Sterling Golf Management

from 2022 Golfing Magazine New England Early Summer Issue

Summer in Vermont Means Golf

A Magical Maine Trip Beckons

By JOHN TORSIELLO

Maine has miles and miles of rugged ocean coastline, forests, rivers and lakes, mountains and, of course, lots of wonderful golf courses, some of them dating back 100 years or so and others of recent vintage. Why not plan a trip to the Pine Tree state and blend a week’s worth of golf with charming hotels and bed and breakfast establishments, great seafood, and a plethora of outdoor activities, from kayaking and fishing to hiking and sailing.

Here is a sampling of the some of the best courses you can play in Maine, thanks to Golfing Magazine’s Course Play Stimulus Program.

To take advantage of Golfing Magazine’s Free Golf offer, call 860563-1633, or visit www.FreeGolf.net. Remember, you get five issues of our magazine in addition to Free Golf when you subscribe.

Established in 1895 by Arthur Fenn and re-designed by Donald Ross in 1912, the Links at Poland Spring (www.PolandSpringInns.com) claims to be the first golf course built at a resort in the United States. Poland Spring Resort recently added a new 330-yard driving range with natural grass, artificial tees, and a spectacular view of the rugged White Mountains. After a round at Poland Spring you can relax on the clubhouse porch overlooking the championship golf course at Mel’s Hilltop Restaurant, or grab a quick Bethel Inn Golf Course

bite at the Pro Shop Café before you join your family for a swim in the large crystal clear swimming pool, all just a few yards from the 18th green. The Inn offers many options for dining, such as a home cooked breakfast and evening meals that are served daily, buffet style, in a comfortable dining room.

Spring Meadow Golf Club

(www.SpringMeadowGolf.com ) at Cole Farms in Gray is a delightful routing, with management taking great pride in the conditioning of their layout. The course measures 6,656 yards from the tips and plays to a par of 71. The par-fives here are very sturdy, including the 600-yard third that tests your ability early in the round.

Speaking of early, you can’t have a much more demanding start to a loop than the first at Spring Meadow. The par-four plays 430 yards from the tips and there is a pond to the right that must be avoided on the tee shot. If you play safe to the left you will have a longer approach that again must contend with the water and a bunker.

Spring Meadow Golf Club, the Links at Poland Spring, and Fox Ridge Golf

Club are part of the Maine Trifecta (www.

MaineTrifecta.com ) golf offering, were you can golf all three and stay at Poland

Spring Resort for two different prices; $319, which includes lodging, three allyou-can-eat buffet meals, 18 holes at each course, golf carts and range balls at each course; and the $339 Deluxe Trifecta, which includes the above plus upgraded accommodations and four buffet meals.

All rates are per person, double occupancy, plus seven percent Main sale tax.

The Bethel Inn Resort

(www.BethelInn.com ) golf course in Bethel, built just over 100 years ago, remained nine holes of little recognition until 1988 when it was redesigned and expanded to an 18hole championship layout by the renowned architect Geoffrey Cornish. The 6,663-yard, par-72 course takes maximum advantage of mountain vistas and the natural beauty of the area. Large, well-trapped greens, treelined fairways and five tee positions make

play challenging for all golfers.

There is a pleasant mix of short and long par-fours, tough par-threes, and demanding par-fives that will test the ability of all levels of golfer. America’s Greatest Golf Resorts magazine has rated the Bethel Inn layout among the top 10 resort courses in the Northeast, and Golf Digest magazine has awarded it 3 1/2 stars.

Riverside Golf Course

(www.RiversideGolfCourseME.com) is owned and operated by the City of Portland. The popular and traditional public golf facility first opened in 1932. The facility features an 18-hole course, a 9-hole course and a 3-hole practice course. The classic layout, rolling hills and tree-line fairways are bordered by the Presumpscot River.

The toughest hole on the 18-hole course is the 554-yard 10th hole, a par-five. The tee shot is elevated to a low, long and wide fairway bordered by a water hazard the left. The approach to the green is guarded by a line of pine trees on the left and more water on the right. There are also bunkers on both sides of the putting surface. The ninehole course is a feel good layout with four of the first five holes shortish par-fours. There is only one par-five, the 540-yard sixth, that can prove tough if you wander on your tee shot and second strike of the ball.

Dunegrass Golf Club

(www.Dunegrass.com) in Old Orchard Beach has been offering local and visiting golfers the opportunity to experience an uncommonly high caliber of golf for Maine and New England since 1998. Designed by internationally known golf course architect, Dan Maples, Dunegrass Golf Club has quickly gained the reputation as the Portland area’s premier public golf course. Maples imbued the course with the look and feel of a layout one might find in the Carolinas.

The par-threes at Dunegrass are all very good and water comes into play on the four short holes. The 17th can play almost 200 yards from the tips and has water short and to the right of the putting surface.

One of the most spectacular and scenic courses in New England, the Sunday River Golf Club (www.SundayRiver.com ) is a Robert Trent Jones, Jr. design featuring 18 breathtaking holes that wind through the Maine woods and over dramatic elevation changes in a stunning mountainside setting. Overlooking the Sunday River Valley with the Mahoosuc range towering above, the course follows the natural topography of the landscape while striking the perfect balance between challenge and playability. Facilities include a clubhouse, restaurant and bar, pro shop, and practice range.

As Maine’s premier golf destination, Sugarloaf Golf Club (www.Sugarloaf.com )is a must-play for any golfer. This Robert Trent Jones Jr. design provides golfers with stunning panoramic mountain views and an unforgettable experience from first tee to final putt.72 6,910. Aptly named for the course’s designer, the first hole plays downhill, and is a dogleg right par-four that is as demanding as it is scenic. The hole offers your first glimpse of the Bigelow Mountain Range. Be sure to factor in elevation change on both your tee shot and approach. Bunkers to the left and right guard the small green.

Lake Kezar Country Club

(www.LakeKezarGolf.com ) in Lovell is one of the oldest courses in Maine, built in 1923, when several summer camp owners recognized the need for a golf course to entertain summer visitors.

The world-renowned golf architect,

Donald Ross, was chosen to design the course. His trademark design was

“naturalness”, which is evident at Lake

Kezar, with the course flowing through pines, stone walls, brooks and flowers.

The back nine was added in 1998. The course offers four sets of tees. The design invites you to bump and run it onto the green whenever you can to avoid trouble behind several of the greens.

Dunegrass Golf Club

New England’s Sterling Golf Management

By, JOHN TORSIELLO

Kevin Osgood, Founder and President of Sterling Golf Management based in Newton, Ma., came into the business as a golf course superintendent in 1980. He’s still working that side of the steadily growing company, as well as various at other administrative and employee training duties.

“I started a golf course management company 28 years ago,” said Osgood, “because I always loved my profession, the game, the golf business, understood what the golfer wants, could assist properties with improvements and knew how to run a business. I stepped forward.”

Osgood is Past-President of the New England Golf Course Owner’s Association, Past-President & the Golf Course Superintendents Association of New England and has been on the MGA Board of Directors, as well as the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund.

After beginning with one course, Newton Commonwealth Golf Course, where Osgood once served as Head Superintendent, the company has expanded to include Norwood Country Club and Practice Center, Crystal Lake Golf Club in Haverhill, Rockland Golf Club (the second longest 18-hole Par-3 course in the U.S.), and nine-hole courses Unicorn Golf Club & Stoneham Oaks Golf Club in Stoneham, Chelmsford Country Club, and Maynard Golf Club. It also provides maintenance services for a ninehole fully-lighted short course in Norfolk called-Fore Kicks.

Jay Miller, a past golf course owner in California, golf course owner of the year in California, and a recipient of the National Golf Course of the Year Award, serves as the company’s Director of Golf Course Operations.

Miller, like Osgood, is upbeat about the company and golf in general. “We were up in rounds about 38 percent across the board last year and our gross revenue was up and that is without banquets, catering and food and beverage sales.”

Because many activities that shut down last year have started up again, especially adult and youth sports, Miller anticipates that rounds at Sterling Golf courses will be down by between 10 to 16 percent this summer. But that’s still far beyond the preCOVID-19 pandemic numbers when golf was in a bit of a holding pattern.

“Our nine-hole courses are doing particularly well,” said Miller. “Many people who worked at home last year found that they could easily sneak out for a couple of hours and play some golf. We see that trend continuing in 2021. Overall revenue should increase this year because banquets, catering and the restaurants are up and running again.”

Miller said, “We saw a lot of young people in their 20s and 30s playing last year, the millennials, and I think that will continue to be a plus for the industry a whole. They may not play by the rules all the time and listen to music on the course, but they have fun and always post photos on Facebook and Instagram. And they stop in and have a cheeseburger and beer afterwards. We are also seeing a spike in our lessons for youngsters and beginners, especially women. Our league play is also strong.”

Miller said Sterling Golf will bring new fleets of golf carts on line this year, although the carts were on back order early in the season because of a slowdown in the supply chain.

Sterling Golf is also deeply committed to growing the game among juniors. “We are the leading golf company in New England for Mass Golf’s Youth on Course program rounds. Youngsters six to 18 can play on our courses at certain times for only five dollars (after an initial $15 registration fee). These youngsters are our future customers. Our PGA Junior Leagues and junior camps are sold out.”

Miller points to several factors for Sterling Golf’s success. “We have a great staff, from our general managers through all our positions. We are customer service-oriented and Kevin Osgood and the Osgood family have created stability for our employees. They are loyal to their employees and the employees return that loyalty. Hardly anybody leaves the company once they are on board.”