MassGolf.org MASS GOLF’S MEMBERS MAGAZINE SPRING 2020 www.mgalinks.org MassGolf.org 2015 MGA MEMBER 20152015 MGA MGA MEMBER MEMBER GolferGolfer Survey Survey mgalinks.org mgalinks.org Golfer Survey mgalinks.org SPRING 2015 SPRING SPRING 2015 2015 ® assMASS GOLF’S MEMBERS MAGAZINE WINTER 2018-19 MassMassGolferThe Massachusettsolfer Golf AssociationGolfer Members’ Magazine MassGolfer Mass MassMassGolferGolferGolfer MassMassGolfer MassGolferGolfer ® M Inside one of the... G ® ® The Massachusetts Golf Association Members’ Magazine Excelling in this The The The Massachusetts Massachusetts Massachusetts Golf Golf Golf Association Association Association Members’ Members’ Members’ Magazine Magazine Magazine year of great golf, Many Shannon Johnson BEST adds her name to the Mass Golf short list of WE great amateur seasons WEWE YEARS via her victories in Happy top national, state and regional EVER championships. AREAREARE Returns MASSACHUSETTS MASSACHUSETTSMASSACHUSETTS mgalinks.org Bay State native WINTER 2016--17 GOLF Noreen Mohler GOLFGOLF assassGolferGolferrevisits her roots as the U.S. Team captain ® of etts Golf Association Members’ Magazine the Curtis Cup Match, WINTER 2009-10 www.mgalinks.org which makes a return www.mgalinks.org of its own this June to MassachusettsMassachusettsMassachusetts ST LieutenantLieutenantLieutenant Governor Governor Governor Essex County Club. KarynKarynKaryn Polito Polito Polito welcomedwelcomedwelcomed the the the ® BayBay BayState’s State’s State’s MassMassGolferThe Massachusetts Golf AssociationGolfer Members’ Magazine golfgolf golfindustry industry industry mgalinks.org leaders to the FALL 2012 N leadersleaders to to the the StateStateState House House House for for for MassMassMass Golf Golf GolfDay Day Day2015 2015 2015 Players MassMassGolferThe Massachusetts Golf AssociationGolfer Members’ Magazine mgalinks.org mgalinks.org WINTER 2014- 15 of the mgalinks.org SUMMER 2013 gh Decade man, MassMassGolferGolfer ® OHN de for From 2000-09, J The Massachusetts Golf Association Members’ Magazine The Massachusetts Golf Association Membersolfer’ Magazine Jon Curran MassMassGoThe Massachusetts Golf AssociationGo Members’ M Frank Vana, Jr. ENGLISH y TED BISHOP THE BAY STATE’S of the MGA and EYEWITNESS TO Tara Joy Connelly GOLF HISTORY of the WGAM ranked at the top of the Bay State’s amateur game mgalinks.org assassGolferGolfer SPRING 2016 ® MassGolf.org CLASS The Massachusetts Golf Association Members’ Magazine For 100 years, Venerable Venue MASS GOLF’S MEMBERS MAGAZINE SUMMER 2018 MGA juniors Longmeadow CountryHow the Bruins, Club Celtics, — ass olfer have enjoyed... M G ACTS Patriots and Red Sox Pat Bradley (seated) — one of four Massachusetts Golf Hall of Fame the site of two USGAuse Championshipsthe game of golf Class of 2002 charter members — with to help support their two of the six Class of 2014 inductees, — plays host to the 2013 MGA Amateur THE Bob Toski and Joanne Goodwin charitable foundations. i Age-divisi A Leg Up winners in t (Clockwise from top left) Andre Tippett, Tim Wakefi eld, 2014 centen WRIGHT Dana Barros and Andy Brickley year’s editi MGA Junio Champio STUFF MassGolf.org Andrew Boston Mayor Marty Walsh Matthe sets a new standard for two and Ja Mass Golf Championships to be contested at the MASS GOLF’S MEMBERS MAGAZINE historicSPRING George 2018 Wright ass olferGolf Course — a public M G layout must for any bucket list Great www.mgalinks.org WINTER 2010-11 LF FOR CAUSES THE BOSTON WELCOMES MASS AMATEUR ® achusettsassassGolfer Golf AssociationGolfer Members’ Magazine See WOMEN’S AMATEUR mgalinks.org you MASS WINTER 2015- 16 MassMassGolferGolfer MMASS GOLF’S MEMBERSassa MAGAZINE G o ® at the The Massachusetts Golf Association Members’ Magazine WINTER 2006- 07 www.mgalinks.org U.S. Savoring Success er MassGolferBay Staters relish the taste MassGolfer® Open of top-rung performances in The Massachusetts Golf Association Members’ Magazine 2015 USGA Championships NE mgalinks.org d’s top SPRING 2013 player — native MassMassGolferThe Massachusetts Golf AssociationGolfer Members’ Magazine 12 5 hlein YEAR e 2010 First Rate teur. How the MGA helped THE USGA AND create today’s course MASSACHUSET rating and handicap Champions and systems... and why the Pam Kuong, Shannon Johnson Championship systems work for you. and Megan Khang links.org SPRING 2012 FORMER MGA PRESIDENT BILL BLANEY — AMERICA’S PREEMINENT PIONEER IN COURSE RATING AND HANDICAPPING. mgalinks.org Join the... mgalinks.org Golf AssociationssGolferGolfer Members’ Magazine FALL 2017 See pages 4 & 25. appy Days! ber Days Combine Competition MassMassGolferGolfer MassMassGoGo ® n Great Bay State Golf Courses The Massachusetts Golf Association Members’ Mag The First Tee of Massachusetts The Massachusetts Golf Association Members’ Magazine celebrates 10 years of fostering... ® tts Golf Association Members’ Magazine City of A SURE CURE FOR Growth! (and E ECONOMIC BLUES... many Golf other) Champions Inside Titleist COME TOUR TodayBALL PLANT 3 After a missed putt in 1930, this Bay State player launched a MassGolf.org‘process’ revolution that Just Go Golf lives on in the making of Titleist golf balls MMASS GOLF’S MEMBERSass MAGAZINEGolfer WINTER 2019-20 www.mgalinks.org FALL 2010 SPRING 2007 MassGolf.org www.mgalinks.org mgalinks.org WINTER 2011-12 ® MASS GOLF’S MEMBERS MAGAZINE FALL 2018 ® MassMassGolferThe Massachusetts Golf AssociationGolfer Members’ Magazine MassGolfer ONE OF The Massachusetts Golf Association Members’ Magazine MassThe Massachusetts Golf AssociationGolfer Members’ Magazine MassMassGolferThe Massachusetts Golf AssociationGolfer Members’ Magazine MassGolfer A KIND AMERICA’S FIRST A tribute to Harry McCracken, Jr. This SUPERSTAR 1925-2019 isn’t Two bMARGARET CURTISb How a Bay State that golf champion defined Lives modern-day greatness hard! Well on and off the course Lived Paul Harney and Bill Flynn AS GOOD Mik D li g d AS IT GETS COVERING IT ALL As MassGolfer celebrates its 30th anniversary year, look inside at the 118 covers that have helped capture our shared legacy MORE SPEED. YOURPROVE NUMBERS IT FOR YOURSELF JUST GOT BETTER. MORE PRECISION. MORE CONSISTENCY. Player Growth College Scholarships $5 Rounds PLAY GOLF FOR $5 OR LESS! FOR DETAILS, VISIT: massgolf.org/youth on course Starting Spring 2020 MMASS GOLF’Sass MEMBERSG MAGAZINEolfer Volume 30, No. 1 Time 7KH6PLWKVLVWHUV Morgan (left) and Molly. COVER: You’re either holding — or viewing online — the 119th issue of MassGolfer... as always, hoping you enjoy the coverage! Background photo by David Colt Rare pair 20 12 Covering It All MassGolf.org 7KURXJKWKHSULVPRIYLHZLQJHDFKFRYHURIWKLVPDJD]LQHZHUHŴHFW upon how golf in the Bay State has grown and evolved since 1990. 20 Sisstory In The Making The two teen siblings in the photo above seemingly just burst onto 4 the golf scene... yet there’s a lengthy backstory. By Maxwell M. Carey ForeWords 6 ClubFaces 24 A World Of Difference Learn key aspects about the new World Handicap System so you will 9 always play ’in the spirit of the game’ while enjoying a fair match. StateOf TheGame LYNN SMITH, THE SMITH GIRLS' MOTHER, REPORTS: 26 "Molly is all about the bucket hat. She wears it every- ScoreBoard where... school, golf, shopping and out to dinner, WKHEXFNHWQHYHUOHDYHVKHUKHDG+HUƓUVWRQH 31 D1LFKRODVEUDQGWKDWƓWVKHUEHVWZDVIURP GolfShots WKH'ULYH&KLSDQG3XWWVKHFRPSHWHGLQDW WKH0DVWHUV6KHDOVRKDVRWKHURQHVIURP 32 The Country Club, Mass Golf and, now, the Blue Monster. It’sInTheBag TOP: COURTESY MASS GOLF; BOTTOM: BRIAN SMITH SPRING 2020 I MassGolfer 3 MASS GOLF BOARD OF DIRECTORS Thomas R. Berkel ƩƫƞƬƢƝƞƧƭ Kelly Petracca ƯƢƜƞƩƫƞƬƢƝƞƧƭ Alan G. Macdonald ƯƢƜƞƩƫƞƬƢƝƞƧƭŻƭƫƞƚƬƮƫƞƫ Peter D. Costello ƬƞƜƫƞƭƚƫƲ Words Scott C. Baker John F. Crook Susan J. Curtin Chelsea L. Curtis 1HZ&,PSURYHG Sally DeGan Fore As we prepare for the new golf season, please take a Michael T. Dowling William O. Jenks time to get up to speed on handicapping changes. Cameron Read Christine Veator ơƚƯƞƲƨƮơƞƚƫƝthe news? The World Handicapping Jesse E. Menachem ƞƱƞƜƮƭƢƯƞƝƢƫƞƜƭƨƫ/Ɯƞƨ System (WHS) launched on January 1 and is ready for prime MASS GOLF STAFF time. Whether or not you were playing and posting scores Jesse E. Menachem ƞƱƞƜƮƭƢƯƞƝƢƫƞƜƭƨƫƜƞƨ from some rounds in a warmer climate this winter, we want *2/)+286($'0,1,675$7,21 to ensure you understand WHS and how it will affect posting James Haynes ƝƢƫƞƜƭƨƫƨƟƟƢƧƚƧƜƞ Linda Tisevich ƚƝƦƢƧƢƬƭƫƚƭƢƯƞƬƞƫƯƢƜƞƬ your scores in the future. ƜƨƨƫƝƢƧƚƭƨƫ With the modernization of the Rules of Golf last year, Laura Welch ƫƞƜƞƩƭƢƨƧƢƬƭ the stage was set for the introduction of a singular system 0(0%(56(59,&(6 Mark Gagne ƝƢƫƞƜƭƨƫƨƟ of handicapping worldwide. The WHS represents the most ƦƞƦƛƞƫƬƞƫƯƢƜƞƬ Keith Gagnon ƦƚƧƚƠƞƫƨƟ signifi cant changes to handicapping since the concept of ƜƨƮƫƬƞƫƚƭƢƧƠ slope and advancements in course rating were introduced Michael Wice ƦƚƧƚƠƞƫƨƟ ƠơƢƧƬƞƫƯƢƜƞƬŻƢƭ nearly 30 years ago. Patrick Fannon ƦƚƧƚƠƞƫƨƟ The WHS was developed around a ƦƞƦƛƞƫƞƯƞƧƭƬŻƬƞƫƯƢƜƞƬ Naomi Nesenoff ƦƚƧƚƠƞƫƨƟưƨƦƞƧōƬƞƯƞƧƭƬ vision of three primary objectives: ŻƩƥƚƲƞƫƝƞƯƞƥƨƩƦƞƧƭ v Encourage as many golfers as possible &+$03,216+,36 Kevin Eldridge ƝƢƫƞƜƭƨƫƨƟƫƮƥƞƬ to obtain and maintain a handicap index. ŻƜƨƦƩƞƭƢƭƢƨƧƬ v Enable golfers of different abilities Drew Rosen ƬƞƧƢƨƫƦƚƧƚƠƞƫƨƟƜơƚƦƩƢƨƧƬơƢƩƬ to play and compete on a fair and Matthew Killeen ƦƚƧƚƠƞƫƨƟƜơƚƦƩƢƨƧƬơƢƩƬ Steven Yatrousis ƜơƚƦƩƢƨƧƬơƢƩƜƨƨƫƝƢƧƚƭƨƫ equitable basis, in any format, on any 1(:(1*/$1'*2/)$662&,$7,21 course, anywhere around the world. 86*$48$/,)<,1* v Easy to understand