8 minute read
PROFILE
Sterling Golf Management
Continues Its Steady Growth
Kevin Osgood, Founder & President of Sterling Golf Management based in Newton, Ma., came into the business as a golf course superintendent in 1980. Originally from New Hampshire, he has worked all his life on golf courses in New England.
Osgood’s first course was Newton Commonwealth Golf Course, where he was already serving as the Head Superintendent. “Massachusetts Chapter 31B bid laws were changing that would require municipal properties to be put out a contract to public bid, including golf courses. My first step was to incorporate a business that denoted quality, so in 1993 Sterling Golf Management, Inc. was established and that allowed me to be one of the bidders and SGM received the management contract.”
At the time, Newton Commonwealth (opened in 1897) needed more operational efficiency and an improvement in the overall management of the course. Osgood saw an opportunity to improve customer service, cleanliness, food service and a higher quality, better stocked pro shop operation. Today, twenty-six years later, Sterling Golf Management owns two courses and operates 10 public golf courses total, the majority in the surrounding Boston area. The plethora of courses includes five (18-hole) courses and five (9-hole) courses. Osgood is very proud of the fact that Sterling has never lost a contract in all these years, a direct correlation of providing fantastic course conditions, memorable golfing experiences, detail to service, great golf course food and beverage, and pricing that is perfect.
Osgood continued, “The industry is getting tougher and the number of golfers in America is declining. Sterling Golf Management is always staying on the forefront of course conditions, clinics and lessons, pricing, marketing, growing the game, food and beverage, and insuring the customer a fantastic golf experience.” Additionally, the company offers the SGM Membership Program--unmatched in the Boston area, offering a golfer the opportunity to buy one membership and play at seven different courses.
Sterling Golf employs around 300 seasonal staff during the summer and employs around 40 people year-round. In 2018 Jay Miller joined Sterling Golf. Jay is a past golf course owner in California and recipient of the National Golf Course of the Year Award. Miller serves as Director of Golf Course Operations. The new SGM mission is to grow by one course a year and this direction seems to be aligned perfectly with the industry. Golf Course owners and cities especially recognize the company’s abilities, constantly contacting Osgood and Sterling Golf Management to bid on course contracts--just like 26 years ago when it all started.
www.SterlingGolf.com
18-Hole Courses
• Newton Commonwealth, a popular Donald Ross 1927 redesign, minutes from Boston. • Norwood Country Club & Practice Center on the “auto mile” in Norwood. • Crystal Lake Golf Club in Haverhill. • Rockland Golf Club, the second longest 18-hole Par-3 course in America.
9-Hole Jewels
• Unicorn Golf Club & Stoneham Oaks Golf Club in Stoneham. • Chelmsford Country Club • Maynard Golf Club. • A nine-hole fully lighted short course in Norfolk, Ma. called-Fore Kicks. Crystal Lake Golf Club
The TOUR of Greater Boston
Outstanding Courses, Competition and A True Club Experience
There are many options out there for today’s golfers, but there are not many that can provide amateur golfers with the chance to play tournament golf at the best private & public courses in New England.
The TOUR of Greater Boston does exactly that. All members get to experience professionally run events on over 50 outstanding courses, with the friendliest group of golfers you could ever wish to meet.
With over 28 years of experience, the TOUR is officially recognized as a USGA/ MGA member club, the only difference is that the TOUR travels to different courses each week. Members still enjoy the same benefits of standard member clubs including; handicap management & access to all MGA & USGA qualifying events.
What sets the TOUR apart from other options in the area?
1. It’s about the courses Members of the TOUR get to play on some of the best private & public courses in New England. In 2021, we have events at Eastward Ho!, Oyster Harbors, Wannamoisset, Rhode Island CC, Pine Brook, Granite Links & Thorney Lea, plus many more.
2. It’s about having fair & fun competitive events
All events are set up for golfers with handicaps from scratch through to 28, with a variety of tournament formats. Prizes are offered for players in both Gross and Net divisions, with optional skins & closest to the pin pools.
In addition to the regular schedule, there are season long individual and team match play events, as well as a season ending TOUR event with clubs from Pittsburgh, Chicago & Atlanta played in Orlando, Florida.
3. It’s about the members
The TOUR wouldn’t be what it is without the members. New members join & existing members come back year after year not just because of the golf, but because of the fun, the laughs & the friendships formed whilst playing this great game or at the 19th hole. We keep things relaxed, but all our members respect the game, the rules & the pace of play. 4. It’s about simplicity; turn up & play The TOUR is a modern day club using a virtual clubhouse, accessible from your phone, tablet or computer. Sign up & pay for an event online, ask to play with a new friend or bring a guest along. It’s easily done through your secure, online member account. If you want to chat about that new driver you have, or a putt you missed, you can also start or jump into chats on our bulletin board!
How do I join the TOUR?
Visit us at GolfTheTour.com, or take a look at our Facebook page: The Tour of Greater Boston
For just $150 per year you will get a TOUR membership, an official handicap & access over 50 events during the golf season. Tournament entries cost between $90 - $125 per event depending on the courses, with some fluctuation depending on the venue.
www. GolfTheTour.com
LeaderBoard of Boston’s Air Cannon
Locked and Loaded for 2021
LeaderBoard of Boston’s Air Cannon has quickly become a “go to” promotion of choice for charity golf fundraisers across New England. “We have completed our fifth year with the Air Cannon promotion and have supported over 1,000 events since our launch in 2015.” said Neil Policow, a Partner in the company. “With our staff of 18 trained professionals we can accommodate multiple events concurrently. One crazy day last June we were on site at 10 events!”
The company has standardized on the latest generation of stainless-steel air cannon designs, a major step up from the plastic versions of past years. These cannons are manufactured exclusively for LeaderBoard and offer additional distance capabilities and even better accuracy.
Policow said the company has a great variety of game formats to keep the competition fresh from year to year. “Based on the conditions we sometimes shoot at targets in the fairway or near the green. We offer great prizes at every event based on the best shot of the day.” This year we are excited to add two new options for the winner, a custom AMP Caddy Bluetooth speaker and premium Oakley sunglasses. We are again offering Golfing Magazine certificates for FREE golf as well as several destination trips.
Last year the company recorded no fewer than 12 “aces”, bringing the company’s total to more than 25 holes in one since the program was launched. “With our optional hole-in-one insurance we take the potential for a fantastic prize to another level,” explained Policow. “We had a winner for a trip to the Masters and several $10,000 Cash Splits where both the winner and the charity split the prize.”
As a fundraiser this is a fantastic addition to the day’s activities. Said Policow, “At the Claddagh Fund event recently at Willowbend and Falmouth Country Club with 330 golfers we raised over $4,000 for the Fund. Policow said the company averaged well over 150 percent optional participation at events last season with the LeaderBoard Air Cannon
He said his staff sets up on a short par four where the carry to the green is about 300 yards. Typically players are charged for team shots to guarantee a short putt for an eagle. It’s promoted as a “Closest to the Pin” contest and offers organizers an excellent sponsorship opportunity. “We invite the sponsor to hang out with us on the tee box and do a quick ‘Meet and Greet’ with the players. It’s a great opportunity to thank the players for their support.”
The company stations one staff member at the tee and a second at the green or alternate target, communicating with walkie-talkies. The feedback is immediate and generates roars of approval for good shots. (Optional critiques for bad shots are also available.) The player with the closest to the pin shot from the full event is offered a choice of several great prizes. While the golf purists typically choose the “FREE golf” certificates as their prize we expect the AMP Caddy Bluetooth Speakers and Oakley sunglasses will be popular options for the millennials in 2020.
For more information on the LeaderBoard Air Cannon, visit www.LeaderBoardBoston.com, or contact info@leaderboardboston.com.
