, and the players could pack up and go more than doubled play for a same lamented I had not bought stock in home. Because of Covid the Tour month in 2019, with a 101.1-percent Zoom two years ago. was cancelling all PGA Tour events leap. Yes, the weather helped with So here we are, 2021 at the start through the . I less rain and sunny skies, but the year- of a new golf season in New England. remember the day well. It was a over-year increase in rounds played As of this writing, a third of our Thursday night, and I was getting was the largest bump in the 20-plus- country has had the vaccination and ready to drive up from St. Augustine year history that Golf Datatech has we have learned a lot more about the to the Players the next day. It was a been compiling industry numbers. disease, even though things still seem huge jolt to everyone. Some quietly said the Pandemic maddeningly confusing at times “It’s the right thing to do for our was a shot in the arm for golf, as in as Dr. Anthony Stephen Fauci, the players and our fans,” Monahan told recent years this venerable sport had highly-paid director of the National the media. LPGA Commissioner seen decreasing participation. Institute of Allergy and Infectious Michael Whan followed suit “It’s been quite a summer for Diseases and other experts continue by postponing future women’s golf,” National Golf Foundation in their attempts to figure things out tournaments starting with the ANA president Joe Beditz noted in his and tell us what to do. Inspiration. NGF report listing $331 million in Do I look forward to a “new As the 2020 summer season equipment sales in August, up 32 normal?” Absolutely not. Give me settled in, golf courses across the percent from last year. Rounds played “normal” any time. I resent the country took measures to deal with in Connecticut, Massachusetts and anxiety some still live with because this puzzling and scary foe called Rhode Island were on average 28.0% of Covid, and am appalled at those Covid-19. The terms “Zoom,” “social higher over 2019. Still with restaurant, who died because of stupid mistakes distancing” and “quarantine” took on bar and event business shut down, by our “leaders.” And those dreaded new meaning. Private clubs closed courses were lucky to break even at smile-stifling masks. Is breathing their courses to all but members; carts the end of the year. constantly into a mask good for were restricted to one rider; snack I got used to having my own cart you? I think not. Who am I protecting bars and restaurants were shuttered; with my own stuff filling the empty if I have been vaccinated and even and tournaments cancelled. Rakes in spaces. And since I wasn’t being had the virus (which I have)? I don’t bunkers were eliminated; flagsticks charged for more than a shared cart, believe I’m protecting anyone, but were manipulated with various clever I thought that was kind of cool too. I still I do it out of respect for those gismos so players didn’t have to wonder if that will change. fearful of the maskless! If we didn’t touch them; and fist pumps and high Sure I missed playing with live in such a litigious society, I’ll bet fives were no-nos. people from other clubs and lingering they would be long gone by now. Soon, though, in spite of the after golf with friends, but that did Trouble is, it is extremely difficult restrictions, tee sheets started filling free up time to do other things like to get accurate, unbiased information up. Derek Sprague, GM of Sawgrass clean my garage (whoopee) and cut about the virus. The swing has been said after reopening his course, “Golf my own hair. I discovered I was able wide ranging from no need to wear is a great outlet for people to get to work from home; finish projects masks at all to must wear double some normalcy in their lives during long put on the sidelines like going masks. There is no science I’ve found

22 Women’s Golf - KATHARINE DYSON

showing reinfection following vaccine. Perhaps it would On the bright side, the RIGA has listed an impressive be a good idea for courses to require golfers to show lineup of upcoming tournaments for men and women their vaccination certificate before being allowed on the including more than 26 Women’s Events. There are four premises. Testing is tricky with correct timing essential major championships, 17 weekly play dates, 2 Mixed so a negative test or temperature check would (in my Tournaments and five weeks of Team Matches. In opinion) not be the answer. I talked to a private club GM addition, there are three affiliated regional events at The the other day who told me about the incredible hoops Misquamicut Club, Wannamoisett CC, Newport CC and, clubs were having to go through and additional staffing Kirkbrae CC. just to hold an event. The Women’s Amateur Championship is being held With Rhode Island and neighboring states easing up on July 19-23 at Wanumetonomy Golf & CC open to on the strict procedures required a year ago, it’s great to those who have an active RIGA/GHIN handicap and are see that outdoor team sports including football, lacrosse, RIGA members or RI resident and a two person Best Ball baseball and golf are able to resume competitions. As take place on July 19. of April 9, reopening protocols from the RI Golf Course I can’t wait for our Member Guest this year and Superintendents Association call for: indoor dining: 75% lunches with friends after playing. There’s a lot to look capacity with 6’ spacing between tables; bar closures: forward to so if you haven’t already, get vaccinated and midnight with food; and catered events: 75% up to get ready to tee it up. It’s time. But sorry girls, now you 100 people indoors, 200 outdoors. Face coverings are have to get in there and rake the bunkers yourself. No required at all times possible when you share a cart with more free rides. ■ someone outside your household; flagsticks may now be removed by players— cups no longer need to be flipped or modified; and courses must have a disinfectant plan Katharine Dyson is a member of the Golf Writers in place for common touch points like bunker rakes, ball of America and writes a Women’s column in each washers, range balls, shared equipment, etc. issue of snegolfer.com. My First Golf Lesson - LYNN LUCZKOWSKI

The ABCs of an Important First Golf Lesson: Learning from Montcalm Golf Club’s PGA Director of Golf, Steve Rogers

olf is a sport that demands Steve Rogers Rogers does not believe in a one- patience and practice. size-fits-all approach to instruction; GWithout much of either, I he also meets his students where often ask myself, ‘why do I still love they are (skill level and golf acumen). the game?’ “I’m not the type of instructor who The pandemic of 2020, while wants to dismantle your golf game distressing on many levels, provided (or swing). Each player has pros and a silver lining for me with the cons, things that can be improved opportunity to be outdoors and play upon and I will point those things out,” more golf. I recorded close to 50 shared Rogers. “People are often rounds, enjoying my club’s weekly afraid of change so if you’re going to women’s league, an occasional take a golf lesson, the deal is you’re tournament and some random, fun probably going to make a change. with family and friends. correct or improve without making a Make the change and commit or You need not scratch the commitment to the game I have now practice it. The reality is people like surface too deeply to uncover my come to love? to do what’s comfortable and change competitive core, yet I seldom The time arrived for me to is often not comfortable.” practice, and until recently, never focus and (attempt to) fine tune my We spent a brisk fall afternoon took an official lesson. My reason, game. I sought out one of the best at Montcalm’s state-of-the-art golf rather my excuse, was that I was not instructors in the business, Steve school, training and practice facility ready to commit (read: practice with Rogers, Director of Golf at Montcalm surrounded by peak foliage adorning regularity, change any habits or seek Golf Club in Enfield, NH, for my first Vermont’s Green Mountains just professional instruction). official lesson. His stellar reputation across the way from the top-rated Sure, I tinker now and then and low-key teaching style made Enfield, New Hampshire course. The with the hopes of improving various it a memorable and worthwhile dynamic training facility includes aspects of my putting, chipping, and experience. 40 full swing natural grass hitting shot accuracy. I generally warm up Rogers spends spring, stations, 20 PGA Tour-approved before a round with a quick stop summer and fall in New Hampshire TurfHound Tee Surface mats, bent at the putting green. And I’ve been surrounded by outstanding views grass putting and chipping greens, as known to give myself an occasional of mountains, valleys, and lakes, as well as beautifully groomed practice pep talk after a blow-up hole or an well as rolling hills of velvet fairways bunkers and pitching areas. all-around bad round. Lastly, I absorb and greens. He runs the operations Rogers shared his philosophy tips and off-the-cuff advice from of Montcalm where his days and on the ABCs of the golf swing -- watching and listening to friends, weekends are focused on his golf from approach and setup to swing and yes, even some know-it-alls. school, clinics, and one-on-one and follow through. He provided But after one too many errant instruction (individual and group). He me with a foundation to review and (though pin high) approach shots also winters as a golf instructor at self-correct. I am now committed, sailing too far left, I asked myself the Joey D Golf Academy in Jupiter, enthusiastic and yes, hungry for

once more, how will I ever self- FL. more. 25 On Page Continues Story

24 My First Golf Lesson - LYNN LUCZKOWSKI

5. DOWNSWING ROGERS’ ROADMAP TO The downswing is where you accelerate the clubhead and generate some speed at impact. At this point I might look to THE ABCs of THE GOLF SWING initiate the downswing by feeling or identifying with the muscle group in the back of the target shoulder. Here is the release of 1. THE (MENTAL) APPROACH the golf club and what initiates the club down to the ball. The Before you commit to taking a lesson or attending a clinic, it back of the shoulder should initiate this whole process, but it helps to know what aspect of your game you want to improve. does vary player to player and will aid in identifying true loft Is it a swing characteristic, your mental approach, improving or ideal launch angle for hitting the golf ball to the intended your mobility or accuracy, fine tuning course management or target. We strive to match the shoulders with the hips as the something else? If you aren’t sure, you can always look to the body turns into a finish or front foot. Your spine should remain instructor for guidance. in a stable position during the activity. 2. OBSERVING THE SETUP Continued from Page 24 Page from Continued 6. IMPACT I watch my student warm-up and swing for a while to observe What happens before impact (your setup, your swing start their pre-swing routine, their approach to the ball, posture, and backswing, etc.) determines how you reach impact and balance, weight shift and body rotation. Certainly, the line of ultimately, how you will strike the ball. This is where you make questioning will turn to whether the player has any physical solid contact with the ball as your weight transfers from limitations that would prevent them from making an athletic your back foot to your front at the time of impact. Here your move. At this point a setup adjustment may be in order. Setup hands should be ahead of the clubhead, often referred to as criteria includes if the player can square his or her toes, hips, “keeping the lag” (lag is shorthand for the angle). Most every and shoulders to the target or parallel to the target line. ABCs good golfer hits down on the ball (with irons or wedges) and of a good setup would also include the ability to set the has their hands lead and the clubhead trail which provides a club face properly. Is their club head behind the ball and are consistent path for you to hit the ball from the inside. they pointing the face appropriately to their desired target? Alignment sticks are very useful through all of this: a shaft 7. FOLLOW THROUGH designated to target line, and a secondary shaft perpendicular A nice-looking finish in your swing is more than just for show. to the line denoting club face angle is a great way to practice. You have focused to have a balanced follow through which Further, how is their mobility, fluidity, and freedom of motion? is important in linking your starting position to your finishing Once these ABCs are in place or if they need adjusting, we can position. By extending your arms fully toward the target, you focus on more specific elements to improving their pre-shot leave nothing behind and use the energy generated from your setup. backswing. Think about your weight firmly planted and your front leg stable as you rotate your body in a fluid manner after 3. POSTURE you connect with the ball. The torso should continue turning Having the correct posture is an important fundamental often over your front shoulder as the ball sails to your target. This overlooked by golfers. It helps dictate proper club positioning/ is an important sequence to remember. We often refer to movement around the body, promotes good balance and is ‘muscle memory’ where your body can train itself to repeat needed for appropriate follow through. Starting from the every time. If you start in a certain position every time and ground up, I am looking for a slight knee bend, some pelvic tilt, finish in a certain position every time, you are most likely the chest cavity pronounced (bird-like instead of a concave going to have consistency through the middle of your swing chest), chin up to create some space -- the goal here is to look (the impact position) every time. at the golf ball peripherally with the bottom of your eyes. A relatively tall spine angle (no rounded spines here), hands and arms draping down from the shoulder sockets, identifying a Steve Rogers, a 28-year member of the PGA, is the shaft angle, and realizing most of the sole of the golf club at Director of Golf at Montcalm Golf Club which is a semi- address are all important facets. Once we establish a decent private club in Enfield, NH sporting a state-of-the-art athletic posture, I would try to establish the body weight golf school, training, and practice facility. Coupled toward the heels, a feeling of soft knees. Quick reference: toes with Montcalm’s epic 18-holes of golf this is a “must up, a slight knee flex, a bit of pelvic tilt, and chin up to create experience” golfer’s dream. Montcalm also offers clinics some space of freedom for our shoulders to turn. and custom private and group lessons for men, women, juniors, and families. Rogers’ experience includes time 4. SWING START spent at high-profile clubs like Newport Country Club How you begin your swing is important because it interconnects and Point Judith Country Club in Rhode Island, The to all other integral parts. Try to grip the club consistently every Loxahatchee Club and Royal Palm Beach Country Club time to ensure the interconnectivity of your hands, arms, and in Florida, and his longest tenure at The Quechee Club in shoulders to result in swing efficiency. The club should be Vermont for 20 seasons. For more information or to learn rooted in the base of the last three fingers of your target hand. about Montcalm’s golf school, instruction or packages, The swing starts when you take the clubhead straight back visit www.montcalmgolfclub.com or call (603) 448-5665. from the ball. One piece takeaway is desirable. Depending upon the player in front of me, I would look for an opportunity Lynn Luczkowski, owner of L2 Communications, a public for the target shoulder to turn down to the golf ball or over the relations and marketing firm, is a former Division 1 athlete rear knee. In the act of turning the shoulders we would hope who received a full scholarship at Rutgers University. to recognize a turning of the torso whereby the weight would There she received a B.A. in Communication and was a turn into the rear leg heel. Once the body has coiled into a fastpitch softball pitcher who competed in two College positive position we can start to drill down to club and hand World Series. She was a three-sport athlete in (Norwalk, position at the top of the backswing. Athletically, remember to CT) high school and only recently started playing golf keep your back leg slightly flexed as this will enable the weight seriously -- after her first lesson with Steve Rogers! to transfer to the same heel.

25 BRUCE VITTNER

A Covid-19 Creation Golf Wurx

What does an Aerospace Design and Engineering company do during Covid? In the case of Carl Olson of Pittsfield, Mass. and Jim Lang of Beckett, the two owners and golfing friends, they decided to create something that would work well during the pandemic. “We saw that golf carts were limited to one rider. Courses needed twice as many carts, and then they started putting up shields in the carts. We had been working on an Electric Vehicle, so we decided to pause this program and start designing the S6 S6 between the handlebars, and it can aerospace industry. EV single-rider golf cart,” said Olson. be easily put onto two-rider carts with The true benefit of the The two got together and a couple of brackets. The benefits company’s strategy is that they are developed an electric single rider of the iCart are many: Distance to not going to charge courses for the cart. The result was a three-wheel the holes is displayed, players can iCart. The company will take a small cart with a 2,000W motor, a stable ride order food and beverages, the GPS percentage for each purchase made and fully loaded with accessories to allows for management to know by users of the app. satisfy every golfer—(see picture). It where each cart is at all times, it has “It really is a no-lose option for met social distancing requirements a digital scorecard that can also be the courses,” said Lang who added and it replaces large more expensive used for leagues or tournaments, that “it’s really tough to say no to carts. It weighs only 175 pounds, is you can charge your phone, it has free.” Golfers can also download the very stable and the battery lasts for limited volume speakers and it has app to let the course know when they 36 holes on one charge. Geo Fencing to keep carts out of are there and if they have any special Olson does not see the S6 EV restricted areas or leaving the course. requests. replacing the regular two-person The profits possible for course The two designers have had carts, but as a supplement to use owners with this iCart are plentiful. less time to play golf because they early in the morning (they can go Food and drink orders can be made are so busy, so they installed a golf much faster than regular carts, but instantly-and the cart girl knows just simulator in their shop. Their S6 EV they have limited the speed to 13 where you are! There are advertising caught the eye of pro golfer John mph for golf courses), or they can be opportunities, people can book future Daly, so the two are going down to used when one person wants to ride tee times while playing, and the carts Nashville to play golf and donate a and the other wants to walk. There uniqueness can garner increased few S6 EV’s to his charity. ■ are slots for two bags to be carried fees for use. The tablet is weather- on the S6 EV. proof, shock-proof and has an 8-inch Bruce Vittner is a member The other product that the screen. This iCart hybrid software of the Golf Writers Assn. of pair designed is the iCart. This system is similar to their iCabin app America and the Golf Travel computerized tablet is built into the that the company designs for the Writers of America.

26 Salute Military Golf Assn. - BRUCE VITTNER

Doing Great Job Helping Wounded Veterans

e recently heard about a non-profit organization Wthat is using golf to help Post 9/11 combat wounded veterans. Salute Military Golf Association (SMGA) was founded in 2006 by former PGA Tour Pro, Jim Estes, who was working as a club pro in Maryland. New England a self-funding program has primarily come from spreading Estes often visited nearby Walter to help these veterans. the word about what they have to Reed & Bethesda Naval hospitals To date the SMGA New England offer for wounded or injured veterans and saw many soldiers who had lost chapter has worked with over 350 who would like to play golf through limbs or had other major injuries veterans. The philosophy of the fund-raising golf tournaments and such as PTSD & TBI from wartime organization is “We Believe in the golf outings for their members. action. He wondered how he could Healing Power of the Game of Golf “It is so great to see these use his knowledge and love of golf and Sharing it with Post 911 Combat veterans out there playing golf and to help these men and women. He Wounded and Injured Veterans.” The smiling and having a good time. Word practiced swinging on one leg, using organization runs clinics and outings of mouth has been great source in only one arm and other techniques throughout New England. There is getting more veterans involved. I’m to try to find ways to teach these even a Rhode Island chapter that has always getting calls saying so-and- veterans who probably thought they been formed in conjunction with their so told me how incredibly real the would never play golf again. sponsors LIUNA Local 271 and RI program is and how do I become a This 501(c)3 non-profit Association of General Contractors. part of it.” organization continued to grow and Lessons are taught at Wannamoisett Currently the New England & serve more combat-wounded. In GC with memberships at three local national chapters are running an on- 2013 a New England Chapter of the golf courses including Pawtucket line auction on hanbid.app.link/smga organization was started by Jerry Country Club, Valley CC & Cranston with 50+ wonderful golf courses Shanahan, a retired financial services CC. throughout the country donating advisor. Shanahan, who does this as a rounds of golf. You can visit their Shanahan had seen the work non-paid volunteer, is the “jack-of-all- website www.smganewengland.org Bob Beach PGA was doing with trades.” We set up the clinics, provide to find out more information and veterans at Braintree Country Club. golf clubs from TaylorMade (he says find ways to be part of this great He learned about the SMGA and saw that Taylor-Made has been wonderful, organization. ■ this as a way to give back to these offering clubs and other golfing soldiers who lived in New England. equipment at a very reduced price), Bruce Vittner is a member of the He wrote a business plan in 2012, have purchased three handicap Golf Writers of America and the submitted it to the national SMGA vehicles to help get some of the Golf Travel Writers of America. Chapter and was approved to make players around the course. Growth

27 COVER STORY By MIKE KIRBY

Mass Golf Hosts a Great Many Tournaments : And All Run Well

he player stands over his the state and local levels. State Open that will be held this year ball on the tee to the par-3 These Allied Golf Associations, at Oak Hill C.C. Thole. The player sees a sign supported by the USGA’s five existing Mass Golf, for instance, conducts which reads “162 yards.” He reaches regional affairs offices, administer the almost 100 days of competition a for his 6-. He knows he has to USGA Handicap and Course Rating year for players of all ages, gender play well because he is giving up two Systems within defined geographic and skill levels. And it tries to change strokes a side to his opponent… areas across the country. In addition, with the times to meet the needs of That one paragraph alone they serve as the community’s primary its members. illustrates three functions of state golf resource for USGA services such as For more casual play, Mass associations. First, the associations championship qualifiers, governance, Golf this year will be conducting 19 certify distances from tees and yard golf facility support and programs Member Days, casual competition markers for member clubs. Second, that help grow and improve the long- between players of various skill they administer individual members’ term health of the game. levels. More importantly, Member handicaps, which were used to “Regional golf associations are Days allow players to enjoy some of determine the strokes given. Third, the lifeblood of the golf community the state’s finest private clubs. they determine course ratings and and the USGA,” Mike Davis, USGA In an effort to grow the slope, also used to determine strokes. CEO, said at the announcement of the game, each state golf association State golf associations also formation of these so-called AGAs encourages junior players, especially run the dozens of tournaments held three years ago. “We felt that now through their First Tee programs, in each state annually, from open was the best time to formalize this which teaches the game and its championships to competitions for new alliance, in the spirit of working inherent values to younger players. women, amateurs, seniors, juniors, together on grassroots programs, In Massachusetts, the First Tee of etc. “Our primary purpose is to improving how we serve golfers and Massachusetts is headquartered facilitate the game for our member providing a healthy foundation from at The Links at Mass Golf, an 18- clubs and players,” said Jesse which the entire golf community can hole, par-3 facility in Norton which Menachem, executive director and grow.” provides instructional programs for CEO of Mass Golf, a three-year-old State golf associations’ many junior golfers throughout the year. At merger of the Massachusetts Golf functions are often overlooked The Links and at six other First Tee of Association and the Women’s Golf but serve as important roles in the Massachusetts facilities from Cape Association of Massachusetts. enjoyment of the game. And they are Cod to Springfield, the emphasis is on “We want to make the game more not done with the snap of a finger. fun with the idea that the sport will be enjoyable for our existing members Take course ratings, for instance. a lasting part of each player’s life. and we want to grow the game, Each member club is rated by a In addition, Mass Golf works especially among juniors.” team from the association in their with Youth on Course, which helps to In Southern New England, region. These teams usually consist provide juniors with rounds of golf for the sport is overseen by three of an experienced staff member and just $5. ■ organizations: the Connecticut State volunteers who have been trained Golf Association, Mass Golf and the under the USGA’s course rating Mike Kirby, former editor of The Rhode Island Golf Association. These system. This must be done every 10 Sun Chronicle of Attleboro, writes organizations have taken on a larger years to satisfy USGA standards. an Eastern Mass. column in each role in recent years after entering Competition is a big part of issue of snegolfer.com and can a new relationship with the United golf, and Mass Golf fosters the be reached at mikekirbygolf18@ States Golf Association with the aim spirit by conducting a number of gmail.com. of enhancing the golfer experience at championships, including the Mass

28 DR. JESSICA L. PAPA

6 Essential Steps to Pain-Free Golf

1. Dynamic Stretching Be sure to move all body parts prior to swinging a club. Dynamic stretching means that you are moving your joints and muscles through their movement ranges in a nice, gentle fashion. This will loosen up your muscles and joints, getting them ready for that big swing!

2. Strengthening Lightly strengthening your body through gentle strength- training exercises will help reduce impact stress when you swing your club, lessening your chances for things like rotator cuff tears.

3. Cross-Training Don’t be afraid to add some variety into your daily activities aside from golf; it is important to be well rounded physically, so your body doesn’t get too used to the same repetitive motions Jessica Papa PT, DPT 4. Checking Your Equipment Make sure your clubs are fit to your specific size- you don’t want to be swinging a club that is too long, too short, or too heavy for your body, as this will not do you any favors out there on the course!

5. Remembering to Stand Don’t forget to stand and move around throughout the day at your day job; too much sitting will cause shortening in the hip muscles, calves, and hamstrings.

6. Consulting with a Physical Therapist Physical therapists can help identify certain painful areas that you might be dealing with, and balance out your body with manual techniques so that you are moving around in optimal alignment and are able to continue playing golf in a pain-free body. After all, physical activity is meant to be enjoyed!

Arancia Physical Therapy is located at 190 Midway Road in Cranston. To learn more, call 401-602-7006 or visit their informative website www.aranciapt.com. Subscribe to her podcast: Stay Healthy New England and Instagram: @drjesspapa

29 NEPGA - BRIAN BICKFORD

Olney Receives NEPGA Golf Professional of the Year

BOYLSTON, Mass. -- Josh Olney, PGA, has long prided himself on going the extra mile. In addition to his day-to-day duties as General Manager of Orleans Country Club (Barton, Vermont), Olney has taken it upon himself to give back in a myriad of ways. He has been a leader among his peers, serving as the Vermont Chapter President, and given back to the community with free junior clinics each summer and an annual fundraising tournament, the Olney Invitational, to support Veterans. For his efforts, Olney has been recognized as the 2021 New England PGA Golf Professional of the Year. Olney is one of 11 NEPGA Professionals to earn recognition for their service and dedication to their profession as the NEPGA announced its full slate of 2021 award winners. The 2021 NEPGA award winners will be recognized at the annual Awards Dinner on November 20, 2021 at Nashawtuc Country Club. The complete list of the 11 golf professionals recognized as 2021 NEPGA Award Winners includes: Golf Professional of the Year: Josh Olney, PGA (Orleans CC) Assistant Professional of the Year: Josh Olney Ed Doherty II, PGA (Black Rock CC) Patriot Award: Peter Doherty, PGA (Atkinson Resort) Player Development Award: Eric Barlow, PGA (Winchester CC) Youth Player Development Award: Seul-Ki Hawley, PGA (Winchester CC) Teacher of the Year: Adam Kolloff, PGA (Pure Drive Golf) Merchandiser of the Year - Private: Jim Clay, PGA (New Seabury on Cape Cod) Golf Executive of the Year: Brian Bickford, PGA (Maine State Golf Association) Professional Development Award: Michael Sullivan, PGA (Oyster Harbors Club) Bill Strausbaugh Award: Eric Steindel, PGA (Wianno Club) Deacon Palmer Award: Peter Norton, PGA (Blue Hill CC)

Brian Bickford, PGA, is the maiden recipient of the newly added Golf Executive of the Year Award for his efforts with the Maine State Golf Association. The 2021 award winners represent five of the NEPGA’s six Chapters, including Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Cape Cod.

30 People in Golf - MASS GOLF STAFF

Khang and Werenski to be Ambassadors for Mass Golf

NORTON, Massachusetts – Over and expresses concern for others that fantastic role models within the game the years, Mass Golf has developed extends beyond the golf course. They of golf,” said Jesse Menachem, Mass partnerships with well-known understand the importance of creating Golf’s Executive Director/CEO. “They professional golfers who are proud of opportunities and life-changing are graciously putting in the time to developing their roots through amateur experiences that grow the game. make sure their fellow Bay Staters can golf in Massachusetts. Therefore, With assistance from the Mass make golf an enjoyable experience and Mass Golf is excited to announce Golf staff and Board of Directors, an part of their lifestyle. that two particular Massachusetts Ambassador is able to deliver a strong “They maintain the core values of natives — LPGA Tour professional message about the importance of golf at the highest level, and our hope (Rockland) and PGA amateur golf and youth development is that our membership, especially TOUR professional Richy Werenski in Massachusetts. They welcome junior golfers, will look up to them, (South Hadley) — will be the first two engagement, collaboration and connect with them and relate to their professional golfers to be recognized communication with a wide-ranging experiences. We look forward to officially as an Ambassador of Mass network from the Bay State and support supporting them as they strive to make Golf. Mass Golf in advancing the game of more possible for themselves and for An Ambassador fosters the ideals golf throughout the Commonwealth. the entire Mass Golf community.”

of the game on a local and national level “Richy and Megan are both Megan Khang, 23, learned the 32 On Page Continues Story

31 People in Golf - MASS GOLF STAFF

game like many people did — from her Through it all, Khang said she in Norton, the first event of the FedEx father. Khang’s parents were refugees appreciates the support she gets from Cup Playoffs. While on the practice from the Vietnam War and ended up the Bay State. “The friendly people range, he recorded a video with Mass laying roots in the Northeast. Her father, make it home,” Khang said. “Their Golf and First Tee Massachusetts, Lee, was an auto mechanic but became support is immense and incredible. I touting “perseverance”, one of the nine a self-taught golf instructor and ended get texts from people once in a while, core values of the First Tee. up introducing Megan to the game at and it just shows how close people are. He also encouraged young and age 5. It’s a small community, especially in the beginning players to be relaxed and Khang perfected the fundamentals golf world.” enhance the enjoyable parts of the and swing mechanics rapidly, working As an ambassador, Khang said game. “Keep the game of golf fun right Continued from Page 31 Page from Continued hard toward her dream of playing on the she hopes to encourage people to play now,” he said. “The swing doesn’t need LPGA Tour. By age 8, she was already with those close to them. to be perfect. You need to learn how to winning junior amateur tournaments. “I enjoy giving back,” Khang said. get the golf ball in the hole, learn how Back home, she’d face much older “It reminds me of being younger. I want to get out of trouble, learn to hit crazy competition but held her own. At 11, to see the game grow so young people shots, and it’s going to help you gain she made it to a in the Ouimet have lots of people to play with.” overall in the long run.” , and at 13 won As for her advice toward Mass Golf Werenski attended Georgia Tech the 2011 Mass Girls’ Junior Amateur. Members, “Practice, practice, practice. before turning professional in 2014. When she turned 14 the next year, she Work on your putting and short game. He competed in four U.S. Amateur not only defended her title but qualified No one drives to win, they putt to win.” Championships as well as the 2008 for the U.S. Women’s Open. Also, “Play 9 holes and have a U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. Traveling out of state was a luxury drink or dinner afterward. Play games He capped his amateur career, with a for Khang’s family, so every high-level and always make it fun.” spectacular victory in the 2012 Porter event she played in, Khang was grateful Werenski, 28, spent his early days Cup, an elite amateur event that has for the opportunity to prove herself. Her learning the game at The Orchards Golf been won by major champions such as father once said, “You go to the first tee Club in his hometown of South Hadley. , John Harris and David thinking you’re the best, and if it doesn’t Joined by his brother, Mickey, the two Duval. He also played in state and happen, then it’s not your day.’’ would spend time visualizing that they regional amateur events, winning the “We didn’t have the resources a were putting to win The Masters. 2013 Mass Four-Ball Championship lot of golf families had, and even as a Werenski still has aspirations with his brother Mickey. child, Megan knew that,” Lee once told to play on the big stage at Augusta In early 2015, Werenski won Golf Golf Channel. “I think, understanding National, but 2020 has been Channel’s reality show Big Break: The that traveling to big tournaments was instrumental in building a successful Palm Beaches, helping launch his difficult, she worked harder to take career. Werenski had a terrific 2020 professional golf career and make him advantage of opportunities when she season, finishing 38th in last season’s a more familiar face on tour. got them. She worked hard to do her FedEx Cup standings. In August, he Over the years, more friends and best.” won his first PGA TOUR event with family have been able to see Werenski Despite being highly recruited by a one-point win at the Barracuda on tour. When he travels more locally to colleges, Khang decided to turn pro Championship and earned a spot events, like the Travelers Championship at age 18. She earned her LPGA Tour in the PGA Championship, plus full at TPC River Highlands in Connecticut, card in 2016, becoming the first player exemption through the 2021-2022 his supporters will yell, “Here we go of Hmong and Laotian descent on season. During the second round of the South Hadley!” or “413!” when he tour. Though she is still seeking her ZOZO Championship, Werenski sank makes putts. first LPGA Tour victory, she has earned 12 birdies for a 61, the lowest score “Seeing their faces in the crowd several top 10 finishes, was selected in a Tour-sanctioned competition at and stuff was pretty cool,” Werenski for the 2019 , and is ranked Sherwood Country Club. , said after playing in the 2017 Travelers 58th on the Rolex Women’s World Golf one of Werenski’s many icons growing Championship. “I was 4-over on the Rankings. She’ll also be competing in up, held the previous record. front and people were still clapping and the 2020 U.S. Women’s Open taking Werenski also qualified for The encouraging me. It’s nice to have that place December 10-13, 2020. Northern Trust this year at TPC Boston support.” ■

32 Central Mass Golf - JAY GEARAN

chipped out onto the fairway, hit a five-iron short of the green and Oak Hill Will Be Good Test for couldn’t get down in two, missing a five-footer for the championship in 2021 Mass Open front of a huge crowd surrounding the green. That meant Morse, who : In 1998, Rodney Butcher won the had finished earlier, and Paesani in Open at Oak Hill, and, the last time it were both nine-under. Fitchburg, which is celebrating its was held at the Fitchburg course ten “You’ve got to play all the holes 100th anniversary, will host the 111th years ago in 2011, Kyle Gallo earned and I guess I played just 53 of them,” Massachusetts Open from June 14 the title. said a dejected Paesani afterward. through June 16. One of the most exciting Mass. Said Morse, who stood by the Last year, for the first time since Open championships ever, and one 18th green watching the dramatic 1945, the Mass. Open, which began that I had the pleasure to cover for regulation finish with his girlfriend in 1905, was not held because of The Gardner News, occurred at Oak Sue Charloff, “I was hoping John the pandemic. But the excitement is Hill in 1989 when Andy Morse won would bogey 18, but when I heard back for 2021, and the Donald Ross in a sudden-death playoff over John he birdied 16, I figured, well, another layout awaits the competitors during Paesani. second place. I never thought of a Oak Hill’s special Centennial year. Morse, from Blue Hill CC, won playoff, but you never know in this The Mass. Open has been the Open with a solid birdie on the crazy game.” held at Fitchburg in six previous first playoff hole which was Oak Hill’s “Get your clubs, get your clubs years, beginning in 1935 when the par-5 10th. and good luck,” said Charloff while legendary Gene Sarazen won by an The victory meant redemption jumping up in joy before giving Morse overwhelming margin of 14 strokes for the 30-year-old Morse, who in a hug and a good-luck kiss following over Guy Paulsen of the Longmeadow 1983 at Charles River was a tap- the Paesani miss. Country Club. Earlier, that year, with in putt away from winning this “I hope John didn’t hear me,” his famous double-eagle on the 15th championship as an amateur, but he added Charloff, “but I was so excited hole, Sarazen went on to win the failed to return his ball to the proper for Andy.” Masters at Augusta National. position after moving it a putter head Morse toured the regulation Sarazen’s triumph at Oak away and emerged as round in 3-under 68. “I started with Hill won him $425 in prize money the champion. a double-bogey on the first hole,” he including $25 offered by Fitchburg ‘I went from winning by a stroke explained. “But we had 17 holes to Mayor Robert E. Greenwood for to losing by a stroke,” said Morse, play, and I made a lot of good shots setting the new course record of 66 recalling his famous brain cramp. and a lot of good putts.” in the second round. “I’ll always believe I won that Morse knocked in birdies on The following year, Sarazen tournament anyway,” said Morse. holes 2, 4, 6 and 7 and kept making tied for fourth place, behind winner “Dana Quigley’s name may be on the pars afterward. His birdie on 17 got Harold McSpaden. trophy, but I won the tournament.” him to 9-under. When the Mass. Open returned Paesani appeared on his way Morse’s playoff hole featured to Oak Hill in 1948, it was Jerry to victory at Oak Hill in 1989 after a second shot with perhaps the Gianferante of Longmeadow who making a birdie on 16 and a par on hardest club in the bag to hit—the won the championship with scores 17. He had a two stroke lead as he 1-iron. “I hit kind of a nervous drive of 72-69-76-76, two shots better than walked to the 18th, a very difficult down the left side just to keep it in runner-up Ted Adams of Pocasset. and long par 4. play,” said Morse. Interestingly, , of “The 18th hole here is a great “After John took an unplayable Northhampton, placed sixth in the finishing hole,” said then club pro I had two shots to work with and ’48 Open at Oak Hill. Ten years later Jim O’Leary. “It decides a lot of when I hit the 1-iron on the green, I in 1958,Toski won the Mass. Open at tournaments.” figured that was it. He kind of handed Hyannisport. Toski will turn 95 years Paesani pushed his drive across it to me and I wound up on top. It’s old in September. the fairway into the trees on the left, amazing.” ■

33 Central Mass Golf- JAY GEARAN

Whenever another golf season begins, I always think of a clever poem written by the late, great John Updike: “The Sometime Sportsman Greets the Spring.”

Here are the poem’s opening stanzas:

When winter’s glaze is lifted from the greens, And cups are freshly cut, and birdies sing, Triumphantly the stifled golfer preens In cleats and slacks once more, and checks his swing. This year, he vows, his head will steady be, His weight-shift smooth, his grip and stance ideal; And so they are, until upon the tee Befall the old contortions of the real.

Updike seems a bit pessimistic in his last line, so as spring golf beckons-- and we’re getting a nice, early start-- the trick is to avoid “the old contortions of the real” and embrace, with thoughts of improvement, the upcoming golfing weeks and months of 2021. As former LPGA superstar Annika Sorenstam once said, “The most important shot in golf is the next one.”

Central Mass Senior Golf Tour: The Central Mass. Senior Men’s Golf Tour began on April 15 with its season opener at East Mountain Country Club in Westfield. Jim DeCarolis, Director of the Senior Tour, is pleased with the 2021 schedule that includes 28 events on 15 different golf courses in the state. Following East Mountain on Thursday, here are the dates and courses of Tour stops through the end of June: April 22, Heritage CC in Charlton; April 29, Tekoa CC in Westfield; May 6, Chicopee CC, May 13, Leicester CC, May 20, Cold Spring CC in Belchertown; May 27, Ellinwood CC in Athol; June 3 , Gardner Municipal GC; June 10, Ledges GC in South Hadley; June 17, Quail Hollow Golf & CC in Oakham, and June 24, Templewood GC in Templeton. For more information about joining the CMass Golf Tour, contact DeCarolis at 508-560-9545 or email him at [email protected]. ■

Jay Gearan writes a Central Mass. Notebook in each issue of snegolfer.com.

34 People in Golf - BILL DOYLE

Limoli Believes in Playing Golf Quickly

ven at age 73, Joe Limoli is He’s shot his age or better close still one of the best golfers to 10 times, including a 67 last year Eat Green Hill Municipal and a 73 this year. So he knows how Golf Course in his hometown of to play golf and he doesn’t take much Worcester, Mass. time doing it. He could also be the fastest. You might wonder why if He and Kevin Hannam, his someone enjoys playing golf, would frequent playing partner, regularly they be in a hurry for their round to a couple of swing thoughts and just play in 2-½ to 3 hours, as long as no end? “It’s not a matter of wanting it get up and hit it. When it’s my turn, one in front of them is slowing them to go by fast,” Limoli said. “I want to I’m ready and I go.” down. Hannum likes to say that you continue to play. That’s the fun of it. Of course, most people take can’t go out to lunch with Limoli after I don’t want to be standing around practice swings - even if they don’t he plays golf because they’re still watching people in front of me going do any good. “I’ve seen people take serving breakfast. When Limoli plays through their antics.” He compared four practice swings and then they’ll in a foursome, they often finish in playing golf to attending a concert. get up there and they don’t have a three and a half hours. You’re not in a rush for the concert clue where the ball is going,” he said. Most golfers take four hours or to end, but you don’t want to wait too Limoli describes himself as a more to play 18 holes, even while long between songs. “TV-aholic,” but he admits he can’t riding in carts. Limoli always walks Limoli admits he sometimes watch golf on television for four and pushes his cart up and down gets aggravated playing behind slow hours. So he records the broadcast Green Hill’s hilly fairways. He figures golfers, but he realizes there isn’t and speeds through it. He knows he could play 18 holes in two hours much he can do about it. So he tries each shot is worth a lot of money on if he rode. to stay calm and not let the slower the PGA Tour, but he can’t understand After climbing the steep hill pace ruin his round. why pro golfers take so much time to from the 11th green to the 12th tee, “You have to really concentrate analyze everything. “And don’t get me Limoli admits he needs some time to on your own game,” he said. started on greens books,” he said. “I catch his breath before playing the What does he take more pride in, can’t believe they allow that.” uphill par 5, but he takes less than a his speed on the course or his score? Limoli knows all the breaks on minute. “I can’t distinguish between them,” he the greens at Green Hill so he doesn’t Playing quickly hasn’t hurt said. “I’d probably say both.” take much time to putt and he sinks Limoli’s game. The retired school So what are the keys to playing them more times than not. Limoli teacher moved from the back tees fast? “First of all, you have to want plays with an 18-handicapper at to the white tees three years ago to play fast,” he said. Limoli realizes times who also plays fast. “It doesn’t and he carries a handicap of 4.0. that some people think of a round matter how good a golfer you are, His handicap used to be a 1.0 when of golf as a leisurely outing with you can make a conscious effort to he teamed with Gerry Taylor to friends. Not him. He’s there to play play fast if you want to,” Limoli said. capture the prestigious Wachusett golf. He’ll talk to his playing partners, Golf isn’t all that Limoli does Four-Ball many years ago. At Green but he doesn’t usually have extended quickly. “Ask my wife how I eat,” he Hill, he’s recorded six holes-in-one, conversations. He, Hannam and said with a chuckle. “I’m trying to and he’s won five medal play club whoever else joins them play ready slow down.” But he never wants to championships and eight golf. slow down on the golf course. ■ club championships. Some of those “We don’t waste time,” Limoli club championship rounds drove him said. Many times, Limoli doesn’t crazy because they lasted five hours, bother to take a practice swing. Bill Doyle is a member of the but he still managed to win more “I’ve played enough where I feel Golf Writers Assn. of America. than his share of them. like I know my swing,” he said. “I have

35 Western Mass Notebook - CHRIS MIRACLE

degree at UConn, and that was civil kids. I have run camps where some Tamburini New Head Pro engineering. An advisor mentioned days, we will not even pick up a golf at The Ranch Golf Club to me the similarities between club. Team building, fundamentals, subsurface analysis in golf and and character are all pillars golf As the 2021 golf season building construction. And that professionals can teach without takes off, The Ranch Golf Club in confirmed how I would make my playing golf. Most importantly, an Southwick, Mass. begins a new year transition to golf. So, I added a enjoyable setting is why kids want with a new head professional, Nick turfgrass science major and off I to return to the golf course. As they Tamburini, who took time out of his went. get older and develop golf skills, we busy schedule for a Q & A session. transition into a more formal golf What are your goals for your first setting. And yes, as juniors become This is your first season at the season at the Ranch as head more competitive, steps should be Ranch, where have you worked professional? taken to prepare them for winning. prior? Like many other golf facilities, I want I started my PGA journey at TPC to continue to provide an outstanding Favorite pro golfer and why? River Highlands in Cromwell, CT. product. Everyone knows 2020 was Is it a bail out to say Tiger Woods? Since then, I have worked at the a historic year for golf, but it was The perseverance and mental Country Club of Waterbury during not anticipated. Manufacturing fortitude are two character traits the summer months. During the past companies fell behind, foot traffic anyone would have a hard time several winter seasons, I traveled to went up, and most golf courses’ cart rooting against. Same goes for the west coast of Florida working at fleets took a beating. An enormous . But is Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, number of tournaments and banquet my favorite golfer. A guy who flies a and most recently at Southern Hills events were forced to postpone from little under the radar but hits a mile. Plantation Club in Brooksville. 2020 to this year. In 2021, we are What he did with Amy (Bockerstette) prepared to host this large quantity at the Waste Management in 2019 How long have you been in the of new and existing golfers. was awesome. And topped off that business? Where are you from? year by becoming a major champion I grew up in Wolcott, CT and started Give your opinion on how golf is at the US Open. playing golf around the age of 16 doing, whether you have seen an at a little nine- hole course called increase in people playing or how Favorite course you have played? Farmingbury Hills. I really started the game can grow in the future? Another tough question. I have this to get involved with golf in 2014. Best approach to drawing junior discussion all the time with my I was a junior at UConn studying golfers as well. friends about the difference between Civil Engineering and Turfgrass As touched on in the previous the nicest course played and one’s science. I actually worked as question, golf took off last year. It favorite course played and how a maintenance intern at River was one of the few, safe activities difficult it is to separate the two. I’d Highlands that summer. My senior someone could participate in during have to go with The Heritage Club year and fifth year I worked for a golf Covid. Courses have seen a lot of south of Myrtle Beach in Pawley’s course architecture company called people return to golf, that haven’t Island. There are a lot of big names Northeast Golf Company based out played in years. A lot of people who close by too, with True Blue and of Saunderstown, RI. And then came have never played before are taking Caledonia on the same street. But across to the golf professional side golf lessons. The responsibility this place had a feel the first time I in 2017. that lies with any PGA professional played it. And anytime a property can is to make sure these new and change your emotion just by being What made you choose the golf lapsed golfers have an enjoyable there, you know it’s a special place. ■ business as a profession? experience while at any golf facility. I realized my sophomore year of We want to help people enjoy Chris Miracle writes a Western college that I was never going to the game. Junior golf is all about Mass Notebook column in each work in another industry. At that creating a fun environment for the issue of snegolfer.com. time, I was only focusing on one

36 People in Golf - MASS GOLF STAFF

Bradford, chipping in on 18 to smash his own course MASS GOLF 2020 record at 15-under. He also qualified for the 2020 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship with close friend Mike PLAYERS OF THE YEAR Calef earning a trip to Chambers Bay Golf Course (WA) in the spring. “I love USGA events,” Maccario said. “And to have NORTON, Massachusetts--Since 1976, Mass Golf has a team event with such a great friend, I can’t ask for recognized top performers in Mass Golf Championship anything better.” and Women’s Championship events, as well as select regional and USGA events. The winners are based on SHANNON JOHNSON-- WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE the final tallies of the respective Mass Golf Player of YEAR + WOMEN’S MID-AMATEUR AWARD the Year point systems. Despite a condensed schedule Shannon Johnson said she wanted to enter the 2020 due to COVID-19, local, state and regional points-earning season with a fresh mindset after wins were hard to come events took place between June and November. Some by in 2019. While that was easier said than done during USGA qualifiers that took place in 2019 were carried over the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson into this year’s points race. once again established herself as the player to beat in Notable Massachusetts golf champions who have statewide events. achieved Player of the Year honors include: Jim Hallet, Buoyed by three Mass Golf Women’s Championship former PGA TOUR pro and low amateur at the 1983 victories, Johnson earned the Anne Marie Tobin Women’s Masters, current PGA TOUR pro Kevin Johnson, recent Player of the Year for the third time in her career Korn Ferry Tour winner Evan Harmeling and Mass Golf (previously 2016 & 2018). Hall of Fame inductees, Frank Vana, Jr. and Anne Marie Johnson swept the Mass Women’s Tobin. Championship for the Baker Trophy at The Club at “After a unique season, to say the least, we are New Seabury and the Mass Women’s Mid-Amateur pleased to recognize each of these competitors as Championship for the Keyes Cup at Black Rock Country the best in the state,” said Kevin Eldridge, Mass Golf’s Club and tacked on a victory with Megan Buck in the Director of Rules of Competitions. “Their consistent play inaugural Mass Women’s Four-Ball Championship for the during a season which looked and felt a little different Townshend Cup at Haverhill Country Club. highlights their abilities to adapt to their surroundings She also won the Women’s Mid-Amateur award and still compete at an extremely high level.” for having the lowest combined gross score in the Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Championship This year’s award recipients are as follows: (36 holes, stroke play) at Essex County Club and the Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship for the Keyes Cup NICK MACCARIO--MEN’S PLAYER OF THE (36 holes). YEAR “I’m honored to be this year’s Women’s Player of If there’s one way to describe Nick Maccario’s 2020 the Year,” Johnson said. “With everything that went on season it was that he was always in the hunt to win. this year, there was a lot of uncertainty as to if we would Following a three-week stretch in July when Maccario even be able to compete this season. Mass Golf did an finished runner-up by the slimmest of margins inthe amazing job of putting on their events with even more Mass Amateur Championship, New England Amateur participants than the previous year. Having a feeling of Championship and Ouimet Memorial Tournament, he normalcy while on the course was a nice escape.” finally got an elusive victory in the Hornblower Memorial Tournament. The win, followed by a third-place finish in PAMELA KUONG --WOMEN’S SENIOR the Mass Mid-Amateur Championship capped off one of PLAYER OF THE YEAR the most dominant summer stretches in recent history Pamela Kuong didn’t start playing golf until she was and put Maccario well ahead in the Mass Golf Player of in her mid-30s, but in her quarter-century of play, she the Year race. continued adding to an already-stellar amateur career. While these last two accomplishments don’t count Kuong, 59, a Wellesley resident playing out of Charles toward his point total, Maccario put an exclamation on River Country Club in Newton, is the first recipient of the

a legendary season with an immaculate round of 56 at Mass Golf Women’s Senior Player of the Year Award. 38 On Page Continues Story

37 She earned nearly half her points from defending her title That win was instrumental in Broderick’s campaign in the Mass Women’s Senior Amateur Championship, to win the Christopher Cutler Rich Junior Player of the shooting a 1-under 71 at South Shore Country Club to Year for the first time. He’s the 19th overall recipient win by four strokes. since the award was first presented in 1997. “I’m honored to be the first award recipient for Next season, Broderick’s goal is to play in the Mass the Mass Golf Senior POY,” said Kuong, who was the Amateur and Mass Open for the first time and enter as 2019 Anne Marie Tobin Women’s Player of the Year. many national events as possible. “I am looking forward “Anytime you can win a Player of the Year award it’s a to being able to test my game against some of the best significant achievement given the quality of the players juniors and amateur golfers in the country in big 2021 in Massachusetts.” events,” he said.

Continued from Page 37 Page from Continued Kuong also thanked her continued work with swing coach, Shawn Hester, as well as Fordie Pitts III and Karen ALLISON PAIK--GIRLS’ JUNIOR PLAYER OF Gray of Titleist for conducting a wedge fitting session of THE YEAR Kuong, adding to her already excellent short game. Allison Paik capped off her junior golf career with a pair of historic feats. Now a first-year student at Columbia FRANK VANA, JR--SENIOR PLAYER OF THE University, Paik won the Mass Women’s Amateur Winning the George M. Cohen Senior Player of the Year Championship at Essex County Club by the widest final is nothing new for Frank Vana, Jr. He’s now won it four match margin (7&6) in more than half-century over years in a row. But without national events to play in this fellow Columbia first-year Anne Walsh. That win, coupled year, Vana zeroed in on regional and statewide events with other strong performances, gave her enough points and added to his legacy with his first-ever New England to become the first-ever recipient of Mass Golf’s Girls’ Senior Amateur Championship victory at Mt. Washington Junior Player of the Year Award. Resort Golf Club (NH). That win, coupled with his dominant “Realizing this is the first Girls’ Junior Player of the 10-stroke victory in the Lowery (Senior) Division of the Year award is tremendous, especially knowing there were Ouimet Memorial Tournament at Framingham Country eight members of the Class of 2020 who are playing at Club and Woodland Golf Club gave him enough points to the Division I level,” said Paik, an 18-year-old Sharon join Ed Fletcher and Jim Ruschioni as the only players to resident. “But the real credit goes to those who got girls win the award four consecutive times. golf to where it is today, especially the organizers and “Winning Senior Player of the Year is a season-long volunteers at Mass Golf and golf courses such as The goal each year,” said Vana, a 2016 inductee into the Cape Club of Sharon and Ledgemont Country Club.” Massachusetts Golf Hall of Fame. “National events were “I’m treating [competitive golf] like an extended rain canceled and several big local events were as well. This delay and enjoying the great food in the clubhouse,” Paik was something we never imagined would happen. The said. “Focusing on staying competitive is key to getting best news late spring and early summer was that Mass back in competitions hopefully in the spring.” ■ Golf was moving forward with their schedule. Every event I played in I felt safe and lucky to be playing in a top tier event at a top venue. What looked to be a missed season turned out to be a safe and competitive season.” JOHN BRODERICK--JUNIOR PLAYER OF THE YEAR John Broderick called his victory at the New England Amateur Championship “unbelievable and crazy.” It’s also a pretty good way to sum up his 2020 season. Broderick, a 16-year-old Wellesley native, waited out a five-hour-long rain delay to pull even in the final round of the New England Amateur at Concord Country Club and then outlasted Player of the Year Nick Maccario in two holes of a sudden-death playoff.

38 Myrtle Beach Golf- CHRIS KING

Myrtle Beach World Amateur Handicap First Season of Charlie Rymer Golf Show Championship Accepting Entries Airing on CBS Sports Network The Charlie Rymer Golf Show, which is set in Myrtle The 38th annual PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Beach, S.C., is airing on Monday nights at 8:30 PM, ET as Amateur Handicap Championship is accepting entries. A 72- part of CBS Sports Network’s new Monday night block of hole, net stroke play tournament, the World Am will be played golf programming. Aug. 30 – Sept. 3 on 55 of Myrtle Beach’s best courses, and The show, which debuted April 19, features Rymer, a 3,000 players from across America are again expected to former PGA Tour player and long-time media personality, participate in golf’s largest single-site event. as he interacts with celebrities and locals, on and off the Early entry into the tournament, which includes at least course, with his typical charm and charisma. The half- four rounds of golf, nightly admission to the World’s Largest hour show will run for 16 episodes, with the first eight 19th Hole and a gift bag, is $559 through June 3, a $120 airing this spring and the second eight running in the fall. savings off the regular cost. Over the course of the show’s spring season, Rymer The 2020 tournament was played without the World’s will also interview 6-time major champion , Largest 19th Hole, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but with the golf media personality Geoff Shackelford, aspiring young pace of vaccinations increasing, the World Am - known as the PGA Tour player Akshay Bhatia, and other “Every Man’s Major” - is planning for golf’s greatest party to prominent golf personalities. “I’m more excited about again be part of this year’s experience.. the Charlie Rymer Golf Show than anything I’ve done “We are so excited to open entries for the 2021 in my career,” said Rymer. “The show will take golfers PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap inside my hometown and allow me to conduct deep-dive Championship, and as long as the nation’s fight with the interviews that will let fans see another side of people Covid-19 pandemic continues to move in the right direction, we like Dustin Johnson, Nick Faldo and John Daly. We had a are looking forward to welcoming golfers back to the World’s great time filming the first season and I think that really Largest 19th Hole,” said tournament director Scott Tomasello. comes across in each episode. Hopefully the show will “The last year has been a difficult reminder to all of us that we be both informative and entertaining for golfers across need to appreciate what we have, and that certainly applies to the nation.” ■ the World Am and the camaraderie that surrounds the event. We look forward to the full return of golf’s greatest amateur tournament in 2021 and the opportunity to reunite with old friends and make new ones.” The World Am, which flights players based on age, gender and handicap, is open to all golfers 17 years of age and older. First Season of Charlie Rymer Golf Show The World Am flights players into 11 divisions – men 49 Airing on CBS Sports Network and under, senior men (50-59), mid-senior men (60-69), super The Charlie Rymer Golf Show, which is set in Myrtle senior men (70-79), seasoned seniors (80+), women (59 and Beach, S.C., is airing on Monday nights at 8:30 PM, ET as under), senior women (60+), the gross division, senior (50+) part of CBS Sports Network’s new Monday night block of gross division, mid senior (60+) gross division and women’s golf programming. gross division. There is also a “Just For Fun” flight, created for The show, which debuted April 19, features Rymer, a players who want to enjoy the World Am experience without the pressure of competition. former PGA Tour player and long-time media personality, After four days of tournament play, all flight winners and as he interacts with celebrities and locals, on and off the ties advance to the World Championship Playoff, an 18-hole course, with his typical charm and charisma. The half- shootout that crowns the event’s winner. hour show will run for 16 episodes, with the first eight While the competition is initially what lures players to the airing this spring and the second eight running in the fall. tournament, it’s only part of what keeps them coming back. At Over the course of the show’s spring season, Rymer the heart of the World Am’s appeal is the camaraderie among will also interview 6-time major champion Nick Faldo, its participants and much of that kinship is fostered at the golf media personality Geoff Shackelford, aspiring young World’s Largest 19th Hole. PGA Tour player Akshay Bhatia, John Daly and other Each night of the event, the 19th Hole overtakes prominent golf personalities. “I’m more excited about all 120,000-square feet of the Myrtle Beach Convention the Charlie Rymer Golf Show than anything I’ve done Center, providing participants with free food and drinks, live entertainment, celebrity guest appearances, a golf expo and in my career,” said Rymer. “The show will take golfers more. Among the big names that have appeared at the 19th inside my hometown and allow me to conduct deep-dive Hole in recent years are David Feherty, Brandel Chamblee, interviews that will let fans see another side of people Charlie Rymer and John Daly. like Dustin Johnson, Nick Faldo and John Daly. We had a Players will also receive a gift bag that includes a polo, great time filming the first season and I think that really pullover, golf towel, logo’d hat, PGA Tour Superstore gift card comes across in each episode. Hopefully the show will and an assortment of other goodies valued cumulatively at be both informative and entertaining for golfers across $250. the nation.” ■ For more information, please visit www.MyrtleBeachWorldAmateur.com. ■

39 Master’s Memory - DAN VUKELICH

pay Dick James’ way to Augusta so Begay was paired on Thursday How I (Almost) he could use them, but he said no. He and Friday with , the wanted us to have those badges.” 1973 Masters champion. A couple Came to Work at In 2001, it was Jack’s parents’ of things stand out: Fanny Sunesson turn to get them, but his dad fell ill. was on Begay’s bag, and Aaron was The Masters Jack and his wife were next in the kind of a jerk, repeatedly berating his rotation, but Jack’s wife already had caddie. Such as when Aaron asked There was no way that I could made out-of-town travel plans, so for a new ball: “No, the new sleeve. ever be lucky enough to attend the Jack called me. Not the open sleeve. The new sleeve! Masters, until I was and did. It was “You want to go to the Masters?” Now try to keep up with me this hole!” 2001, the year of Tiger Woods’ second Jack asked. “The badges are paid for, The morning of Friday’s round, I win, the same year that I signed on the room is already paid for and it’s spotted Aaron on the practice green to become a marshal working at the all non-refundable anyway, so what and noticed he had a different caddie Masters. do you say?” and the crowd near him was buzzing This story starts with the family You bet, I said. about something. “Who’s Aaron’s of an Albuquerque, N.M., golf buddy, So, that’s how I got to the caddie?” I asked. “That’s Rick Reilly, Jack Brant, who grew up in Lebanon, Masters. It was a glorious four days. the sportswriter,” said the patron next Ohio. Jack’s dad owned the town’s Spectacular weather was a big part of to me. hardware store. The Brants had it. That second day, I watched as Masters badges – badges that came Watching Woods hold off David Begay failed to get on the right side of with a story. Duval and win by two strokes to the cutline and Reilly failed as Aaron’s In the early 1960s, when Jack was complete the so-called Tiger Slam and caddie, which Aaron repeatedly a kid, Dick James, a PGA professional hold all four major championships at made a point to tell him. At one point, and the superintendent at the muni in the same time was another. Sunesson told Reilly that Aaron’s Lebanon, drove Jack, his brother and The feeling of being in The clubs made too much noise as he two other local kids who played golf Church of Golf was still another. walked. Worse, she even re-raked a to Augusta to see the Masters. Other memories stand out: bunker for him. To be honest, though, James, as he had in previous speed-walking each morning to place I don’t think Jim “Bones” Mackay years, rolled into Augusta, parked on my chair; watching guys in green could have satisfied Aaron that day. the shoulder of Old Berckmans Road jackets roll balls on greens, testing He shot 82 and missed the cut. and went across the street to buy various hole locations; knowing With Begay also missing the cut, tickets. Told that the event was sold that you could place your chair in a my job covering the local New Mexico out, he put his name on the waiting prime spot at 8 a.m. and hours later angle was done. So, on Saturday I list. He then walked back to the car it would be exactly where you left it; turned into a pure spectator. I again and broke the bad news to the boys, the roars from various holes telling started my day by speed-walking my and drove back to Ohio. patrons elsewhere on the course that chair from the gate near No. 5 green Before too long, James got a something big had just happened. to No. 18, and then I stood at the rope letter informing him that he’d cleared Other memories: The behind the first tee and watched the the waiting list and would get two knowledgeable and polite patrons; entire field tee off. badges and a parking pass, which he seeing on the first As the players passed me, I’d used the next year. tee on Thursday; pimento-cheese say, “Good luck, Colin,” “Good luck, After only a couple of years, sandwiches; buying that first Augusta Shingo,” and so on. I find it noteworthy James told Jack’s dad that he’d been National logo hat; and above all, the that, to a man, the foreign players said, to Augusta enough times and had no manicured turf and dazzling display “Thank you,” but to the Americans, I interest in returning. Each year after of dogwoods and azaleas. didn’t exist. that, he renewed the badges and Notah Begay III, who is from New Through the day, the crowd at the gave them to Jack’s dad, who would Mexico, played that year, thanks to back of No. 1 tee fell into a routine. reimburse him. victories at Memphis and Hartford When the Pinkerton guard saw that Over the decades, the badges during the previous summer. So, on players were approaching, he’d tell rotated among the Brant family Thursday and Friday, I speed-walked us to step aside, which we did. After members. The annual ritual lasted my chair to a spot by the rope to the the players and their caddies passed until 2016, when James died. left of the 18th green, watched some through the opening we’d made, we’d “It’s amazing to me that we had of the field go off No. 1 a few yards all shuffle in unison back to the exact those badges for 50 years,” Jack away, and then I followed him the rest spots we had occupied, with zero said. “More than once, we offered to of the day. jockeying or jostling.

40 Master’s Memory - DAN VUKELICH

When the first TV ad for CBS’ coverage of the 2002 Masters aired sometime around the Super Bowl, I remembered the Pinkerton job application I’d filled out. It also dawned on me that I’d changed cellphone companies, and my number had changed. I called my old number. A woman answered. “Hi, you don’t know me, buut I used to have this phone number. I’m wondering, has anyone from the Pinkerton agency called you asking about me?” “Come to think of it, they did, and not too long ago. I thought it was about bounced checks or something.” I had lost the supervisor’s business card. After calling Pinkerton headquarters a couple times and awkwardly and unsuccessfully trying to explain I was trying to reach a supervisor whose name I didn’t know, I gave up. As I hung up the phone, I knew my dream of marshaling at the Masters had just died. In hindsight, though, I feel kind of like Dick James must have felt. I Between tee times, I chatted with buddy Jack on the course. He spent had seen the Masters – all four days the Pinkerton guard, a guy in his late his time following an assortment of of it – in fabulous weather. I’d been 50s. “How’d you get this gig?” I asked. players. We compared notes each steeped in the ethic and beauty of the “Some Army buddies. They called me night over dinner. place. I witnessed history and came up a few years ago and told me about Late Sunday, by the time Woods home with a story to tell. All and all, it. We rent a house, get to see some arrived at No. 18, I was back in my perfect, I’d say. ■ great golf during the day and drink chair – which was right where I’d beer and play cards at night.” left it, behind the notch in the rope Midway through the final that creates space for working (This article first appeared on pairings on Sunday, the guard briefly photographers. In ’s fold- the MorningRead.com website) left his post to bust a guy talking on out photo spread previewing the a cellphone. When he came back, I Masters the next year, I’m in the frame Dan Vukelich, a member of told him that this likely would be the cheering as Woods’ final putt drops. the Golf Travel Writers of only Masters I’d ever get to see. But if That’s how I went to the Masters. America and Golf Writers I could land a gig like his, that would How I almost – but not quite – became Association of America, lives be an entirely different thing, I said. a marshal at Augusta went like this: in Albuquerque, N.M., where he “You’d have to pass a background As agreed, I met the guard and his edits NewMexicoGolfNews.com check, but if you’re serious, I can have supervisor Sunday evening. The guard and serves as on-line editor for you meet my supervisor this evening,” vouched for me, and his supervisor AlabamaGolfNews.com he said. “Meet us where the patrons had me fill out an application and told cross No. 1 fairway at the end of the me that if I passed the background Editor’s note: Dan has been a day. Our trailer’s not far from there.” check, there was a good chance good friend for almost 20 years. The final day was a blast. After they’d call. And then Jack and I went I had never heard this story until three days, I knew my way around the home. I read it in the Morning Read. I course. In the afternoon, I climbed Full of Masters memories, I went asked him for permission to print under the azaleas to the left of the about my life, writing and making video it, as it is a story that many of us pond on No. 16 and took a short nap. about golf in New Mexico. Like Jack, which we had. In four days, I never ran into my golf I was now the envy of our golf group.

41 MAP

SNE NEXT ISSUE June 6, 2021

42 MAP LISTING

1. BEAVER RIVER G.C. (18) P 11. GREEN VALLEY C.C. (18) SP 21. ROSE HILL GOLF CLUB (9) P, X 343 Kingstown Rd. Richmond, RI 371 Union St. Portsmouth, RI 222 Rose Hill Rd. So. Kingstown, RI 401-539-2100 PS,CR,CH,SB,O 401-849-2162 R,CH,Rest.,O 401-788-1088 www.beaverrivergolf.com www.gvccri.com D www.rosehillri.com CR,CL,CH,SB, Leagues 2. BUTTON HOLE (SC) (9) P,X 12. HARBOR LIGHTS MARINA (9) P 1 Button Hole Dr. Providence, RI 150 Gray St. Warwick, RI 22. TRIGGS MEMORIAL G.C. (18) P 401-421-1664 CL,CH,DR,PS, DR,Lessons 401-737-6353 CR,CL,PS,DR,CH,O, Les. 1533 Chalkstone Ave. Providence, RI www.buttonhole.org www.harborlightsri.com 401-521-8460 www.triggs.us 3. COUNTRY VIEW G.C. (18) P 13. JAMESTOWN G.C. (9) P CR,CL,PS,CH,O 49 Club Lane Burrillville, RI 245 Conanicus Ave. Jamestown, RI

Rhode Island Golf Courses Golf Rhode Island 401-568-7157 CR,CL,PS,CH,O 401-423-9930 CR,CL,CH,SB 23. WINDMILL HILL G.C. (9) X www.countryviewgolf.net www.jamestowngolf.com 35 Schoolhouse Rd. Warren, RI (Rt 136) 401-245-1463 4. COVENTRY PINES G.C. (9) P 14. KINGS CROSSING GC (9) P www.windmillgolfri.com 1065 Harkney Hill Rd. Coventry, RI 655 Old Baptist Rd. N. Kingstown, RI CR,CL,CH,O, Restaurant 401-397-9482 CR,CH,CH,SB, DR, simul. 401-294-2872 CR,PS,CH,O www.coventrypines.com www.kingscrossinggolfclub.com 24. WINNAPAUG CC (18) P 184 Shore Rd. (Rt 1A) Westerly, RI 5. CRANSTON CC (18) P 15. LAUREL LANE C.C. (18) P 401-596-1237 69 Burlingame Rd. Cranston, RI Laurel Lane, W. Kingston, RI www.winnapaugcountryclub.com 401-826-1683 CR,CL,PS,CH,O 401-783-3844 CR,CL,PS,CH,O CR,CL,CH,DR,SB,O www.cranstoncc.com www.laurellanecountryclub.com 25. WOOD RIVER GOLF (18) P 6. CRYSTAL LAKE G.C. (18) SP 16. MIDVILLE COUNTRY CLUB (9) P 78 Woodville-Alton Rd. Hope Valley, RI 100 Bronco’s Hwy. Mapleville RI 100 Lombardi Ln. W. Warwick, RI 401-364-0700 401-567-4500 CR,CL,PS,CH, O 401-828-9215 CR,CL,PS,CH www.woodrivergolf.com www.crystallakegolfclub.com www.midvillegolfclub.com CR,CH,SB,O

7. EAST GREENWICH G.C. (9) P 17. NEWPORT NATIONAL G.C.(18) SP A. BUTTON HOLE D.R. 1646 Division Rd. E. Greenwich, RI 4 324 Mitchell’s Ln. Middletown, RI 1 Button Hole Dr. Providence, RI 01-234-9836 CR,CL,CH,O,Rest. 401-848-9690 CR,CL,PS,SB,O 401-421-1664 CLICK HERE TO VISIT FACEBOOK PAGE www.newportnational.com www.buttonhole.org 2 putting greens, lessons 8. EXETER C.C. (18) SP 18. NORTH KINGSTOWN G.C. (18) P 320 Victory Hwy. (Rt. 102) Exeter, RI ]615 Callahan Rd. N. Kingstown, RI B. D GOLF CENTER 401-295-8212 CR,CL,PS,CH,O 401-294-0684 324 Market St., Warren, RI www.exetercc.com www.nkgc.com 401-919-3500 CR,CL,CH,O,DR,PS Fat Belly’s covered+outdoor bays, high-tech 9. FAIRLAWN GOLF COURSE (9) P,X teaching 3 Sherman Ave. Lincoln, RI 19. PINECREST GOLF CLUB (9) P www.dgolfrange.com 401-334-3937 CR,CL,CH,SB,O 25 Pinehurst Dr. Richmond, RI www.fairlawngolfcourse.com 401-364-8600 C. MULLIGAN’S ISLAND GOLF & www.pinecrestri.com ENTERTAINMENT (9) X 10. FOSTER COUNTRY CLUB (18) P CR,CL,CH,SB,O Leagues 401-464-8855 67 Johnson Rd. Foster, RI 1000 New London Ave. Cranston, 401-397-7750 CR,CL,PS,CH,O 20. RICHMOND CC (18) P RI www.mulligansisland.com www.fostercountryclub.com 74 Sandy Pond Rd. Richmond, RI 60 stall driving range, covered 401-364-9200 area, batting cages, mini-golf, par 3 www.richmondcountryclub.net course, pitch and putt CR,CL,PS,CH,O,DR

43 MAP LISTING

26. BAY POINTE CLUB (18) SP 34. JOHN F. PARKER G.C. (9) P 43. SOUTHERS MARSH G.C. (18) P 19 Bay Pointe Dr. Onset, MA 17 Fisher St. Taunton, MA 30 Southers Marsh Ln. Plymouth, MA 508-759-8802 508-822-1797 508-830-3535 www.baypointeclub.com http://www.johnfparkergc.com www.southersmarsh.com PS,CR,CL,DR,CH,O,SB CR,DR,CH,SB, Skins Thurs. 3:45 CR,CL,DR,Top Tracer,PS,CH

27. BLISSFUL MEADOWS G.C. (18) SP 35. JUNIPER HILL G.C. (36) P 44. TWIN BROOKS GC (18) RESORT 801 Chocalog Rd. Uxbridge, MA 202 Brigham St. Northboro, MA 35 Scudder Ave. Hyannis, MA 508-278-6110 508-393-2444 508-862-6980 www.blissfulmeadows.com www.juniperhillgc.com CR,CL,CH,DR,PS,O CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O 45. WAUBEEKA GOLF LINKS (18) P 137 New Ashford Rd. Williamstown, MA 28. BUNGAY BROOK G.C. (9) P 36. MAPLEGATE C.C. (18) SP 413-458-8355 Massachusetts Golf Courses Golf Massachusetts 30 Locust St. Bellingham, MA 160 Maple St. Bellingham, MA www.waubeeka.com 508-883-1600 508-966-4040 CR, CL, CH, PS, O, DR www.bungaybrook.com www.maplegate.com CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O CR,CL,PS,CH 46. WENTWORTH HILLS GC (18) SP 27 Bow St. Plainville, MA 29. CAPTAIN’S COURSE (36) P 37. THE LINKS @MASS GOLF (18) P, X 508-316-0240 1000 Freeman’s Way, Brewster, MA 300 W. Main Rd. Rt. 123 Norton, MA www.wntworthhillsgc.com 508-896-1716 508-222-0555 CR,CL,CH,PS,O www.captainsgolfcourse.com www.linksatmassgolf.org CR,CL,CH,PS,O CL,PS,CH,SB,O

30. CHEMAWA GOLF COURSE (18) P 38. NORTON COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP D. ATLANTIC DRIVING RANGE 350 Cushman Rd. N. Attleboro, MA 188 Oak St. Norton, MA 754 Newport Ave. S. Attleboro, 508-399-7330 508-285-2400 MA 508-761-5484 www.chemawagolf.com www.nortoncountryclub.com www.atlanticgolfcenter.com CR,CH,O,CL CR,CL,CH,SB,O heated tees, shop, mini golf, chip + putt 31. EASTON C.C. (18) SP 39. OLDE SCOTLAND LINKS (18) P 265 Purchase St. Easton, MA 695 Pine St. Bridgewater, MA E. STIX GOLF+BASEBALL FUN 508-238-2500 508-279-3344 CNTR www.eastoncountryclub.com www.oldescotlandlinks.com 582 Kelley Blvd. No. Attleboro, MA CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O CR,CL,SB,DR,O 508-695-0091 www.stixfuncenter.com 32. HAZELTON GC (18) P 40. PINE OAKS GC (9) P TrueStrike golf mats, grass tees, 329 Summer St. Rehoboth, MA 68 Prospect St. S. Easton, MA minigolf, batting cages, putting 508-557-1856 508-238-2320 green, bunker, lessons www.hazeltongolfclub.com www.pineoaks.com CR,PS,CH,O CR,CL,CH,O, Retail Store

33. HILLSIDE Country Club (9) P 41. SHAKER HILLS C.C. (18) S P 82 Hillside Ave. Rehoboth, MA 146 Shaker Rd. Harvard, MA 508-252-9761 978-772-3330 www.hillsidecountryclub.com www.shakerhills.com Tiki Bar, Rest,CR,Cl,Pool, Lessons, O, PS CR,CL,PS,CH, O, DR

42. SHINING ROCK G.C. (18) SP 91 Clubhouse Way Northbridge, MA 508-234-0400 www.shiningrock.com

44 MAP LISTING

45. AIRWAYS GC (18) P 49. QUARRY RIDGE (18) SP 1070 S. Grand St. W. Suffield, CT 9A Rose Hill Rd. Portland, CT 860-668-4973 CR,CL,CH,SB,O 860-342-6113 MAP KEY www.airwaysgolf.com www.quarryridge.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O riding only ( ) = Holes 46. ELMRIDGE GOLF CLUB (27) P 229 Elmridge Rd. Pawcatuck, CT 860- 50. RIVER RIDGE GOLF CLUB (18) P P = Public 599-2248 CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 259 Preston Rd. Griswold, CT www.elmridgegolf.com 860-376-3268 CR,CL,PS,CH,O SP = Semi-Private www.riverridgegolf.com 47. FOX HOPYARD (18) SP X = Executive 1 Hopyard Rd. East Haddam, CT 51. SHENNECOSSETT G.C. (18) P

Connecticut Golf Courses Connecticut Golf 860-434-6644 CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 93 Plant St. Groton, CT CR = Cart Rental www.golfthefox.com 860-445-0262 (PS 448-1867) www.shennygolf.com DR = Driving Range 48. LAKE OF ISLES C.C. (18) P CR,CL,CH,PS,Rest.,O PS = Pro Shop Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, CT 860-312-3636 52. SKUNGAMAUG RIVER GC (18) P CH = Clubhouse www.lakeofisles.com 104 Folly Ln.. Coventry, CT CR,CL,PS,SB,Rest, O, School 860-742-9348 CR,CL,CH,PS,O O = Outings www.skungamauggolf.com 48. MOHEGAN SUN G.C. (18) P SB = Snack Bar 7 Dows Ln. Baltic, CT 53. TWIN HILS CC (18) P 860-862-9230 199 Bread and Milk St. Coventry, CT CL = Club Rental www.mohegansungolfclub.com 860-742-9705 DR,CL,CH,PS,O CR,CL,PS,CH, golf packages, lessons www.twinhillscountryclub.com

NAME THAT HOLE

First person that Names That Hole wins a 2021 Season Passport valued at $64.95! Entries are to be sent via E-Mail at [email protected].

45 ONLINE ISSUES NOW BEING EMAILED TO 80,000 GOLFERS

We just completed our second on the ad and it goes right to the year of online- only issues after 28 advertiser’s website. You can’t do years as a printed newspaper. that with a paper! Remaining Issues Our graphic designer had already created online issues the two years I’ve found that reading a paper in 2021 before 2019 in conjunction with our online is quite enjoyable. The white printed issues, but we had never background makes it easier to read. charged for the online ads. It had just The online paper reads just like a June 6 been an extra bonus for our printed paper. You just scroll down, page July 25 advertisers. after page. The print is bigger on my computer than it was in the physical September 26 Could we get enough advertising paper. I’ve also been reading it on dollars for online issues only? That my tablet. It is not quite as large a was the key question. The first print as the computer, but is easily thing we did was cut the advertising readable while sitting in my easy Thank you for reading our prices about in half. I then went to chair watching a game. And just publication. Please feel free to write the advertisers with the lower prices think of all the trees we are saving! in with any thoughts, questions or and asked their thoughts. How many concerns. emails do you have? Where are they Our publication is now read by so We think this vision of an online located? many thousands more golfers than paper that looks and reads like a paper it ever did in print. Our advertisers is something that will be successful. We coordinated with a person are thrilled in seeing the clicks to If you are an advertiser and think this who had been collecting emails their website, the readers are happy might be a good place to run your from all the golf shows in southern because the print is larger, and the ads and reach new customers, than New England and at different golf access to the publication is right in we are happy to help. events. He had a list of almost their home. 40,000 golfers. “I’ll be happy to Bruce Vittner is the publisher/ send out your publication as part We guarantee that there will editor of snegolfer.com and can of my weekly emails whenever it is never be a charge for the publication be reached at bruce@snegolfer. completed,” he said. “It will help my online. Some of the websites that com. open rate because it is an excellent I have visited have started for free, publication and my subscribers will but then a charge was made if you W EN E GL N A enjoy reading it,” he added. wished to continue to have access. N N D R E G O H The key for us has become We would love to have you L T

F

U the fact that all the ads and map subscribe to SNE Golfer! Visit our E

O

R listings are linked to the advertisers’ website at www.snegolfer.com and S websites. When you are reading the click the subscribe button. paper online with your computer or tablet and you see an ad that you The publication is normally are interested in, you can just click produced four times a year.

46