North Shore Golf Spring 2020 V3

NORTH SHORE

GOLF

SPRING 2020

DOGGED

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OF THE

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CLUBS &

CORONAVIRUS

IS THE USGA

OBSOLETE?

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2 >>> SPRING 2020

GOLF

NORTH SHORE

SPRING 2020

DOGGED

PURSUIT

OF THE

PERFECT

GOLF COURSE

CLUBS &

CORONAVIRUS

IS THE USGA

OBSOLETE?

ABOUT THE COVER:

Bill Rocco, the new grounds

superintendent at Salem CC, walks

the course with his 8-month-old

German shepherd Arizona. Rocco

succeeds the legendary Kip Tyler.

COVER PHOTO: SPENSER HASAK

PUBLISHER

Edward M. Grant

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

OFFICER

Michael H. Shanahan

DIRECTORS

Edward L. Cahill

John M. Gilberg

Edward M. Grant

Gordon R. Hall

Monica Connell Healey

J. Patrick Norton

Michael H. Shanahan

CHIEF OPERATING

OFFICER

James N. Wilson

CHIEF FINANCIAL

OFFICER

William J. Kraft

COMMUNITY RELATIONS

DIRECTOR

Carolina Trujillo

EDITOR

Bill Brotherton

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Anne Marie Tobin

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Mark Sutherland

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Mike Alongi

Bob Green

Dan Kane

Gary Larrabee

PHOTOGRAPHERS

David Colt

Olivia Falcigno

Spenser Hasak

ADVERTISING SALES

Ernie Carpenter

Ralph Mitchell

Eric Rondeau

Patricia Whelan

ADVERTISING DESIGN

Trevor Andreozzi

INSIDE THIS EDITION

Courses and the crisis ....................... 4

N O R T H S H O R E

GOLF

PUBLISHED BY ESSEX MEDIA GROUP

First Tee tees it up.............................. 6

PGA: Posture, Grip, Alignment........... 8

Is the USGA obsolete?.......................10

Grounds for success..........................12

ESSEX MEDIA GROUP, INC.

110 Munroe St., Lynn, MA 01901

781-593-7700

Subscriptions: 781-593-7700 x1253

northshoregolfmagazine.com

The vet and the new guy....................14

A glove affair.....................................16

North Shore Golf Notebook...............18

Course directory...............................20

Larrabee and Nicklaus.......................22

Northern Getaways section ..............24

NORTH SHORE GOLF <<< 3

EDITOR'S LETTER

Bill Brotherton

bbrotherton@essexmediagroup.com

Golf and social distancing

Is it too risky to play golf, in this brave new world of

coronavirus and social distancing?

That's a question every player, every club and every

course manager is asking these days. The warmer-thanusual

winter had golfers champing at the bit to get out

there and play. But that was before COVID-19.

As this Spring 2020 edition of North Shore Golf

magazine was about to go to press, Massachusetts Gov.

Charlie Baker made the decision for all of us. Baker issued

an emergency order to close all non-essential businesses,

including golf courses, and recommended residents stay at

home to help stop the spread of the disease.

Most driving ranges and public courses had been open

for business. Most private clubs had shut down their

dining rooms and exercise facilities, and everyone was

taking special precautions to keep themselves safe.

Before the governor's edict, our friends at Wenham

Country Club had opened after much deliberation. A post

on their website informed the public of the precautions

it had taken, including the removal of bunker rakes and

stepped-up sanitization of the clubhouse restrooms.

"The clubhouse will not serve any food or beverages and

will be open for restroom use only." The notice advised

people who do not feel well and at-risk individuals to

"STAY AWAY" and also advised golfers to follow the lead

of the USGA's 2019 rule change and leave all flagsticks in

the hole.

The notice stated that, "As part of the recommendation

to maintain “social distancing” exercise and fresh air is

also recommended and we feel that if proper precautions

are followed, we can remain safe," adding, however,

"We will only stay open if it remains safe to do so and if

everyone follows the guidelines."

North Shore Golf's Associate Editor Anne Marie Tobin

and reporter Dan Kane explore what area clubs were and

are doing to reduce the COVID-19 risk. It's a must read.

But back to the original question: Is it safe to play

golf? The general consensus of health care professionals

is that a round of golf is safe, if played outdoors, since

it has social distancing built-in once carts are removed

from the equation.

Maybe, by the time this magazine finds its way into your

hands, the impact of the virus will have lessened and we

will soon be outdoors enjoying the game we all love.

Also in this issue, you'll meet Jake Leech, the new head

PGA professional at Tedesco CC, and Bill Rocco, successor

to the legendary Kip Tyler as director of grounds at Salem

CC. You'll also meet Tedesco's Peter Hasak, who with

Tyler's retirement becomes the longest-serving director

of grounds at an area club. We'll also introduce you to Far

Corner's John O'Connor, who becomes the longest-serving

head PGA pro at a North Shore club since Bob Green's

retirement at Tedesco.

Green hasn't retired as a North Shore Golf columnist,

however. He returns with a controversial article that

ponders whether the United States Golf Association has

lost its relevance. The esteemed Gary Larrabee writes

about his admiration for 80-year-old Jack Nicklaus and

shares memories of the Golden Bear's New England

triumphs and disappointments.

Chris Carter, head PGA pro at Hillview GC, offers tips

that will improve your game and reminds us that PGA also

stands for Posture, Grip, Alignment.

Anne Marie Tobin also writes about the First Tee

program and how it has moved indoors to the PGA Tour

Superstore in Peabody. She also chats with Lynnfield

native Maria Bonzagni who is wrapping up a 30-year

executive career with Acushnet, home of Titliest and

FootJoy.

This issue includes a Northern Getaways section that

spotlights four public courses in New England that pose a

challenge for golfers of all abilities yet are enjoyable from

the first tee to the 18th green.

Plus, our North Shore Golf Notebook is filled with news

about local players, courses and upcoming tournaments.

We have also updated our course directory.

There are few golf destinations more beautiful than

Massachusetts' North Shore. Please stay safe and healthy.

We look forward to seeing you on the links this season

and beyond.

Bill Brotherton is editor of North Shore Golf magazine. He grew up in Beverly, caddied and worked in the pro shop at Essex CC,

is a Ouimet Scholar who graduated from Suffolk University, has written about golf for the Beverly Times and Daily Item of Lynn. He’s retired from

the Boston Herald, where he wrote about music and edited the Features section. Tell him what you think at bbrotherton@essexmediagroup.com.

4 >>> SPRING 2020

Season of

uncertainty

COVID-19 puts clubs in crisis mode

BY ANNE MARIE TOBIN AND DAN KANE

Mike Kaelblein of Melrose, right, looks on as David Buonopane of

Melrose lines up his putt on the 8th green of King Rail Reserve Golf

Course in Lynnfield in early March.

PHOTO: SPENSER HASAK

After an extremely mild winter,

local golfers were clamoring to get an

early start on the 2020 season. And

many did.

Over in Peabody, both Salem CC and

The Meadow at Peabody opened for

business March 9. Temporary greens

and tees were in use at Salem, while

The Meadow was fully functional with

greens, tees and carts in use.

Hillview, Gannon, Beverly G&T,

and Four Oaks were among the clubs

that opened on March 14. Wenham

CC opened on the 20th. Cape Ann, Far

Corner, Reedy Meadow and King Rail

Reserve had stayed open for much of

the winter.

Now, they are all closed.

As North Shore Golf went to press,

with the coronavirus pandemic

growing, all courses, deemed nonessential

businesses, were shut

down at least through the April 7

stay-at-home guidelines ordered by

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

Most private clubs had already

closed clubhouses, dining rooms

and exercise rooms to all members.

Restaurants and 19th holes at public

courses that were open and focused

on safe practices limiting employee

interactions with players had to close.

Managers, pros and staffs at every

North Shore club were working

on plans and precautions that

would allow them to open once the

governor's restrictions are lifted.

Before closing down, Beverly Golf

& Tennis Club had suspended the use

of golf carts. Head PGA professional

David Dionne said the club was

practicing a "one in, one out" policy

with tee times spaced out. The driving

range was open with mats at least

six feet apart. Funding is in place for

renovating the historic clubhouse, but

work hasn't started and there is no

time frame for when it will begin. The

course is looking great, Dionne said.

Initially, Ferncroft CC had closed

its 19th hole bar and grill but was

still accepting takeout and some

delivery orders. The golf pro shop was

officially closed but the staff was able

to assist members. Temporary greens

were in place.

Chris Carter, head PGA professional

at Hillview and a principal in

Golf Facilities Management Inc.,

which operates city-owned courses

Beverly G&T, Hillview and Gannon

GC in Lynn, praised Gannon's

superintendent and ground crew,

saying the spring conditions were

among the best the course has ever

had. Play there started March 13 for

walkers only. Within days, the bar

and grill was closed and the purchase

of beer and wine in the pro shop had

been suspended.

Business was steady throughout the

opening weekend at Hillview, open to

walkers only. "We understand these

are difficult times and there are so

many unanswered questions about the

future, but we feel we are providing a

service to people who are feeling such

anxiety," said Carter. "You can see that

people want to find ways to relax."

Salem CC assistant professional

David Perroni said that, by March 12,

the club had rethought its decision

to open its facilities. "Our GM,

Peter Fischl, began the discussion

of whether we should be open at

all," said Perroni. "We shut down all

facilities pretty much that afternoon

and a letter went out to the members.

I like the way we got ahead of the

curve in terms of recognizing that we

needed to close." Members could still

walk the course and carry their clubs,

but had no access to the building.

Head PGA professional Kevin Wood

had put balls on the range so members

could practice. The governor's order

changed all that.

Wenham GC opened March 20.

The club posted a notice on its

website informing the public of the

precautions it had taken, including the

removal of bunker rakes and steppedup

sanitization of the clubhouse

restrooms. The notice advised those

who do not feel well and at-risk

individuals to "STAY AWAY" and

also advised golfers to follow the lead

of the USGA's 2019 rule change and

leave all flagsticks in the hole.

"As part of the recommendation to

maintain 'social distancing' exercise

and fresh air is also recommended

and we feel that if proper precautions

are followed, we can remain safe," the

notice said, adding, however "We will

only stay open if it remains safe to do so

and if everyone follows the guidelines."

On March 16, the town of Lynnfield

shut down its courses, Reedy Meadow

and King Rail Reserve. The weekend

prior to the town's decision to pull the

plug, carts were in use at King Rail

since it has cart paths. "Everything in

town is closed except Town Hall," said

Town Administrator Rob Dolan. "The

primary reason we made the decision

to close the two courses is that with

so much uncertainty, we needed to

shut down until things stabilize and

until we know that the DPW and

management can keep people safe.

To keep that portion of our local

government open (the golf courses)

simply was not a priority."

Peabody Mayor Ted Bettencourt

declared a state of emergency March

17, shutting down that city's golf

course, The Meadow at Peabody,

indefinitely.

"We were open about a week, with our

new carts with the GPS system," said


PGA professional Peter Cronan. "But as

the week went on, we started to sanitize

everything. We realized that carts posed

a danger in that with two people sitting

close to each other, it was impossible to

practice social distancing."

Before the stay-at-home order, Four

Oaks Golf Director Tony Martinho

said his course in Dracut had been

busy. "Every tee time was fully booked

for opening day," he said. "It's been

such a mild winter that people are

anxious to get outside and play some

golf. But we are taking precautions

to keep people safe. We are

constantly wiping down door knobs

and bathrooms and the credit card

machine, pretty much everything that

people come in contact with we are

making sure to be using disinfectant

to keep things sanitized.

"The biggest thing for us is, with the

restaurant, we have barrels of disinfectant

available so we are able to send out carts.

Without that, I'm not sure we could have

been able to offer golf carts."

Mass Golf Executive Director/CEO

Jesse Menechem announced in a

March 19 press release that Mass Golf

had added a new web page, massgolf.

org/covid19, to provide guidance to

the public.

"The health, safety and well-being of

everyone is of paramount importance

right now, and being unified in that

regard will benefit and protect the golf

community going forward," Menachem

said. Mass Golf is operating a normal

business schedule, but made the

decision to have employees work from

home starting March 13.

"There are only a few of us in the

office, and even then, that's only

from time to time," Menachem said.

"I'm glad we made that decision."

Mass Golf's tournament season was

scheduled to start in April. "We do

have the flexibility to adjust as needed

as things change."

The NEPGA postponed all events

through April 14. Those events range

from chapter meetings to junior tour

tournaments to pro scrambles and

tournaments and rules seminars.

Events scheduled for April 16 through

May 4 are under review.

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In New Jersey, the USGA

established an internal task force

to stay informed as the pandemic

evolves. Starting Monday, March 16,

all employees of the organization were

advised to work from home. However,

the USGA has not made any decisions

to postpone any tournaments on its

championship schedule, which begins

in late April.

The PGA Tour and The Masters

were the last of the professional

sports leagues/organizations to fall

in line. Round one of The Players

Championship was played and

completed March 12. As the day went

on and other major organizations

were following the lead of the NBA,

which canceled its season March

11 after a player tested positive to

COVID-19, and canceling events. The

PGA Tour announced it was canceling

the final three rounds of The Players

Championship and also the next three

tournaments on its schedule.

The Masters followed suit March

13, announcing the tournament was

postponed to a date to be determined.

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6 >>> SPRING 2020

The First Tee

tees off in

Peabody

BY ANNE MARIE TOBIN

Trent Peacock, 5, makes contact with the ball as he takes some of his first swings during The First Tee program at the PGA Tour Superstore in Peabody.

PHOTOS: SPENSER HASAK

The First Tee, an international

youth development program that

teaches life skills through the game of

golf, wrapped up its inaugural season

at PGA Tour Superstore in Peabody

last month.

The program featured three fourweek

instructional sessions from early

January through March. Each session

was 90 minutes and open to children

ages 7 to 18.

Jim Tobin, a PGA of America golf

professional since 1975 and the lead

instructor, said the pilot program was

a huge success.

"We started slowly, but after a

couple of weeks every session was full

to capacity," he said. "The kids really

enjoyed the simulators and being

able to play the game throughout the

winter season. Having this state-ofthe-art

indoor facility allowed the

First Tee to provide a different option

in terms of the traditional green grass

facilities we use in the summer, so it

was a great way to expose the kids to

the game of golf and the core values of

the First Tee program."

The program is on hiatus during the

coronavirus pandemic.

For Tobin, who is also lead

instructor of the First Tee program

at Franklin Park in Boston, the

program's impact has been more than

he could have imagined.

“It’s been incredible to see how we

can change kids’ lives,” said Tobin.

“The response from the kids and

parents has been overwhelming.

They’re so happy to see the

opportunity for these kids, who really

enjoy the program and have fun. They

truly embrace the opportunity to not

only learn the game, but to learn life

skills, which in my opinion is the real

value of the First Tee. It’s not just

about letting kids hit balls on a driving

range, it’s so much more than that.”

First Tee of Massachusetts Director

of Operations Kyle Harris said the

Peabody program is just the beginning

of the chapter's plans for future growth.

"Our outreach has been through our

Mass Golf connections, but we hope

to reach out to schools and area youth

organizations," he said. "We are trying

to leverage existing golf relationships

and eventually we hope to expand

the number of programs we offer,

especially we are looking to add a

strong presence on the North Shore."

One Peabody session attracted six

children from North Reading and

East Boston. Tobin said "The kids had

some fun and were very receptive.

This is a very different program from

the traditional First Tee programs,

but now that we have our first session

under our belts, we are in a position to

tweak it going forward."

PGA Tour Superstore general

manager Greg Cosgrove said that

the chain's owner Arthur Blank (cofounder

of Home Depot and owner of

the Atlanta Falcons NFL franchise) is

committed to the First Tee.

"Mr. Blank's goal is to have a

program in each store located in a

First Tee chapter. He donates $5,000

to every chapter … because he plays

the game and sees the benefit of grass

roots efforts to make golf a lovely

game. Exposure to a program like

this will help make the game more

Kyle Harris, director of operations for First Tee of Massachusetts, high-fives

Lucas Flynn, 8, of Melrose as the First Tee lesson wraps up.

Jim Tobin, a lead coach with the First Tee, instructs Kalen Barinelli, 11, of

Woburn as he hits a couple of shots at the PGA Tour Superstore in Peabody.

accessible to kids while teaching them

about life skills."

First Tee Massachusetts has

programs at seven golf courses and

at the Melnea Cass Recreation Center

in Boston. Children are taught the

rules of the game, receive playing

instruction from certified coaches

as well as volunteer PGA and LPGA

professionals, and receive life skills

coaching.

The First Tee was founded in

1997 as a partnership among the

LPGA, Masters Tournament, the

PGA of America, the PGA TOUR,

and the USGA. Its original mission

was to develop affordable junior

golf programs in economically

disadvantaged areas.

Nationwide, the First Tee now

reaches 3.4 million kids annually

and offers programs in all 50 states.

Through The National School

Program, more than 9,000 elementary

schools have programs and there are

150 chapters at more than 1,200 golf

courses and 1,300 youth centers.

The program is founded on nine

core values the organization deems

critical to success in life: Respect,

Courtesy, Responsibility, Honesty,

Sportsmanship, Confidence,

Perseverance, Judgment and Integrity.

Tobin says that's the best part of the

program.

"By using golf as a way to teach

these lessons, kids are able to interpret

life lessons and apply it outside

the golf course," he said. "They are

learning these life skills without even

realizing it. Research shows that these

kids gain confidence and perform

better in school as well as socially with

their peers. And they also learn the

importance of community service."

For more information about the First

Tee program in Massachusetts, go to

www.thefirstteemass.org/register.

8 >>> SPRING 2020

First, focus on your posture. Make

sure that you have an athletic stance

with your weight on the balls of your

feet. As with any sport, you want to

make sure your posture and stance

provide you with excellent balance.

If someone could push your shoulder

and cause you to take a step, you

don’t have your weight distributed

properly. The golf swing is an athletic

move, and the stance has similarities

to playing defense in basketball and

even to downhill skiing. Your posture

gives you the foundation to make an

aggressive move at the golf ball.

Hillview Golf Course Head Golf Professional Chris Carter.

BY CHRIS CARTER

With one of the mildest winters

we've ever had now behind us, I

suspect many golfers have played their

fair share of winter rounds.

But now, with the coronavirus

changing all the rules of day-to-day

living, many golf courses have been

closed in an attempt to slow down

the spread of the disease, leaving

golfers to wonder how to be in tip-top

physical shape when life as we know it

returns.

Have you been stretching your golf

muscles all winter? Taking swings in

your basement to groove your swing

path? Following a strict diet and

cardio routine? Lifting?

If your answer is no, don’t panic.

Obviously working out and stretching

have great benefits, but let’s face it –

not everyone has the time. So instead

of stressing about what you haven’t

done over the winter, focus on a few

fundamentals that can get you right

back into the swing of things, things

that can be done at home while we all

shelter in place.

PGA not only stands for the

Professional Golfers Association

but can be helpful for early season

tune-ups as well. Posture, Grip and

Alignment are key components of a

sound golf swing and are imperative

to successful golf shots — no matter

your skill level.

A review of each of these will help

you get ready for the season.

Carter demonstrates proper alignment.

Carter demonstrates the proper grip.

Hillview Golf Course Head Golf Professional Chris Carter shows proper swing posture.


Second, take a look at your grip. By

now this probably comes as second

nature, but you want to make sure

the V’s formed by your thumb and

forefinger of each hand are parallel

and neutral (not too far left or right).

And don’t forget to focus on your

grip pressure; your hands should be

gripping the club lightly but firmly.

Lastly, make sure your alignment

is correct. Place a club on the ground

and feel that your feet and shoulders

are on a parallel line. Unlike your

grip, alignment can get out of whack

pretty easily. Choose a few fake

targets and see where you are lined

up. You may be surprised to find

that you are aiming way right or left

of your intended target. Luckily, it

only takes a little while to get this

worked out. You’ll want to check this

throughout the season.

If you have a full-length mirror,

you can check on all three of these

fundamentals quickly and easily. Once

you are confident in them, you’ll be

ready to play.

Chris Carter is the head PGA

professional at Hillview Golf Course

in North Reading.

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10 >>> SPRING 2020

> > >

By

SHADES OF GREEN

BOB GREEN

Has the

USGA lost its

relevance?

The USGA and the R&A, golf’s

governing body for Europe, recently

completed a Distance Insight Report

about — you guessed it — the ball

going too far.

They studied how driving distance

has increased in the past century. Their

research went back to about the time

the automobile was invented, 1885.

The 102-page report starts with

“The research in the Distance Insight

Report shows that hitting distances

and lengths of golf courses have

been increasing for more than 100

years. We believe that this continuing

cycle of increases is undesirable and

detrimental to golf’s long-term future.

"First, the inherent strategic

challenge presented by many golf

courses can be compromised, especially

when those courses cannot become

long enough to keep up with the

increases in the hitting distances of the

golfers who play from their longest tee.

“Second, the overall trend of golf

courses becoming longer has its own

adverse consequences that ultimately

affects golfers at all levels and the

game as a whole.”

The report covers, in detail, the

myriad problems increased hitting

distances creates for both “elite” and

“recreational” players.

I might be off-base, but I think the

only ones hitting the ball too far are

the elite players, who compete on the

professional tours throughout the world.

And their scores aren't much

different than 20 years ago.The

winning score at this year's Arnold

Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in

Orlando, Fla., was 4 under par. The

field’s scoring average that Saturday

was 76!

OK, the naysayers say that’s just one

tournament. Well, the previous week

at the Honda Classic the winning score

was 6 under par.

The Champion course at PGA

National, where the Honda was played,

had no rough to speak of. I know,

I was there for the final round. Yet

the world's best players struggled.

By noon in the first round, 31 balls

found the water to the right of the 15th

green. The 180-yard hole played to a

3.3 stroke average for the week. The

17th, 148 yards, played to a 3.12 stroke

average. Players were hitting 7 irons to

15 and wedges to 17.

One of the USGA's fears is that

classic courses will become obsolete.

It’s interesting to note, looking at

the winning scores on the few classic

courses the tour plays, these elite

players don’t shoot 20 under like they

do on modern courses.

Today’s Tour competitors play a

“pin-high” game. They have exact

yardages to the pins, dial in those

distances and hit the ball the exact

distance, leaving makeable birdie

putts. On modern courses, pin-high is

good. On classic courses, like many on

the North Shore, pin-high is not where

you want to be. Pin-high can leave you

with an unmakeable 10-foot putt that

breaks 4 feet.

Classic courses will never become

obsolete, certainly not for the

recreational players who make up 99.9

percent of the golf population.

The report cites other reasons

for increased distances: “player

improvements” and “course

conditions.” I watch Tour events and

am envious when players get 40- to

50-yard run-outs on drives. You don’t

see that in the Northeast. Course

conditions, under the control of the

Tour’s agronomy and course set-up

staffs, require firm conditions. Tour

players don't want mud on their ball

after a drive.

The report points out that

recreational players hit from longer

tee positions than they should, thus

increasing pace of play times. It also

says more shorter tee options are

needed.

I agree. You can build all the forward

tees you want, but egos will prevent

many from using them however.

The report also gives strong

considerations to a local rule that

would allow “specific courses or

tournaments to use equipment

that will result in shorter hitting

distances.”

Who would vote for that?

The report cites no solutions. As in

the past, before implementing new

rules the USGA and R&A have allowed

9 to 12 months for feedback and input.

They did that for the anchoring ban

rule change, 2019's new rules, and the

World Handicap System.

They triple-bogeyed all three.

The PGA of America surveyed its

29,000+ men and women members

about the anchoring ban. Almost 70

percent said the ban would have a

negative effect on their members,

players at daily-fee clubs, and all

recreational players. It fell on deaf

ears. As did rules changes.

PGA of America members received

a survey about the distance report. I’m

not optimistic the results will influence

the USGA.

Players and tournament committees

in New England haven’t had to deal

with the World Handicap System

yet. At my club in Florida, there are


so many issues to consider. Golf

committees have to establish many

parameters to use handicaps fairly in

club events.

By the way, the average USGA

handicap, 15.0, has not changed

since 2005.

The report also states the governing

bodies are strongly against bifurcation,

different rules for elite and recreational

players. They are “steadfast in

retaining” a single set of rules.

Bifurcation is always brought up

with the subject of rolling back or

limiting distances. Oftentimes a

"Tour ball" is mentioned, one every

player would have to play. Sort of like

other sports playing the same leagueapproved

ball. This is impossible and

impractical. Players have equipment

contracts with different companies.

Can you imagine Titleist making a

golf ball that doesn’t go as far?

From a personal standpoint, I’m

70 years old and losing distance

monthly. I play from tees that are

6,000-6,100 yards. Very few hit the

ball as far after age 60.

"Distance increases” can help

current recreational players and also

attract and retain new players, young

and old. Much effort is committed

to growing our game, and that’s

important and necessary. It's equally

important to keep current players

enjoying the game.

We already know these players enjoy

golf. It is essential we do everything

possible, including equipment

improvements, to allow them to

continue playing.

The USGA and R&A are too focused

on the elite players, the 1/10th of

1 percent. They ought to be more

focused on the recreational players.

Golf needs a governing body, but

it has to be in touch with reality.

Otherwise it becomes irrelevant.

What do you think?

Let me and the USGA know what

you think.

Bob Green is enjoying his

retirement after 41 years as head

PGA professional at Tedesco Country

Club in Marblehead. Write to him at

bgreen49@aol.com.

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Celebrating 60 years

12 >>> SPRING 2020

SUPER STARS

Peter Hasak starts 33rd year at Tedesco CC

BY BILL BROTHERTON

Peter Hasak climbs into the cab of his

Ford F-250 and navigates a path on the

Tedesco Country Club golf course. The

grass is surprisingly green this sunny

mid-March morning, thanks in part to

this mildest of winters. And for 33 years,

Hasak, the director of grounds, has

made sure this spectacular Marblehead

course is in tip-top condition

for members and guests.

With the retirement of Kip

Tyler, who was Salem Country

Club's director of grounds for

38 years, Hasak is now the

longest-serving head course

superintendent on the North

Shore. Only Tyler and Eugene

“Skip” Wogan (45 years at

Essex County Club; he also

played a part in designing

Tedesco's course) were at

their clubs longer.

Hasak is relaxing in his

office inside the maintenance

facility just a drive and a five

iron away from the grand

clubhouse.

Hasak's office is filled with

interesting mementos. There's an old

wooden-shafted niblick handmade for a

member by HW Gammon, Tedesco's pro

from 1922-28. There's a framed 1940s

black-and-white aerial photograph of the

Tedesco property. And there's a colorful

mask that looks like it came from South

America but was instead created by

his daughter Morgan when she was in

second grade.

Did this Fairfield, Conn., native

ever think he'd spend more than three

decades at the same place?

"When I came out of school, I

figured I'd spend two to four years at

each club." That was indeed his career

path at the start. Hasak, who at age

12 started caddying at the Country

Club of Fairfield and later joined its

grounds crew, was urged by the course

superintendent, who saw his potential,

to attend UMass/Amherst’s Stockbridge

School for turf management. He

interned at Brooklawn CC and

Aspetuck Valley, both in Connecticut,

and after graduating from Stockbridge,

became superintendent at the ninehole

Amherst Golf Club for two years.

After two years at Hickory Ridge, he

spent four years at Hampton CC (now

GreatHorse).

When Paul Miller, Tedesco's

superintendent, moved on to

Nashawtuc CC, Hasak in 1988 got the

I love what

I do. And the

members and

the club make

it so easy

for my staff

and me.

Peter Hasak is the Director of Grounds at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead.

PHOTO: OLIVIA FALCIGNO

job. It was a perfect match.

"The history here grabbed me,"

said Hasak.

Five years later, noted architect

Stephen Kay began a renovation project

that zeroed in on bunkers and tees —

"except for the 117-year-old bunker on

hole number one; we left that alone"

— and created a driving range behind

the sixth green. Some members said the

practice area, a long distance from the

clubhouse, would go unused. Hasak was

confident it would be a great addition to

the property, and he was right; it was a

success from the day it opened.

Although PH has mastered

managing soil pH in turf, the job has

evolved, becoming much more than

just taking care of the grass. Hasak

was one of a select few Massachusetts

superintendents at the forefront of

environmentally-friendly golf course

maintenance. Tedesco was the first

private club in the state to put in an

ecologically-sound system.

In 2011, the old clubhouse was

replaced by the grand current building

at a cost of $11 million and shortly

thereafter the club hired the renowned

Ron Forse as its architect of record to

bring the course back to its roots. A

set of 1920s photographs of the course

were studied and used as a blueprint

of sorts. In all 78 bunkers were

restored, a new practice putting green

adjacent to the pro shop was

installed, and the first and

third tees were rebuilt. Hasak

supervised that project, and

a subsequent tree removal

program.

"Before Forse … a player

could let it rip. Now you have

to think about the shot a lot

more. I can't wait to have

the guys here (the 100th

NEPGA Championship will

be co-hosted by Tedesco

and Myopia Aug. 17-19),"

enthused Hasak.

"Ron Forse turned this

place around," said Hasak.

"Stephen Kay's project was a

renovation. Ron Forse's was

a restoration."

In early March, Hasak was a

guest speaker at the 23rd annual

New England Regional Turfgrass

Foundation Conference & Show in

Providence, RI.

Tedesco has long been known for

its first-rate playing conditions. And

this season bodes well. Hasak said

"I haven't seen this course in such

good shape this early in the year in a

long while." "I love what I do. And the

members and the club make it so easy for

my staff and me. We took the covers off

the greens (in early March) and we were

all 'OK. Let's go' It's exciting and we're

raring to go."

Hasak's son Sam appears to be

following in his dad's footsteps. He's

been helping with improvements at

Winthrop CC.

Does Peter Hasak, 63, think he can

surpass Kip Tyler and Skip Wogan

when it comes to longevity? He has

five years to go to match Tyler, 12 to

match Wogan. He adjusts his glasses

and just laughs.


SUPER STARS

Bill Rocco hits

the grounds

running at

Salem CC

BY BILL BROTHERTON

Bill Rocco, the new director of

grounds at Salem Country Club, has

been preparing for this job for most of

his life.

Rocco, 35, is succeeding Kip Tyler,

the legendary turf magician who

retired last fall after 38 years at the

Peabody club where he and his staff

got the Donald Ross gem pictureperfect

for three USGA championships.

Rocco is Salem's 12th head course

superintendent, which has also

included John O'Connor (1953-1972)

and Cliff Nunes (1973-1981).

It is also Salem Country Club's 125th

anniversary year, and the club averages

about 25,000 rounds each year.

Is Rocco feeling any pressure?

Not much. When you've been the

top assistant course superintendent at

Pine Valley Golf Club in New Jersey,

which is ranked the greatest golf

course in America by Golf Digest and

other publications, you embrace the

opportunity.

"I walked into a great situation.

Kip did an amazing job here for so

many years, and he trained these

guys, who really know what they're

doing," said Rocco.

"Kip is legendary and we had three

or four months together. He has so

much knowledge and is such a nice

guy. We still talk; we don't talk about

turf but say 'Hi. How are you doing?' "

Rocco excitedly praises his staff

of nine. His top assistants are Matt

Narey of Lynn, a 15-year employee,

and Eli Desroches. The maintenance

shop manager, Richie Salvo, 75, is

entering his 60th year at Salem,

having toiled here for nearly half

of the club's history. The crew will

grow to 17-20 when the season

begins, including three college

interns including Lucas Melanson of

Gloucester. A relationship has also

been forged with Essex North Shore

Agricultural and Technical School.

Rocco started Sept. 30,

He served 10 years at Pine Valley

under the renowned Rick Christian,

rising through the ranks. "At

Pine Valley they prep you to be a

superintendent. I was told 'If you're

not going to be a superintendent, I

don't want you here,' " he said.

Rocco, 35, grew up in Grafton,

moving to Cape Cod at age 14 when

he started playing golf. "My dad made

me go to the driving range at first.

When I finally got to play a course

(Cranberry Valley GC), I was out there

all day, every day, 36 holes every day

non-stop."

He worked at Eastward Ho!

and The Captains, both Cape Cod

courses. Frank Hancock, The

Captains superintendent who had

been an assistant superintendent

at both Shinnecock Hills and

Pebble Beach, saw that Rocco

enjoyed working on the course

and encouraged him to make it a

career. With a degree from Rutgers'

acclaimed Professional Golf Turf

Management School, Rocco landed

a job at Plainfield CC in New Jersey,

another Donald Ross gem, before

getting the Pine Valley gig.

"Everyone knows about Augusta

National, but Pine Valley is rated

number one in the country," said

Rocco. Salem CC, of course, is a

perennial top-100 course nominee.

Rocco lives in Danvers with his

wife, Holly, their 5-year-old daughter

Aubriana and 3-year-old son Andrew,

and 8-month-old German shepherd

Arizona, who has been known to chase

geese off the Salem CC course.

"This is a 12-month-a-year job.

I'm fortunate I have a job I love that

doesn't seem like work. My wife

teaches second-grade in Lawrence.

Before that, she taught in Trenton,

New Jersey, another urban school.

She makes a difference in the lives of

so many. I grow grass for a living,"

he said, then smiled. Family is most

important, for him and his staff,

he said, and extensive time off is

scheduled during Thanksgiving and

Bill Rocco is the Director of Grounds at Salem

Country Club in Peabody. PHOTO: OLIVIA FALCIGNO

I walked into a great

situation. Kip did an amazing

job here for so many years,

and he trained these guys,

who really know what

they're doing.

Christmas holidays.

The warm winter has allowed Rocco

and his crew to get a lot of work done

early. "If we can be outside, we'll

be outside … where all the magic

happens." The covers came off the

putting surfaces March 2 and the

grass is remarkably green.

Rocco has become close friends

with a group of North Shore

superintendents, especially Tedesco's

33-year veteran Peter Hasak, who,

with Tyler's retirement, is the

longest-serving director of grounds

on the North Shore. Chris Donato,

head superintendent at Bass Rocks

in Gloucester, and Rocco worked

together at Eastward Ho!

Rocco said he enjoys playing golf,

and tries to squeeze in nine holes each

week. "I'm OK. I broke 80 once, but

90 to 95 is my normal score."

He'd rather make sure the course is

in tip-top shape for members.

14 >>> SPRING 2020

John O'Connor: 34 years at Far Corner

BY MIKE ALONGI

W

orking at any one job

for more than 30 years

is impressive. For John

O'Connor, who has spent the past

34 years as the head PGA golf

professional at Far Corner Golf Club

in Boxford, it's special he's able to do

what he loves every day.

O'Connor, 62, is the North Shore's

longest-serving head professional with

Tedesco's Bob Green retiring last fall

after 41 years as the Marblehead club's

head pro.

"It's a pretty cool thing, and

obviously it's been a great privilege to

stay in one place for so long," he said.

O'Connor came out of the vaunted

Happy Valley/Larry Gannon junior

program back in the '60s and '70s,

playing high school golf at St. Mary's

Lynn before two years at Salem

State. The roster of Gannon alums

is impressive. It includes Green;

Eastward Ho!'s Brian Hamilton, who

also retired last fall; former Gannon

head pro Mike Foster; ex-Bellevue head

pro and former New England PGA

president Jim Tobin; former Ferncroft/

Woburn head pro Paul Barkhouse;

current Augusta National co-head pro

Tony Sessa and a host of others.

Jake Leech:

Succeeding

a legend at

Tedesco

BY MIKE ALONGI

As is the

case with many

of the Happy

Valley "kids,"

he's "incredibly

proud" of that

club's golf

legacy.

"Everywhere

you go, you

know someone John O'Connor

from Happy

Valley. Not even just around the area

or the state, but around the country.

We just celebrated Mike Foster's

birthday with a bunch of guys,

and I just recently came back from

Florida where I played at another

old friend's club. I haven't seen

Tony Sessa since the Gannon 75th

anniversary, but I knew him when

he was a kid and he's done great. It's

definitely a great fraternity we have,"

O'Connor said.

O'Connor's professional career

started at age 20 at Ferncroft as an

assistant under Barkhouse. After six

years there, he spent three years as

head pro at Springbrook Country

Club in Maine. He returned to the

North Shore as an assistant to Kirk

Hanefeld at Salem Country Club. One

E

very golf professional dreams of

running a well-known, respected

program at a historic club.

For new Tedesco Country Club head

professional Jake Leech, who succeeds

longtime pro Bob Green, that dream

has come true.

“I’m extremely excited for the

opportunity,” said Leech, 40. “It really

is a dream job, and to be able to take

over at such a great club from a great

professional like Bob is almost surreal.

This is the place I’ve wanted to be for

a long time.”

The chance to work at Tedesco is

the reason Leech left his post as first

assistant at Charles River Country

Club in Newton to take the same

position at the Marblehead club

a little more than two years ago.

“Getting the opportunity to learn

under Bob for the past two years has

year later, he landed the head pro job

at Far Corner.

In his time there, O'Connor has

built a reputation as a great teacher,

player and event host.

"I enjoy teaching people of all levels

and from all walks of life, that's the

coolest part about being a pro at a

public golf course," he said. "It could

be a doctor, a plumber or anyone else,

you never know. It's a lot of fun."

Teaching has garnered O'Connor

the most acclaim. He was the Eastern

Mass. PGA Teacher of the Year in

2005 and the New England PGA

Teacher of the Year in 2006.

The warm weather allowed

O'Connor and his team at Far Corner

to get a jump on the 2020 season.

Then COVID-19 hit.

"Being a public course that tries to

stay open as much as possible in the

winter, we were lucky to have been

able to at least get some business

in with the good winter we had,"

O'Connor said. "We were able to stay

open for most of March, so businesswise

we might not have gotten hurt as

much as a place that hasn't opened at

all. But we're all in this together. This

isn't like anything I've ever seen, but

we'll get through it."

been invaluable.”

Leech, a Grand Rapids, Mich.,

native, served as an assistant pro at a

number of clubs since 2003, starting

with Evanston Golf Club near Chicago.

He moved to New England in 2005

and worked at Dedham Country and

Polo Club (2006-2008) then Charles

River (2009-2017).

The head job at Tedesco is the

perfect situation,

he said.

“I love

everything about

this place,” said

Leech. “I love

Marblehead,

I love that the

club is just golf

and nothing else

and I love the

membership. Jake Leech


Everyone has been so welcoming to

me over the past couple years and it

really feels like home when I’m here.

Once I got here, I knew I didn’t ever

want to leave.”

Leech officially took over as head

professional on January 1. He spent

the winter here, while a series of

construction jobs took place at the

club and in the pro shop. Leech

visited the PGA Merchandise Show in

January to restock the shop.

Leech had plenty on his plate

before the COVID-19 crisis. With all

golf clubs in Massachusetts closed

until further notice, Leech has been

in constant contact with members,

employees and peers at other area

clubs about what will come next.

Leech is excited about the slate

of events on the Tedesco calendar

this summer. In addition to the

annual Tedesco Cup and Tedesco

Four-Ball events, the club will cohost

this year's New England PGA

Championship with nearby Myopia

Hunt Club Aug. 17-19.

"It's really special to be able to get

the Section Championship," Leech

said. "I know Bob had always wanted

to get a Section Championship here,

and to have it now on the 100th

anniversary as a sister course to

the original host course at Myopia,

it's a real honor. I think it's going

to be a great thing for the town of

Marblehead and all North Shore

golf." About 15 outdoor member

events are also planned.

Leech said he's found comfort in the

familiarity that he's gained with the

club and its members in the past two

years.

"The transition has actually been

quite nice, and I'm very thankful for

that," Leech said. "I consider myself

incredibly lucky to have been able to

spend two years here as an assistant

before moving up.

"It's an exciting time here for us,"

Leech added. "We have three new

assistant professionals (Ron Coiro,

Nick Desjardins and Ryan Train) and

a new outdoor operations manager

(Scott Haskell), so there are plenty

of new people for the members to

get to know. We're excited to get the

year started."

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Managing Public Golf Courses for 30 Years

16 >>> SPRING 2020

FRONT

with

Maria

Bonzagni

BY ANNE MARIE TOBIN

L

ynnfield native Maria Bonzagni

has spent 30 years with the

Acushnet Co., home of Titleist

and FootJoy, in Fairhaven, Mass.,

the last four as senior director of the

firm's glove division. From outerwear

to footwear to gloves, Bonzagni has

done it all. Following a career plan

she put in place several years ago,

Bonzagni is retiring next month.

The 1982 Massachusetts Junior

Girls champion has no plans, however,

to sit back and relax. She is funneling

her energy and passion for the game of

golf into a new career as a professional

coach.

A Ouimet scholar and former

captain of the Lynnfield High boys

9

Q&A

golf team, Bonzagni will first take

the summer off to spend time with

husband Eddie Doherty, a Boston

firefighter, and their 13-year-old son

Jack. They live in Marshfield and

are members of Marshfield Country

Club, where Bonzagni maintains a 14

handicap.

North Shore Golf's associate editor,

Anne Marie Tobin, recently chatted

with this powerhouse about her life,

career and, of course, golf.

How did you get your start in golf?

I am the youngest of five and my

three brothers were caddies at Salem

(Country Club). My parents (Arthur

and Angela) had just joined Thomson

and my father asked me and my sister

if we were interested in learning

how to play, and we both said yes. I

was 11 years old and we took group

lessons in the afternoons and started

playing in the Monday morning junior

tournaments. I think I was a 9-holer at

the time. I can still remember carrying

my bag into this sea of juniors I

didn't know, but I stuck with it and

developed a passion for the game.

You worked for Bill Flynn in the Thomson

pro shop. What did you learn from him?

I've been fortunate to have so many

mentors in my life and he was really

the first. I started working for him

when I was 13 and worked five years

for him. He was an amazing mentor.

He had great business acumen and

knew how to merchandise and how to

grow the women's business, especially.

You walked away from the game after high

school, so how did you end up at FootJoy?

After graduating from Bentley, I

spent three years in retail banking and

thought I'd move on to commercial

lending, but it wasn't for me. I also

worked in marketing at Parker

Brothers in Salem. But by the time

I was 25, I decided I wanted to get

back into golf. I had the opportunity

to start in customer service support

at the entry level at Titleist/FootJoy

Worldwide in April 1990 and have

spent the last 30 years in just about

every part of the business — soft

goods, footwear, outerwear and

eventually, golf gloves in 1995.

Talk about those early days and what gave

you the tools to climb the ladder.

Honestly, my knowledge of home

economics ... sounds crazy … and

knowing how to sew was a key

attribute in my learning about design

and understanding how products

are made. Knowing things like what

stitch-per-inch means definitely

helped. ... That knowledge from my

past along with having a passion for

golf as a player helped me walk the

walk and talk the talk. It also helped

that I kept up my relationships with

people like Bill Flynn.

What did you enjoy most about your

career at Acushnet?

Probably the people. I got to

travel a lot. I oversee our Thailand


factory, which has 1,500 employees,

so I visit there once or twice a year.

And I love to see that the Acushnet

Company is making a difference

in their lives and allowing them

to do things like put their families

through college. Beyond Thailand,

I connected with our country

managers in places like Japan,

Korea, Canada, Australia and our

offices in central and southern

Europe. I developed amazing

partnerships with people in 14

countries. and I also have played

golf in 14 different countries. I've

been to 48 different states, doing

things like advertising shoots, which

were a lot of fun. Looking back,

I never thought a girl from little

Lynnfield would have traveled the

world and met so many interesting

people.

What's your favorite golf course?

Absolutely Salem CC. I just love

that course and always have. Outside

of Massachusetts, Pebble Beach is my

favorite. My husband tried to surprise

me with a 50th birthday golf trip, but

with all of my air miles, there was no

way he could pull (the surprise) off. It

was a great trip. We played Pebble and

Spyglass.

What's in your bag?

Titleist, nothing but the best. And

plenty of StaSof gloves.

What are your thoughts as your career is

winding down?

For me, it all comes down to

the game we started as kids. The

game is so incredibly interesting

and challenging. As I conclude my

career, I liken it to a round of golf.

When you start out you look at the

first drive and you look at partners.

You focus on uphill and downhill

lies and hazards along the way and

opponents. When you get to the 18th

hole, you look back on it and just

say it's been really incredible and

you cannot duplicate that course

again. That's just an image that

resonates with me, golf to career.

It's about the mentors, friends and

family, teachers, the connections

with people like the Tarlows (former

owners) ... and (retired CEO) Wally

Uihlein. I learned from every person;

that's what you do both in golf and

in life.

What's next for Maria Bonzagni?

I'm excited about starting my

career as a coach to help young people

discover themselves and find their

career paths.

I've also started networking with an

incredible group of prominent women

to help grow the game and help people

my age connect in golf and learn how

to play. To that end, I started a group

last year called Moms of Marshfield

(for) women who were athletes who

want to learn the game. We take them

to the course and they learn that they

never knew how much fun the game

is, and they want to do it again.

I plan to spend the summer playing

lots of golf with Jack. Last summer,

Jack and I went out to play after a

thunderstorm. The sun popped out

and we walked four holes, all alone,

and that was a moment you cannot

trade for anything. It's extremely

comforting knowing I have a sense

of calm and peace that this new

opportunity brings that I can turn into

a new and exciting journey.

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18 >>> SPRING 2020

North Shore

Golf

NOTEBOOK

By

BILL BROTHERTON

and ANNE MARIE TOBIN

Salem Country Club and

Ferncroft Country Club celebrate

notable anniversaries this year: 125

years for Salem and 50 years for

Ferncroft.

Salem CC, which was founded on

the former Gardner Farm in North

Salem in 1895, opened on its current

site on the former Sanders Farm in

West Peabody in 1926. This Donald

Ross gem has hosted several USGA

championships, most-recently the

2017 and 2001 U.S. Senior Open,

including the 1984 U.S. Women's

Open, the 1977 U.S. Senior Amateur,

the 1954 U.S. Women's

Open, and the 1932 U.S.

Women's Amateur.

Ferncroft, originally

named Topsfield

Country Club, was

founded in 1970. This

was the first design

by noted architect

Rees Jones, with a big

assist from his dad,

Robert Trent Jones Sr.

It hosted the LPGA's

Boston Five Classic for

11 consecutive years,

starting in 1980. It has

also hosted NEPGA

championships, New

England Opens and

many Mass Golf events.

A nine-hole executive

par-3 course was

added in 1990. The

country club, which was the dream of

Joseph Mass and his son, Leonard,

who owned nearby Alfalfa Farm, is

now run by Virginia-based Affinity

Management.

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Congratulations to John Cail of

Stoneham who aced the 284-yard

10th hole at Gannon Municipal

Nov. 27. … and congratulations to

Chelmsford CC's Jim Callahan, PGA

professional, who is nominated for

the New England PGA Section's 2020

Deacon Palmer Award. The award

bestows special recognition on a PGA

professional who personally displays

outstanding integrity, character and

leadership, in the effort to overcome a

major obstacle in his life. … The New

England Sports Museum hosts its

35th annual Celebrity Golf Classic at

Andover CC Aug. 17. Each session

(morning round and afternoon

round) will have on-course gifts for

all players, on-course contests, and

tournament winners.To register a

foursome, contact Maria Kangas

at 617-624-1232 or mkangas@

sportsmuseum.org.

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Tedesco CC's 8th hole was

featured in Golf Course Architecture

magazine. This par 3 has water in

front of the tee and is surrounded by

five bunkers. It measures anywhere

from 86 yards to 136 yards. The green

is sloped back to front. Tedesco's

swirling winds can make club

selection difficult.

The article, "Short Terrors,"

featured these words from Ron Forse,

who was the architect of record for

the Marblehead club's extensive

recent renovation. “I really think a

golf course is incomplete and not

well-rounded without a hole where

anyone can get a birdie or a six. They

round out the test of golf, and they

can equalise the course demands

and enjoyment for the shorter hitter

as well as equalising the scores a

bit. There is often a great disparity

between high and low scores in a

day on these short holes which I

think makes them good. ... The keys

from a design standpoint are plenty

of tee space and quite often a total

surrounding of the green with a

hazard, the sort of

thing that cannot be

done on long holes – it

makes them unique

and complementary.

... (take) number eight

at Tedesco Country

Club, north of Boston,

which we worked on

two years ago – a small

double-tiered green

with bunkers totally

redesigned all around.”

TEDESCO CC

8 TH HOLE

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

This season the North

Shore is set to host

several major amateur

and professional

tournaments, including

two of the state's oldest

events. Due to the

COVID-19 crisis, dates are subject to

change.

The crown jewel on the men's

side is the 100th annual NEPGA

Championship, which will be cohosted

by Myopia Hunt Club and

Tedesco CC Aug. 17-19. The field will

be split over the first 36 holes with 18

holes at each site. Players who survive

the 36-hole cut will return to Myopia

for the final round Aug. 19.

The 117th Women's Amateur

Championship, the oldest of all

Mass Golf tournaments, will be staged

Aug. 11-14 at Essex County Club, home

of the Curtis sisters (Harriot and


Margaret) and site of the 2010 Curtis

Cup won by the United States over

Great Britain. Woburn native Noreen

Friel Mohler, a former Curtis team

member, served as captain of that U.S.

squad.

Mass Golf's Amateur Publinks

Championship comes to Gannon

Golf Club in Lynn for the first time

since the tournament debuted

in 1982. The 36-hole stroke-play

event will be played Aug. 10-11. The

tournament is open to bona fide

public course players who do not hold

private club memberships and who

maintain USGA handicaps of 12.0

or less as of June 4. The Meadow at

Peabody GC is among six 18-hole

qualifying sites (Monday, June 22)

for the championship proper. 2019

state Amateur champion Steven

DiLisio (Salem CC) leads the list of

exempt players. Also exempt are

two-time Amateur champion and

Mass Golf Hall of Fame member

Frank Vana Jr. (Ferncroft CC);

2019 Mid-Amateur champion Nick

Maccario (Bradford GC); 2015

Amateur and Mid-Amateur champion

Nick McLaughlin (Far Corner GC);

2005 Public Links champion Phil

Miceli (Sagamore Spring GC);

and Colin Brennan (Andover CC),

Chris McKenna (Beverly G&T) and

Chris Francoeur (Amesbury GC).

The Amateur features 36 holes of

qualifying, with the top 16 advancing

to the championship match play

bracket and the next 16 advancing to

the President's Cup bracket.

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●

Member Days, designed for

golfers of all ages and playing

abilities, are open to anyone who

holds a current Mass Golf/USGA

GHIN handicap index with a member

Club. The one-day 18-hole events

offer an affordable, casual and

fun atmosphere for all, while also

providing tournament experience for

those looking for healthy and spirited

competition.

Entry fee for each member day is

$90 per player and includes golf, cart

and range balls. Events fill up quickly,

so players are encouraged to register

early. To register for an event, players

must use Mass Golf's online lottery

system (https://www.massgolf.org/

play/member-days/).

There are 26 Member Days on the

Mass Golf calendar this year. The

following local courses are hosting

events: Tedesco CC (June 29), Ipswich

CC (July 6), Ferncroft CC (July 23),

Bass Rocks (Oct. 14), Kernwood CC

(Oct 26).

FAR CORNER GOLF

Welcome spring!

Pain hurng

your swing?

Give us a ring.

Call 978-531-0800

Locaons:

The Musculoskeletal Center

4 Centennial Drive, Suites 201 & 202

Peabody, MA 01960

Mass General / North Shore

104 Endico Street, Suite LL00

Danvers, MA 01923

3 25-1 Lafayee Road

Seabrook, NH 03874

www.newenglandorthopedics.com

FarCornerGolf.com • 978-352-8300

A member of Bill Flynn’s Golf Course Management and Development Inc.

20 >>> SPRING 2020

NORTH SHORE GOLF / / / COURSE DIRECTORY

PRIVATE CLUBS

Andover Country Club

60 Canterbury St., Andover, MA 01810

andovercountryclub.com; 978-475-1263

Golf Professional Kevin Christofaro

Slope 131; Rating 73.1

Bass Rocks Golf Club

34 Beach Road, Gloucester, MA 01930

bassrocksgolfclub.org; 978-283-1866

Golf Professional Peter Hood


Bear Hill Golf Club

2 North St., Stoneham, MA 02180

bearhillgolfclub.com; 781-245-4295

Golf Professional Jeff Wirbal

9 holes; Slope 131; Rating 70.2

Bellevue Golf Club

320 Porter St., Melrose, MA 02176

bellevuegolfclub.com; 781-665-7900

Golf Professional Jeffrey Monteleone

9 holes: Slope 127; Rating 69.0

Essex County Club

153 School St.,

Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA 01944

essexcc.org; 978-526-7691

Golf Professional Jack Davis


Ferncroft Country Club

10 Village Road, Middleton, MA 01949

ferncroftcc.com; 978-739-4032

Golf Professional Philip Leiss


Haverhill Country Club

58 Brickett Lane, Haverhill, MA 01831

haverhillcc.com; 978-373-1146

Golf Professional Mark Mangion


Indian Ridge Country Club

Lovejoy Road, Andover, MA 01810

indianridgecountryclub.us; 978-475-9484

Golf Professional Mike Miller


Ipswich Country Club

148 Country Club Way, Ipswich, MA 01938

ipswichclub.com; 978-356-3999

Golf Professional Daniel R. Dwyer


Kernwood Country Club

1 Kernwood St., Salem, MA 01970

kernwood.org; 978-745-1210

Golf Professional Frank Dully


Long Meadow Golf Club

165 Havilah St., Lowell, MA 01852

longmeadowgolfclub.com; 978-441-1542

Golf Professional Shawn Scott


Meadow Brook Golf Club

292 Grove St., Reading, MA 01867

meadowbrookgolfclub.org; 781-942-1334

Golf Professional Steve Sheridan


Mount Pleasant Golf Club

141 Staples St., Lowell, MA 01851

mpgc.com; 978-452-8228

Golf Professional Joel Jenkins


Myopia Hunt Club

435 Bay Road, South Hamilton, MA 01982

myopiahuntclub.org; 978-468-4433

Golf Professional Mike Bemis


Nabnasset Lake CC

47 Oak Hill Rd., Westford, MA 01886

nabnassetlakecc.com; 978-692-2560

Golf Professional Dan Gillis


North Andover Country Club

500 Great Pond Rd.,

North Andover, MA 01845

northandovercc.com; 978-687-7414

Golf Professional Matt Lombard


Renaissance Golf Club

377 Kenoza St., Haverhill, MA 01830

renaissancema.com; 978-241-6712

Golf Professional Rhett Bishop


Salem Country Club

133 Forest St., Peabody, MA 01960

salemcountryclub.org; 978-538-5400

Golf Professional Kevin Wood


Tedesco Country Club

154 Tedesco St., Marblehead, MA 01945

tedescocc.org; 781-631-2800

Golf Professional Jake Leech


Thomson Country Club

2 Mid Iron Drive, North Reading, MA 01864

thomsoncc.com; 978-664-2016

Golf Professional Christopher Young


The Golf Club at Turner Hill

3 Manor House Lane, Ipswich, MA 01938

turnerhill.com; 978-356-7070

Golf Professionals: Nate Hopley

and Mike Brown


Vesper Country Club

185 Pawtucket Blvd.,

Tyngsborough, MA 01879

vespercc.com; 978-458-8731

Golf Professional Stephen Doyle


Winchester Country Club

468 Mystic St., Winchester, MA 01890

winchestercc.org; 781-729-1181

Golf Professional Jim Salinetti


Winthrop Golf Club

453 Main St., Winthrop, MA 02152

winthropgolf.com; 617-799-1455

Golf Professional Jim Bruce


PUBLIC GOLF COURSES

Amesbury Golf and Country Club

46 Monroe St., Amesbury, MA;

amesburycountryclub.com; 978-388-5153

9 holes. Club Pro Butch Mellon;

Tee times: 5 days in advance; Fee for 9

holes: $20/$21 weekday/ weekend;

Fee for 18 holes: $30/$32 weekday/

weekend; Cart rental: $15 per person for

18 holes. $7.50 per person for 9 holes

Yards 6,095; Slope 122; Rating 70.5

Beverly Golf & Tennis Club

SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 15

134 McKay St., Beverly, MA;

beverlygolfandtennis.net;

978-922-9072 ext. 111; 18 holes.

Golf Professional David Dionne; Tee times:

6 days in advance (members), 5 days in

advance (non-members);

Fee for 18 holes: $40/$45 weekday/

weekend; Cart rental: $18 per person for 18

holes; Yards 6,276; Slope 126; Rating 70.8

Black Swan Country Club

258 Andover St., Georgetown, MA;

blackswancountryclub.com; 978-352-7926

18 holes. Director of Golf/Golf Professional:

James Falco.

Tee times: 6 days in advance; Fee for

9/18 holes: $26/$45 weekday, $31/$49

weekends; Cart rental: $20 for 18 holes;

Yards 6,803; Slope 130; Rating: 72.9

Bradford Country Club

201 Chadwick Road, Bradford, MA;

bradfordcc.com; 978-372-8587

18 holes. Club Pro: Kevin Murphy;

Tee times: 5 days in advance (online tee

times also available); Fee for 9/18 holes:

$20/$35 weekdays, $23/$45 weekends;

Cart rental: $20 per person for 18 holes;

Yards: 6,157; Slope 131; Rating 71.1

Cape Ann Golf Club


99 John Wise Ave., Essex, MA;

capeanngolf.com; 978-768-7544

9 holes. Club manager: Jim Stavros;

Tee times: 5 days in advance; Fee for 9/18

holes: $27/$40 everyday; Cart rentals: $11

per rider for 9 holes;

Yards 6072; Slope 119; Rating 69.2

Cedar Glen Golf Course

60 Water St., Saugus, MA;

cedarglengolf.com; 781-233-3609

9 holes. Club manager: Burton Page;

Tee times: no; Fee for 9/18 holes: $21 ($18

seniors/juniors)/$35 weekdays,

$23/$38 weekend; Cart rental: $18 for 9

holes; Yards 5605; Slope 107; Rating 67

Chelmsford Country Club

66 Park Road, Chelmsford, MA;

sterlinggolf.com/chelmsford; 978-256-1818

9 holes. Club pro: Jim Callahan; Tee times:

4 days in advance; Fee for 9/18 holes:

$21/$28 weekday, $23/$30 weekend;

Cart rental: $18 for 18 holes; Yards: 4,854;

Slope 108, Rating 64.2

Country Club of Billerica

51 Baldwin Road, Billerica, MA;

countryclubofbillerica.com;

978-667-9121 ext. 22;

18 holes. Club Pro: Ed O’Connell;

Tee times: 5 days in advance; Fee 9/18

holes: $23/$35 weekday, $26/$40 weekend;



Country Club of New Hampshire

187 Kearsarge Valley Road,

North Sutton, N.H.;

ccnh@golfmanagementco.com;

603-927-4246;

18 holes. Fee for 9/18 holes: $22/$37

weekday, $27/$46 weekend;


Yards 6117; Slope 123, Rating 69.8

Crystal Lake Golf Club

940 North Broadway, Haverhill, MA;

golfcrystallake.com; 978-374-9621;

18 holes. Club pro: Rob Hardy; Tee times:

10 days in advance for members, 7 days

in advance for public; Fees: 18 holes $28

weekdays, $37 weekends;

Cart rental: $20 for 18 holes; Yards 6,525;


Far Corner Golf Course


5 Barker Road, Boxford, MA;

farcornergolf.com; 978-352-8300

27 holes. Club pro: John O’Connor;


9/18 holes: $23/$41 weekday, $27/$47


holes; Yards: 6,711; Slope: 130;

Rating: 72.9; Third 9 Holes: Yards 3,220;


Four Oaks CC

1 Clubhouse Lane, Dracut, MA 01826

fouroakscountryclub.com; 978-455-0054

Golf Professional Anthony Martinho;

Tee times: 6 days in advance; Fee 9/18

holes: $24/$42weekday, $27/$54 weekend;



Gannon Municipal Golf Club


60 Great Woods Road, Lynn, MA;

gannongolfclub.com; 781-592-8238

18 holes. Club Pro: David Sibley;

Tee times: 2 days in advance after 6 p.m.;

Nonresident fee for 9/18 holes: $24/$43

weekday, $26/$51 weekend; Cart rental:

$20 per person for 18 holes; Yards 6,110;


Hickory Hill Golf Club

200 North Lowell St., Methuen, MA;

golfhickoryhill.com; 978-686-0822

18 holes. Director of Golf: Don Myles; Tee

times: every day; Fee: 18 holes:

$44 Mon.-Thurs., $46 Fri., $55 Sat.- Sun.;


Yards 6,287; Slope: 124; Rating: 70.8


Hillview Golf Course


149 North St., North Reading, MA;

hillviewgc.com; 978-664-4435

18 holes. Golf Professional: Chris Carter;


9/18 holes: $24/$42 Weekday, $27/$45

weekend; Cart rental: $18 per rider for 18


King Rail Reserve Golf Course


427 Walnut St., Lynnfield, MA;

lynnfieldgolf.com; 781-334-4643

9 holes. Club Pro: Eddie Whalley;

Fees for 9/18 holes: $22/$32 weekday,

$23/$33 weekend; Cart rental:



The Meadow at Peabody

80 Granite St., Peabody, MA;

peabodymeadowgolf.com; 978-532-9390

18 holes. Director of Golf: Peter Cronan;

Tee times: 3 days in advance; Nonresident

fee for 9/18 holes: $23/$42 weekday,

$28/$51 weekend; Cart rental: $11 per

person for 9 holes; Yards 6,708;


Merrimack Golf Course

210 Howe St., Methuen, MA;

merrimackvalleygolfclub.com; 978-683-7771

18 holes. Club Pro: George Kattar;


9/18 holes: $23/$39 weekday, $28/$49



Mount Hood Golf Club

100 Slayton Rd., Melrose, MA;

mthoodgolfclub.com; 781-665-6656

18 holes. Club Manager: Brian Doyle;

Tee times: 5 days in advance; Nonresident

fee for 18 holes: $45 weekday,

$55 for 18 on a weekend; Resident fee:

$40 weekday, $47 weekend; Cart rental:



Murphy’s Garrison Golf Center

654 Hilldale Ave., Haverhill, MA;

garrisongolf.com; 978-374-9380

9 holes. Club Pro: Ted Murphy; Tee times: no;

Fee for 9 holes: $11 weekday, $12 weekend;

Yards 1,005; Slope N/A; Rating N/A

Nahant Golf Club

1 Willow Road, Nahant, MA;

nahantgolfclub.com; 781-581-9000

9 holes. Director of Golf: Gary Lynch; Tee

times: 3 days in advance; Non-resident fee

for 9 holes: $19 weekday, $22 weekend;


Slope: 104; Rating 60.6

New Meadows Golf Club

32 Wildes Road, Topsfield, MA;

newmeadowsgolf.com; 978-887-9307

9 holes. Club Manager: Gerry Peckerman;

Tee times: yes; Fee for 9 holes: $20

weekday, $24 weekend; Cart rental: $9 per

person for 9 holes, $18 per person for 18


Olde Salem Greens

75 Wilson St., Salem, MA;

978-744-2149; 9 holes. Club Manager: Scott

McDonald; Tee times: 1 day in advance

weekday, 2 days on weekend; Nonresident

fee for 9 holes: $21 weekday/$221

weekend; Cart rental: $17 for 9 holes; Yards

3089; Slope 121; Rating 69.4

Ould Newbury Golf Club

319 Newburyport Turnpike, Newbury, MA;

ouldnewbury.com; 978-465-9888

9 holes; Club Pro: Jim Hilton;

Tee Times: yes; Fee for 9/18 holes:

$25/$40 weekday, private play on



Reedy Meadow At Lynnfield Centre


195 Summer St., Lynnfield, MA;

Lynnfieldgolf.com; 781-334-9877

9 holes. Club Pro: Donnie Lyons;

Tee times: no; Fee for 9/18 holes:

$22/$32 weekday, $23/$33 weekend;

Cart rental: $10 for 9 holes per person;


Rockport Golf Club

Country Club Road, Rockport, MA;

www.rockportgolfclub.net/; 978-546-3340

9 holes. Club Pro: Stephen Clayton;

Tee times: 1 day in advance; Fee for

9/18 holes: $26/$40 everyday;



Rowley Country Club

235 Dodge Road, Rowley, MA;

rowleycountryclub.com; 978-948-2731

9 holes. Club Pro: Darin Chin-Aleong; fee

for 9/18 holes: $23/$35 weekday,

$25/$37 weekend; Cart rental: $19 for 18

holes; Yards 3,098;


Sagamore Spring Golf Course

1287 Main St., Lynnfield, MA;

sagamoregolf.com; 781-334-3151

18 holes. Club Pro: Steve Vaughn; Tee

times: 7 days in advance; Fee for 9/18

holes: $27/$45 weekday, $29/$52 weekend;

Cart rental: $12 for 9 holes per person;


Stoneham Oaks

101 R. Montvale Ave., Stoneham, MA;

stonehamoaks.com; 781-438-7888

9 holes. Club Pro: John Resnick; Tee

times: no; Non-resident fees for 9 holes:

$17 weekday, $20 weekend; Cart rental:


Slope N/A; Rating N/A

Swanson Meadows GC

216 Rangeway Road, Billerica, MA;

swansonmeadows.com; 978-670-7777

9 holes. Club Pro: none; Tee times: 7

days in advance; Fee for 9 holes: $22

weekday,$25 weekend;

Cart rental: $11 per person; Yards 4,486;


Tewksbury Country Club

1880 Main St., Tewksbury, MA;

tewksburycc.com; 978-640-0033

9 holes. Club Pro: Mike Rogers; Tee times:

Friday-Sunday 2 days in advance;

Fee for 9/18 holes: $24/$40 weekday,

$28/$43 weekend; Cart rental: $11 per

person for 9 holes; Yards 2,843;


Trull Brook Golf Course

170 River Rd., Tewksbury, MA;

trullbrook.com; 978-851-6731

18 holes. Club Pro: Al Santos; Tee times: 7

days in advance; Fee for 18 holes: $42

weekday, $53 weekend; Cart rental: $20

per person for 18 holes; Yards 6,345;


Tyngsboro Country Club

80 Pawtucket Blvd., Tyngsboro, MA;

978-649-7334;

9 holes. Tee times:5 days in advance for

weekends; Fee for 9 holes: $17 weekday,

$19 weekend; Cart rental: $14 for 9 holes;


Unicorn Golf Course

460 Williams St., Stoneham, MA;

unicorngc.com; 781-438-9732

9 holes. Club Pro: Jeff Barnes; Tee

times: no; Nonresident fee for 9 holes:

$24 weekday/ $26 weekend; Cart rental:

$10 per person; Yards 3,189; Slope 122;

Rating 70.4

Wenham Country Club

94 Main St., Wenham, MA;

wenhamcountryclub.com; 978-468-4714

18 holes. Club Pro: Ryan McDonald;

Tee times: weekends only; Fee for

9/18 holes: $25/$40 weekday, $27/$46

weekend; Cart rental: $18 per person

for 18 holes; Yards 4,554;


Windham Country Club

1 Country Club Drive., Windham, NH;

windhamcc.com; 603-434-2093

18 holes. Club Pro: Joanne Flynn; Tee

times: 7 days in advance; Fee for 9/18

holes: $25/$44 weekday, $29/$52

weekend; Cart rental: $20 per person for

18 holes; Yards 6,442; Slope 135; Rating

71.2

Woburn Country Club

5 Country Club Road, Woburn, MA;

woburncountryclub.com; 781-933-9880

9 holes. Club Pro: Peter Bracey; Tee times:

2 days in advance; Non-resident fee for

9 holes: $22 weekday and $23 weekend;

Cart rental: $10 for 9 holes;


DRIVING RANGES/

INDOOR FACILITIES

BFM Mini Golf & Driving Range

327 Main St., North Reading, MA.

978-664-9276

Big Sticks Golf

26 Ray Ave., Burlington, MA

bigsticksgolf.com, 781-229-2269

The Clubhouse Golf &

Entertainment

222 S. Main St., Middleton, MA

theclubhousege.com, 978-539-8725

Dilisio Golf Range

115 Swampscott Road, Salem, MA.

dilisiogolfdrivingrange.com; 978-745-6766

Golf Country


160 S. Main St., Middleton

golfcountry.org; 978-774-4476

Golf Galaxy

40 Walkers Brook Drive, Reading, MA

stores.golfgalaxy.com/ma/reading/3225/;

781-944-0535

Golfers Warehouse

4 Newbury St., Danvers, MA

edwinwattsgolf.com/store-702.aspx;

978-777-4653

Golftec

194 Newbury St., Peabody, MA.

golftec.com/locations; 978-777-2930

Paradise Family Golf


25 Lonegan Road, Middleton, MA.

paradisefamilygolf.com; 978-750-4653

PGA Tour Superstore

SEE OUR AD ON INSIDE BACK COVER

210 Andover St., Peabody, MA

www.gatoursuperstore.com; 978-326-2626

Sagamore Golf

22 North Road, North Hampton, N.H.

sagamoregolf.com; 603-964-8393

Sarkisian Farms & Driving Range

153 Chandler Road, Andover, MA.

sarkisianfarms.com; 978-668-5522

Sun ‘N Air Golf Center


210 Conant St., Danvers, MA.

sunairgolf.com; 978-774-8180

22 >>> SPRING 2020

Jack Nicklaus

The one and only

Gary Larrabee

garylarrabee.com

As we continue to reflect on Jack Nicklaus

celebrating his 80th birthday on January 21, and

Tiger Woods trying to win major No. 16 in pursuit of

Jack’s record 18, I realize we never got enough of the

Golden Bear on the North Shore. He never played

in these parts as an amateur. His professional visits

were few and far between. Here’s the rundown.

● June 1963 – Jack misses the cut as defending

champion at the 1963 U.S. Open at The Country Club.

● August 1963 – Jack shoots 67 and defeats Gary

Player (71) in an 18-hole exhibition at Essex County

Club in Manchester-By-the-Sea.

● August 1965 – Fails to finish in the top 10 at the

Carling World Open at Pleasant Valley in Sutton,

won by Tony Lema, with Arnold Palmer the runner

up (an inkling of what was to come when Arnold

won the 1968 Kemper Open at PV).

● July 1977 – Finishes second, two shots behind

Ray Floyd at the Pleasant Valley Classic, a designated

Tour event, which meant Jack was required to

compete except in time of illness or family death. He

never made it to Pleasant Valley again.

● June 1988 — Misses cut at U.S. Open at The

Country Club won by Curtis Strange in an 18-hole

playoff with Nick Faldo.

● June/July 2001 – Finishes T-4 at 282, 2 over

par, two strokes behind winner Bruce Fleisher at the

U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club, his final

competitive appearance on the North Shore/Greater

Boston. He was tied for the lead with four holes

remaining in the final round.

● April 2007 – Jack and wife Barbara receive the

Francis Ouimet Award for Lifelong Contributions

to Golf before a record 1800 attendees at the 57th

Ouimet Scholarship Fund Dinner at the Boston

Convention and Exhibition Center.

Jack also made a few under-the-media radar

trips to Boston before, during and after he

underwent hip surgery in January 1999 at New

England Baptist Hospital.

So, to some of us who have followed Jack’s

remarkable life in golf spanning 60 years – don’t forget

his apparel, equipment, philanthropic and course design

legacies – we indeed never got enough of the Ohioan

here. Nonetheless, we should count our blessings that

we got as much Nicklaus and his golf game as we did.

I saw him swing a club for the first time during

the first round at Brookline in 1963, and again

at Pleasant Valley two years later, thanks both

times to the ticket-gifting generosity of a business

pal of my father, Russ, an executive at the Nestle

Company based in Cambridge. Only a select gallery

STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE

was allowed to watch the Essex CC exhibition,

yours truly excluded.

He finally gave us some excitement when he almost

caught Floyd at PV in ’77 and still swung the club with

authority in ’88 back at Brookline, two years after his

semi-miraculous sixth Masters victory.

Jack made up for all those prior letdowns in 2001

when he came to Salem for the 2001 U.S. Senior

Open. The Golden Bear stole the show that week,

starting with his nine-hole, early-evening practice

round on Monday observed by a gallery of 50 or so

lucky stragglers as 6 p.m. approached. Jack was the

hero of the week, even though he broke his fans’

hearts Sunday when it looked like he would capture

his third Senior Open title and send the raucous

galleries home happy.

This agent had needled Nicklaus about his overall

performance chart when competing in Boston and

environs during his downpour-extended media Q&A

after his Saturday 68 had thrust him into contention and

sent the galleries home thirsting for Sunday’s action.

“I’ll try and get it right tomorrow,” he replied with

his trademark wink.

He almost did. As he headed for the parking lot

after his failed bid Sunday, I caught up with him

alone for a couple quick quotes and, remembering my

somewhat disrespectful query 24 hours earlier, Jack

offered, “Sorry I couldn’t get it done today and break

my Boston (losing) streak, but I gave it my best shot.”

He surely had – and given his thousands of fans

on hand thrills we’ll be talking about forever.

Six years later, Jack and Barbara were walking

into a 4 p.m. media gathering before they were

honored by the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund.

The first people Jack acknowledged as he entered the

room were business associate and West Palm Beach

neighbor Ron Kirby, the noted golf course architect

from Beverly, best known for his design of Old Head

in Ireland (which Jack helped make possible), and

his companion for the evening, yours truly.

Kirby had done considerable behind-the-scenes

course design work in Europe for Nicklaus for many

years. Jack appreciated seeing a familiar face when

he and his bride arrived. We shook hands with Jack

and Barbara, Jack quipping to me, “My friend from

Salem, how are you?”

I was pleasantly stunned. Six years later and he

connected me with Salem? Uncanny. Flattering, I

guess, but easier when you’ve got an ugly mug. The

press event went smoothly, Barbara giving better

answers than hubby. Ditto for their acceptance

speech a few hours later.

So yes, my memories of Jack in our neighborhood

are precious as he moves forward in his 81st year.

BREATHTAKINGVIEWS

LUXURIOUSAMENITIES

ANDFREEGOLF

New Offering: GOLFSIDE VILLAS

Minutes away from downtown Boothbay Harbor, the Golfside Villas have

spectacular views overlooking the 1st hole of Boothbay Harbor Country Club.

Indulge in all of the exclusive membership benefits at Boothbay Harbor

Country Club, which is fully private in 2020.

• Includes FREE golf at BHCC

• Near fitness center/pool

• Private balconies

• Golf course views

• Air conditioning/Luxury linens

• King-sized beds/en-suite baths

The six-bedroom villas can also be rented as 2, 4 and 5-bedroom.

Separate one-bedroom suites are also available.

RATES (peak is 6/27-9/12):

One-Bedroom (private patio and kitchenette)

Off Peak: $1,500/wk, Peak: $2,500/wk

Four-Bedroom (full kitchen, decks, game room, hot tub)


Six-Bedroom (full kitchen, decks, game room, hot tub)


For those who enjoy a water view, we offer harborside

cottages which can be viewed on our website.

BoothbaySummerCottages.com

Reservations: 207-633-4455 x602

24 >>> SPRING 2020

Northern Getaways

The North Shore Golf magazine team recommends these courses in northern New England.

Boothbay Harbor Country Club

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

par 4 3 4 4 4 5 3 4 5

yards 332 196 394 300 411 520 184 361 495

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

par 4 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 5

yards 346 391 384 363 390 156 357 178 515

Location: Boothbay Harbor, Maine

Overview: Boothbay Harbor Country

Club is the perfect Maine golf course, featuring

breathtaking vistas, challenging holes and a sea

breeze blowing off the ocean. In 1918, Wayne

Stiles, who played a role in the design of many

North Shore courses, and John Van Kleek were

commissioned to build a golf course on the

Boothbay Peninsula by a group of wealthy Boston

businessmen. That 9-hole gem expanded to 18

holes in 1999 and has recently gone through a

complete redesign by renowned course architect

Bruce Hepner as part of a multi-million-dollar

renovation by owner Paul Coulombe. At 6,655

yards from the back tees, this par 71 course is a

treat for golfers of all abilities. PGA professional

Chad Penman, director of golf, and head PGA

professional Todd Lytle and his staff are focused on

providing a great experience for guests.

Amenities: Practice range, lessons, golf

carts with GPS, three gourmet restaurants (Paul's

Steakhouse, Grill 19, Over the Ledge), boating

excursions, a state-of-the-art Wellness Center,

complete with heated saltwater pool, fitness center,

tennis & pickleball courts, and an opulent spa.

Accommodations: Waterfront

accommodations, five-star cottages,

Stay & Play packages.

Contact info: 207-633-4455,

boothbayharboroceansideresort.com.


Northern Getaways

Fox Ridge Golf Club

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

par 4 4 3 5 3 4 4 4 5

yards 322 387 167 529 191 349 360 300 489

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

par 4 5 4 3 4 4 3 5 4

yards 383 551 378 113 322 344 203 518 391

Location: Auburn, Maine

Overview: Golf Digest voted Fox Ridge the

6th-best course — public or private — in Maine.

The par 72 track, which opened in 2000, ranges

from 4,595 yards (women) and 5,832 to 6,814

(men). Its signature hole, the downhill par 3 sixth,

is played to a peninsula green that juts out into

a lake. It's the only island green in the Pine Tree

State. The course features a gentle blend of rolling

hills, lined with native fescue, babbling brooks,

century old stone walls and stone bridges. It has

a driving range. It is one of four courses run by

Hourihan Golf Management.

Amenities: Driving range, lessons, special

deals. Hourihan Golf Management offers the

Maine Golf Pass which includes a round at not only

Fox Ridge but also its Nonesuch River Golf Club,

Bridgton Highlands Golf and Tennis, and Sanford

Country Club.

Accommodations: Lodging is available

nearby. The Maine Trifecta Golf Package offers a

two-night stay in a standard room or cottage at

the Poland Spring Resort, meals, and discounts on

three 18-hole golf courses, all within 20 minutes of

each other just two hours north of Boston. Details:

www.mainetrifecta.com. Fox Ridge is also a short

drive to the Oxford Casino.

Contact info: 207-777-GOLF,

www.foxridgegolfclub.com

26 >>> SPRING 2020

Northern Getaways

The Golf Club at Basin Harbor

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

par 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 4 5

yards 350 360 395 308 100 345 156 435 498

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

par 4 4 5 3 4 4 3 5 4

yards 391 379 495 180 344 418 172 509 410

Location: Vergennes, Vt.

Overview: An 18-hole, par 72 championship

course featuring more than 6,500 yards makes The

Golf Club at Basin Harbor a delight for any golfer.

Designed in 1986 by world-known architect, Geoffrey

Cornish, the course’s rolling terrain, well-placed

bunkers, and contoured fairways make The Golf Club

at Basin Harbor a must-play. It’s Lake Champlain golf

at its finest! Located just south of Burlington and just

North of Middlebury, The Golf Club at Basin Harbor is

one of Vermont’s premier golf destinations. New head

PGA professional Alexander Socinski grew up playing

the course. A new assistant pro, who's also a PGA

member, will soon be hired. Improvements this year

include a significant reduction in shade due to tree

removal and drainage of two additional greens. The

Golf Shop is being transformed into more of a Resort

Shop to cater to a wider range of clientele. There is also

an increased level of programming for members and

guests during their stay at the 700-acre lakeside resort.

Amenities: 700 acres of active tranquility;

many family activities; special packages. Dining

options are plentiful and include Ardelia’s with

remarkable views of Lake Champlain and the

Adirondacks, seasonal dining at the North Dock,

and The Red Mill at Basin Harbor.

Accommodations: 74 cottage

accommodations, 36 guest rooms

Contact info: Tee times: 802-475-2309.

The resort: 800-622-4000.


Northern Getaways

Omni Mount Washington Resort

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

par 4 4 4 4 3 5 4 4 4

yards 377 395 379 309 193 501 318 410 394

10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

par 5 5 4 4 3 4 3 4 4

yards 522 508 313 374 204 293 186 371 353

Location: Bretton Woods, N.H.

Overview: The Omni Mount Washington Resort

is gracious in ambiance and generous in amenities.

A favorite New England retreat of presidents, poets

and celebrities, the hotel delights every sense with

enchanting music, refined dining and luxurious

décor. The resort offers two golf courses. The 18-hole

Mount Washington Course was designed by legendary

architect Donald Ross and was completed in 1915.

Its backdrop features New Hampshire's spectacular

Presidential Mountain Range. This par 72, 7,004-yardcourse

has hosted four New Hampshire Opens and

the prestigious New England Open Championship.

Reopened in 2008, the Mount Washington Course has

been restored to Ross' original plans by noted course

architect Brian Silva, including bunkers crafted in a

classic flair and infinite varieties of recovery shots in

the closely cropped areas around the putting greens.

Lessons and special packages are available.

Amenities: Signature spa, fine dining

facilities and pub fare, pool, fitness center, nine

high-flying zip lines.

Accommodations: The Omni Mount

Washington Hotel has 200 rooms; Omni Bretton

Arms Inn 34 rooms; The Lodge 50 rooms; and The

Townhomes, 65 units, 2-5 bedrooms.

Contact info: Golf: Advanced tee time bookings

are encouraged, and may be made by calling 603-278-

4653. The resort: 603-278-1000 or www.omnihotels.

com/hotels/bretton-woods-mount-washington.

EASY TO GET TO. HARD TO LEAVE.

Every once in a while we need to escape the real world and

remember what life is all about. Only an hour’s drive from Portland,

our resort features 75 luxuriously-appointed rooms and suites

complete with plenty of activities and pampering amenities to make

your stay truly unforgettable. Play golf on our championship course.

Visit our new fitness pavilion, pool, and tennis courts. Explore the

coastline on our private yachts or kayaks. Or just kick back, relax

and enjoy majestic sunsets from our heated deck.

Reservations: 800-762-8433

BoothbayHarborOceansideResort.com

STAY & PLAY GOLF SPECIALS

1 NIGHT + 2 ROUNDS | $299 | MAY/OCT

1 NIGHT + 2 ROUNDS | $399* | JUNE/SEPT

1 NIGHT + 2 ROUNDS | $499* | JULY/AUG

*AVAILABLE SUN-WED

9-19 Lincoln House Ave., Swampscott

North Shore Golf Spring 2020 V3

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