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TABLE OF CONTENTS
8
11
12
Shaw Warren wins the 100th NEPGA Championship
13 NEPGA Professionals qualify for 2021 PGA Professional Championship
Kirk Hanefeld rolls to 3rd NEPGA Senior Championship
16
22
24
Junior golf separates itself from other Youth Sports
Patriot Golf Day
#RulesToTheMax Rory’s Rough Ruling
26
30
Your View from the Fairway
Chapter Round Up News and notes from around the Section
2 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
ON THE COVER: Shawn Warren wins 100th NEPGA Championship. Photo credit: Omar Rawlings.
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NEPGA OFFICERS
Allan Belden, PGA President allanbelden@gmail.com
Mike Bradshaw, PGA Vice President pgapro@kirkbrae.com
Chip Johnson, PGA Secretary chip.johnson@hatherlycc.com
Ron Bibeau, PGA Honorary President rbibeau@coegolfcars.com
NEPGA BOARD OF DIRECTORS David Bennett, PGA District Director Vermont (802) 244-1800 dbennett@countryclubvt.com
Doug VanWickler, PGA District Director Maine (207) 787-2890 dvanwickler@thewoodlands.com
John Fields, PGA District Director MA Eastern (617) 484-5360 jfields@belmontcc.org
Joanne Flynn, PGA District Director New Hampshire (603) 434-2093 joanne@windhamcc.com
Mark Aldrich, PGA District Director MA Central (508) 853-5087 markaldrichpga@gmail.com
Dan Gillis, PGA Senior Director (978) 692-4606 dangillis.nlcc@gmail.com
Lou Rivers, PGA District Director MA Southern (508) 543-4661 lourivers@pga.com
Dave Donnellan, PGA District Director Cape Cod (508) 362-2606 daviddonnellan@pga.com
Dave Tiedemann, PGA District Director Rhode Island (401) 322-2107 dtiedemann@shgcri.com
nepga.com | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | 3
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FROM THE PRESIDENT
Allan Belden, PGA President New England PGA
NEPGA Officers President Allan Belden, PGA Vice President Mike Bradshaw, PGA Secretary Chip Johnson, PGA Honorary President Ron Bibeau, PGA Board of Directors Central Mass Mark Aldrich, PGA Cape Cod Dave Donnellan, PGA Eastern Mass John Fields, PGA Southern Mass Lou Rivers, PGA Vermont David Bennett, PGA Rhode Island Dave Tiedemann, PGA Maine Doug VanWickler, PGA Seniors Dan Gillis, PGA
4 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
Greetings NEPGA members, I hope this letter finds you well. This is certainly a season unlike any other. If you had said to me in January that we would see a 30 percent increase in rounds with full tee sheets every day, yet many clubs would be struggling to meet budget, I certainly would have given a strange look. But, here we are in the age of single-rider carts, social distancing and restrictions on everything we do at our facilities. I have personally spoken to many of you and let’s face it, we’re all worn out from the challenges we have endured in the midst of COVID. The clubs that are being led by PGA Professionals like yourself are weathering this storm the best. The uncertainty of what the Fall and Spring of 2021 will bring makes it difficult to plan, but taking this situation one day at a time and understanding that we cannot control every detail as we would like to has been of some solace to me. As a type A who does not like to leave anything to chance, that has been difficult, but we have all been forced to think outside the box and do the best we can with the hand we have been dealt. There are certainly many operational challenges that will stick after this pandemic is over. Many clubs who never had tee times in their history have been operating with times to abide by state mandates and have said they will keep them even after this is over. More golfers are walking as we opened with no golf carts and they rediscovered the joy and health benefits of walking the course. It’s safe to say that there will be a new normal for golf when this is all behind us. With the increased activity at our facilities and no breaks in the action, I am genuinely concerned for the health and well-being of our members. It is easy
“
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Health is our own
ultimate wealth and it should be a for each of us.
priority
to get stuck in the sun-up to sun-down grind with no time for a break to help your body and your mind recharge, but it is absolutely necessary that we make time to do so. Finding a way to unwind and relax is critical to finish the season as strong as possible. With the inability to go out to do normal things like having dinner or going to sporting events, my wife and I have been going on rides every night before dinner with our dog. It is a chance to just drive and talk about the day and the dog looks forward to it more than either of us. Sounds corny, I know, but the “rides” have absolutely been critical in maintaining some sense of normalcy and routine in an environment where we can count on very little. I hope you can find some way to do the same for
yourself. Health is our own ultimate wealth and it should be a priority for each of us. I would like to say thank you to our entire NEPGA staff who, like us, have had to run golf tournaments in the middle of a pandemic. There is nothing easy about what they have had to do so we can get away from our own clubs and enjoy competition and camaraderie. I hope everyone is very appreciative of their efforts in making it possible to host these events safely and professionally in spite of all the unusual challenges.
Congratulations to Kirk Hanefeld on winning his third Senior Championship at Blackstone National in July. Kirk’s play was nothing less than impressive, winning the championship by seven strokes. Congratulations are also in order for Shawn Warren on winning his third Section title just last month. Shawn’s impressive play during the NEPGA’s centennial championship was certainly special. Winning the 100th playing of the event is certainly something that will not soon be forgotten. Thank you to Blackstone National, Myopia Hunt and Tedesco for being such gracious Championship hosts. We now look forward to our Assistants Championship being played this month at Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill. I can certainly appreciate the difficulty in allowing assistants to get away from the club during this busy time, but what better way to thank them for all their hard work than to allow them to get away and compete in their championship? I wish you the very best as we wind down a golf season that will be talked about for generations. We will learn from this experience and come out on the other side better PGA professionals. Be well and I hope to see you in person very soon.
nepga.com | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | 5
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FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
“It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.”
them navigate a difficult board and avoid termination are what feed my ADHD brain. I know many of you reading this would agree that you thrive under these similar conditions.
That is what I said to the NEPGA Officers in early April when I knew we would be digging in for the long haul with the coronavirus and our new normal. It certainly was a challenge having a second-grader and an eighth-grader attempting impromptu distance learnMike Higgins ing and trying to keep up Executive Director with the Section, but my New England PGA conversations with NEPGA Professionals regarding the frustrations of being stuck at home, scrambling to get groceries, and trying to track down toilet paper certainly helped me get through it. To be honest, I feel like I thrive in faced-paced, highstressed situations. The chaos of pulling 132 people off a golf course during a pop-up thunder storm, cramming to put together an annual meeting while losing our live stream capabilities only seconds before we are supposed to go live, or even working late into the night with a NEPGA Professional to help
This spring we found ourselves in a pandemic, I was on fire, cranking out webinars, meeting with our regional allied golf associations, working with the PGA of America trying to help everyone around me make sense of the frightening circumstances of a pandemic and the anxiety surrounding the virus. Our PGA Professionals were doing the same at their facilities, getting Covidready and safe for when golfers were allowed back on property. I knew this wouldn’t last forever and thought golf was positioned for a quick return to normalcy, but I didn’t appreciate how passionate golfers were and how prolonged this surge of golfers would be.
6 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
In those early months, I, along with most PGA Professionals, were unknowingly using “surge capacity” to operate. This term was new to me, but it makes complete sense. Surge capacity is “a collection of adaptive systems — mental and physical — that humans draw on for short-term survival in stressful situations, such as natural disasters.” After a while I began to realize that natural disasters occur over a short period of time, but a pandemic is different. With a hurricane or tornado, you can look down
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your first fairway and see the damage. This pandemic is invisible, ongoing and full of uncertainty. So, this is when I started getting concerned for the health and well being of our PGA Professionals. How long could everyone sustain this pace, and what would happen when their surge capacity ran out? Would this impact our industry, and what would be the result? We are all sick and tired of hearing the term “adjusting to the new normal” because realistically it is a lot easier said than done. How can clubs assume that PGA Professionals can easily adjust to this “new normal” with so much uncertainty? I know for a fact that the members of many clubs are underestimating how severe the adversity is that our PGA Professionals may be experiencing. Full tee sheets day after day, strict regulations, 12-hour days, and a customer base that is fed up and wants to do what they want, when they want and don’t want to hear the word “no.” Smoke and mirrors can only be used for so long before the impact of this season will be exposed. I want our PGA Professionals to know that I understand what you are experiencing. I have unfortunately communicated with three (who I consider young) NEPGA Members that have had enough. This year has made them realize that “they can’t do this anymore.” Their surge capacity has expired, and their health and wellbeing are most important and a change is needed. It disappoints me to hear this, because I consider these PGA Professionals my friends, and I understand where they are coming from so I fully support their decisions. While I know there isn’t a handbook for functioning in the golf industry during a
pandemic, I believe there are a few things we can all do to get through the remainder of the season and cross that finish line. It is important to recognize that it is normal during this pandemic to feel stressed, to get exhausted and to feel ups and downs that come with our industry. It is perfectly normal to feel like you are depleted or like you may burn out, but how you handle those feelings is very important. I am no therapist or industry expert, but I see the stress our PGA Professionals are under, and I know there is no immediate end in sight. So here are a few of my thoughts: ACCEPT THAT LIFE IS DIFFERENT RIGHT NOW – this doesn’t mean give up. There are things out of our control and we can only do so much. EXPECT LESS FROM YOURSELF – I give you permission to not expect more from yourself. I know that is hard to do, but you need time to replenish. DOWN TIME – How much down time do you need to recover is a personal question that requires a personal answer. Only you know how much time you need. There is no denying the existence of this pandemic or the coronavirus, and golf is certainly positioned for short-term growth and potentially long-term sustainability, but it is going to require PGA Professionals for that to succeed. Golf needs you! Please make the time to take care of yourself and do what you need to do and allow for that to happen. Three great NEPGA Professionals are opting for early retirement because of the coronavirus and it breaks my heart, but I get it. Please continue to do the great job you are doing at your facility and know that you are not alone. Your bother and sister PGA Professionals are more than likely going through something similar at their own clubs. Know that your Section and Section staff are always here to help if we can ever be of service. I wish you much success for the remainder of the season. Reach out to me or any of your talented NEPGA Staff if we can ever be of assistance. Respectfully, Michael J. Higgins Executive Director nepga.com | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | 7
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TRIPLE CROWN
Shawn Warren wins 100th NEPGA Championship for third Section title After reducing the 100th New England PGA Section Championship to a one-horse race after Round 2, Shawn Warren, PGA, trotted to victory at Myopia Hunt Club, winning the tournament for the second-consecutive year and third time overall. 8 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
“
As everybody can tell with the scores, you’re
one swing away from getting into a lot of trouble.
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“To go out and shoot 4-under yesterday to give myself that big cushion going into today allowed me to relax and not have to grind it out all day,” Warren (Falmouth CC) said after his round.
“To win
Warren shot 76 in the final round, his only overpar round of the tournament, which left him at 1-under par for the 54-hole event. He finished five strokes clear of Scott Johnson, PGA (Oakley CC) who was second after shooting 75 alongside Warren in the final group. Tedesco Country Club co-hosted the tournament with the 185-player field alternating between the two courses over the first and second rounds. Sixty-six players made the 36-hole cut into the final round at Myopia Hunt Club.
a little more conservative and really stick to the game plan,” Warren said. “This place, as everybody can tell with the scores, you’re one swing away from getting into a lot of trouble. I did a good job earlier of steadying the ship and keeping the ball in play and then in the end I just hung on. It was nice not to have to grind it out too much but it’s still a tough battle.”
the 100th
is huge, to win backto-back, I’m so fortunate. But to do it on this piece of property, this club, Myopia Hunt Club, it’s a
Warren, who also won the NEPGA Championship in 2013 and 2019, becomes the seventh three-time Section Champion as the event celebrated its centennial championship. “What a special place. To win the 100th is huge, to win back-to-back, I’m so fortunate, but to do it on this piece of property, this club, Myopia Hunt Club, it’s a dream come true,” Warren added.
Johnson made four birdies in the final round and shot 3-over par 75 to finish alone in second. The low round of the day belonged to Jeff Seavey, PGA (Goose River), a 1-under par 71 that catapulted him from a tie for 14th entering the day into a solo 3rd finish. Three-time NEPGA Champion Rich Berberian, PGA (Vesper CC) shot 73 and tied for fourth with Robert Bruso, PGA (Blackstone National GC) at 6-over par.
dream come true.”
The top 10 finishers earned an exemption into the 2021 PGA Professional National Championship. Liam Friedman, PGA
Warren entered the final round with a six-stroke lead at 5-under par and was in Position 1 the entire day. He carded three-straight birdies on Myopia’s fourth, fifth and sixth holes to get to 8-under par. Despite four bogeys and a triple over the final 12 holes, Warren still managed to finish the tournament as the only player under par. “I was 3-under early on in the round and that allowed me to play nepga.com | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | 9
FULLswing (Nashawtuc CC), David Bennett, PGA (CC of Vermont), Jeff Martin, PGA (Wollaston GC), John Hickson, PGA (Chequessett Y&CC), Greg Yeomans, PGA (Bay Club at Mattapoisett) and Matt Baran joined Warren, Johnson, Seavey and Bruso earning those exemptions. Berberian and Seul-Ki Hawley, PGA (Winchester CC) are already exempt into the field.
Thank you to the Myopia Hunt caddies who served as standard bearers during the final round.
With the cancellation of the 2020 PGA Professional Championship, the NEPGA reserved one exemption for the lowest finisher in the Section Championship who qualified for the 2020 event and did not earn an exemption this week. That spot went to Kirk Hanefeld who finished tied for 10th. The Section’s five PNC alternates, in order, are Danny Kish, PGA (Atkinson Resort), Todd Rollins, PGA (Laconia), Steven Hausmann, PGA (Amherst CC), Boomer Erick, PGA (Boston GC), and David Jankowski, PGA (Burlington CC). The NEPGA Section Championship would not have been possible without the support of presenting partners Omega and Club Car, and Supporting Partners Titleist, Footjoy, TaylorMade, Nike, Mohegan Sun, Avidia Bank and the PGA TOUR.
Bob Bruso had a special gallery during the final round. His wife Stephanie walked all 18 holes with the group on what turned out to be the day before giving birth the couple’s son Harrison.
10 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
Thank you to Myopia Hunt Club and PGA Professional Michael Bemis for hosting the centennial championship after staging the inaugural championship back in 1921. Thank you Tedesco Country Club and head golf professional Jake Leech, PGA, and General Manager Mike McGillicuddy, PGA, for serving as the gracious hosts for the tournament.
NOW TEEING OFF
To commemorate the 100th New England PGA Section Championship, the tournament began with ceremonial opening tee shots at host sites Myopia Hunt Club and Tedesco Country Club. Two-time NEPGA Champion (1971, ’74) Charles Volpone, PGA, struck the opening drive at Myopia Hunt while Bob Green, PGA, who dedicated 41 years as the head golf professional at Tedesco Country Club, hit the opening shot at his home course.
Congratulations to the 13 NEPGA Professionals who qualified for the 2021 PGA Professional Championship: Matt BARAN, PGA David BENNETT, PGA Rich BERBERIAN, PGA Robert BRUSO, PGA Liam FRIEDMAN, PGA Kirk HANEFELD, PGA Seul-Ki HAWLEY, PGA John HICKSON, PGA Scott JOHNSON, PGA Jeff MARTIN, PGA* Jeff SEAVEY, PGA Shawn WARREN, PGA Greg YEOMANS, PGA *With his T8 finish in 2020, Jeff Martin qualified for the PGA Professional National Championship for the 16th consecutive year!
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Full Throttle
Kirk Hanefeld rolls to third NEPGA Senior Championship
Despite temperatures in the 90s back-to-back days, the hottest thing at Blackstone National Golf Club this week might have been Kirk Hanefeld’s putter. Hanefeld blistered the course with 15 birdies over 36 holes to win his third New England PGA Senior Championship by seven strokes. Hanefeld, the PGA Director of Instruction at Salem Country Club, began the final round with a 4-stroke lead and opened with birdies on his first three holes. By then, playing partners and nearest competitors Steven Hausmann, PGA (Amherst CC) and John Hickson, PGA (Chequessett Yacht & CC), who each started the day four shots back of Hanefeld, were battling for second. “In reality it was early in the round, after the first three or four holes,” Hanefeld said of when he knew he would hoist his third NEPGA Senior Championship, adding “but this is a funny game and there are an awful lot of good players so to let my guard down and coast would have been a big mistake.”
12 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
“
I didn’t ever hit it out of play. I couldn’t have missed more than
a fairway or two all week.”
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Instead of letting his guard down, Hanefeld kept the pedal down, reeling off a final-round 67 to finish 12 under par. Hanefeld’s rounds of 65-67 were the lowest two rounds of the tournament, and while his putter came up clutch, he displayed an all-around air-tight game over 36 holes to lap the field. “I know that driving the ball in the fairway, which is typically a strong suit for me, worked well for me,” he said. “I didn’t ever hit it out of play, I couldn’t have missed more than a fairway or two all week.” Hausmann shot 2-under par 70 on Tuesday to finish second at 5-under for the tournament, while Hickson finished third at 2-under par after shooting 73 on Tuesday. Jeff Seavey, PGA (Goose River Resort) and Scott Johnson, PGA (Oakley CC) tied for fourth at 1-over par for the tournament. Hanefeld holds a lifetime exemption into the Senior PGA Professional Championship as a two-time champion (2008, ’11), and Seavey has an exemption into the 2020 event as well. Five additional Professionals earned exemptions to join Hanefeld and Seavey in the Senior PGA Professional Championship on Tuesday. Hausmann, Hickson, Rick Karbowski, PGA (Auburn Driving Range), Michael Dugas, PGA (JW Parks GC) and Robert Tramonti, PGA (Triggs Memorial GC) each punched their
tickets for the tournament, scheduled for Oct. 15-18 at PGA Golf Club in Port. St. Lucie, Fla. The NEPGA Senior Championship, which is traditionally played in Vermont, was moved to Blackstone National GC due to COVID-19 restrictions in Vermont. Thank you to Blackstone National GC and PGA Professionals Matthew Stephens, Patrick Beahn and Robert Bruso for opening their facility to the Championship. A big thank you also goes to tournament partners RJ Shepherd, Golf Channel, John Deere and the PGA TOUR for supporting the Championship.
CONGRATULATIONS! The following New England PGA Profesionals are exempt into the 2020 Senior PGA Professional Championship:
Michael DUGAS, PGA Kirk HANEFELD, PGA Steven HAUSMANN, PGA John HICKSON, PGA Rick KARBOWSKI, PGA Jeff SEAVEY, PGA Robert TRAMONTI, PGA nepga.com | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | 13
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STROKE PLAY
SERIES Every year when the New England PGA Tournament season begins to wind down, the race for the Avidia Bank Cup heats up. The top 54 players in the final Avidia Bank Cup Standings will qualify for the Avidia Cup Finals.
securing a spot in the Finals. Once the field is set, the points will reset based on the final regular-season standing (CLICK HERE for points reset breakdown), rewarding the most consistent players throughout the course of the season.
With just one Stroke Play Series event and Chapter Championships remaining before the Avdiia Cup Finals, dozens of players are just one strong finish away from leaping safely into the top 54 and
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 Avidia Cup Finals will move from Portland CC to a site and date to be determined in the near future.
THANK YOU TO THE PARTNERS WHO SUPPORT THE NEPGA STROKE PLAY SERIES! 14 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
Avidia Bank Cup Standings 1. Greg Farland 950.25 2. Frank Dully 758.05 3. Liam Friedman 749.98 4. Eric Barlow 689.75 5. John Hickson 643.26 COMPLETE STANDINGS
Use your NEPGA card to earnFULLswing more rewards points by shopping at your favorite retailers.
Bonus Points offer Avidia Bank NEPGA MasterCard Credit Card® holders a way to earn more points per dollar in addition to what is already offered. Bonus Points can be earned just by making purchases at participating retailers. Retailers range from clothing stores, automotive stores, amusement parks, pharmacies, office supply stores, electronic stores, flower delivery carriers and they are the brands you know and trust. Access your ScoreCard/NEPGA rewards account through the Login/Register link at nepga.avidiabank.com to view and activate bonus points offers. Retailer offers change throughout the year.
To learn more about the NEPGA Credit Card visit nepga.avidiabank.com.
nepga.com | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | 15
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Amidst Pandemic, Junior Golf Separates Itself From Other Youth Sports FORE LEFT! When the coronavirus pandemic blindsided the world this spring, the $19.2 billion youth sports industry felt the blow just like everyone else. Travel tournaments terminated, competitions canceled, and team practices postponed. Even as sports and leagues begin to reopen today, many are unrecognizable from their previous existence. Golf, however, has bounced back into the short grass quicker than its proverbial playing partners; soccer, football and lacrosse, to name a few. Given golf’s expansive outdoor playing field and natural spacing, making the sport pandemic-proof, or at least pandemic-approved, required only a few tweaks. Bring your own water, touchless ball removers in holes, and air high-fives quickly became the new normal as golf not only reopened much earlier than other sports, but stormed back much stronger than many people anticipated.
16 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
NEW ENGLAND PGA JUNIOR TOUR About 1,000 juniors tee it up each year on the New England PGA Junior Tour, with competitions ranging from 9-hole tournaments to two-day, 36-hole championships. Families flocked to the tour when tournament season began in mid-June with safety procedures in place, as the tour offers not only a competitive outlet for juniors, but a much-needed social outlet as well. “Playing in the Junior Tour Tournaments is a fun way to meet new friends,” said NEPGA Junior Tour member Kyzar Joshi. “It’s also a great way to continue seeing the friends you made and to play new courses.”
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“With no camps and no activities for kids right now,
this is such a perfect opportunity
to grow it and to get kids and families out there.” Tyler Dearborn planned to split his summer between golf and lacrosse before the pandemic changed his plans. Now, he’s teeing it up on the Junior Tour as much as he possibly can. “As a Club Lacrosse player, Tyler was originally scheduled to play in lacrosse tournaments with his team throughout New England, New York and New Jersey over the summer months,” said Andrew Dearborn, Tyler’s father. “However, the pandemic made that impossible. In 2019 Tyler played in three NEPGA Junior Tour events. We hoped to play in a few more this year, but now with a wide-open calendar he may end up playing 15 events or more this season.” It didn’t take long for the extra reps to pay off for Tyler. On July 8 he won the boys 11-and-under division in the Junior Tour Tournament at Sandy Burr, a moment that he will not soon forget. “The experience I will cherish the most was my first win in a stroke play event,” Tyler said of his triumph
at Sandy Burr. “I started golfing there with the Jr. League a couple years ago and it was so fun to get my first win at a course where I already had so many great memories.” Tyler isn’t the only one taking advantage of the opportunity to compete this summer. The NEPGA Junior Tour has been a hot ticket all year, with at least 90 percent of tournaments selling out in 2020. With the tour offering a fun, competitive environment for kids to get outside, exercise, socialize and access courses all over New England, it’s no surprise that families are seizing the opportunity. “They say if you really want to get to know someone, play a round of golf with them,” Andrew Dearborn added. “The boys and girls he plays with encourage each other when things aren’t going so well, and cheer for each other when something great happens. What could be better for a young person’s confidence than that?” YOUTH ON COURSE How does golf for $5 sound? By offering members golf for $5 or less at over 1,200 participating facilities nationwide, including dozens within the New England PGA Section boundaries, Youth On Course is leveling the playing field when it comes to equal access to golf. The low annual membership fee, $15 in Massachusetts and $25 in New Hampshire, includes a complimentary GHIN Handicap and greens fees of no more than $5 for juniors ages 6-18 at 22 participating Massachusetts courses and eight more in New Hampshire. Youth On Course is a national program administered locally by state golf associations. Mass Golf adopted the program in June of 2019 and has seen exponential growth this season. Last year, 400 Youth On Course members played about 1,000 rounds of golf in Massachusetts. So far in 2020 there are 1,400 members in Massachusetts with over 2,700 rounds played. “It’s taken off, and as we all know, with no camps and no activities for kids right now, this is such a perfect opportunity to grow it and to get kids and families out there,” said Jesse Menacham, Executive Director of Mass Golf. “We hope that at some point nepga.com | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | 17
FULLswing we can double the number of facilities that participate and continue to grow participation.” Participating facilities are reimbursed by the state golf association for the difference between the Youth On Course member rate and their standard junior rates. By attracting more juniors to their facility through Youth On Course, courses can help introduce the game to juniors who might not otherwise have the opportunity, and grow their junior and family programs as a whole at the same time. “We work with each club and staff there to monitor on a monthly basis to make sure they’re getting reimbursed for the round subsidy and to help with marketing and promotion,” Menacham said. “Maybe they have junior program with a couple hundred kids, and this becomes an added value.” Youth On Course was founded in 2006 out of the Northern California Golf Association, and has expanded to 38 regions and subsidized more than 975,000 rounds of golf. In addition to affordable golf, Youth On Course also offers internship, caddie, and scholarship programs that have yielded more than $250,000 in scholarships annually, 200 interns and 735 caddies. “That’s really the key, get them engaged at a young age, follow their path and provide them with different opportunities, whether they want to play competitively, play socially, or play casually, whatever that may look like, but just keep that line of communication and engagement open,” 18 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
Menacham said. “It’s a pretty simple operation and it’s a no-brainer. That’s really what it comes down to for kids and I personally wish I had it when I was a kid.” PGA JUNIOR LEAGUE PGA Junior League, inspired by the Little League World Series model, launched in 2011 with 170 participants and has grown astronomically ever since, with over 60,000 participants in all 50 states in 2019. Junior League helps introduce boys and girls to golf in a relaxed, team environment. Teams are formed at the facility level and compete against other facilities. Head-to-head team competition consists of four, 9-hole, 2-person scramble matches. In a normal year, teams all around the country compete for the same goal, a spot in the National PGA Junior League Championship. Following the summer season, 10-player All-Star teams are formed for postseason play, which begins at the Section level, then moves to Regional, and National stages. 2020, however, is not a normal year. National postseason play is not realistic in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, but that hasn’t slowed PGA Junior League down much at all. Local leagues are still happening all over the country. In a survey of 2019 and 2020 PGA Junior League parents, which collected more than 6,000 responses, 90 percent of parents said they feel comfortable to very comfortable returning to golf and PGA Junior League, and 80 percent said they plan to resume youth sports at the same or higher level than before the pandemic. The top three driving factors for families enrolling their child in PGA Junior League this season were learning and playing golf, the team sports experience, and safety.
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I hope you all enjoyed the PGA Championship! It was inspiring to see a young player, who’s been connected with his PGA Coach from childhood, win it all. Think about how inspirational that is for your PGA Jr. League players! If you were tuned into the broadcast, you likely noticed the many PGA Jr. League ads that ran throughout it. Parents and families began writing into the support portal asking about registering their kids for your teams. If you’re even considering running a Fall PGA Jr. League Season, I highly encourage you to register today! Many youth sports and activities are getting postponed or canceled, and the negative impact on a kid’s mental and physical health is significant. This is where YOU can fill the void by providing fall programming. It’s a great opportunity to get new kids into the game or to capture your current students in a new season. As you can see in the results from our PGA Jr. League parent survey below, 91% of parents are comfortable with their child participating. To register for the Fall Season, you’ll use the same Captain and Coach registration links 20 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
from the Spring/Summer. My recommendation to you would be to write “Fall” before or after your facility name when you are registering to differentiate it from the initial season that you ran. Plus, the Fall Team Kits are amazing this year! If you missed them in my last update, check them out below. If you are not running a “new” Fall Season but rather continuing with your 2020 PGA Jr. League Season, please keep in mind that we can always make room for additional players. We are more than happy to send out team kits to any players that sign up late. If you are looking to add more late sign ups, please make sure that your Captain Registration is up to date. As always, I would love to connect with you to talk about your program, or opportunities for fall. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with anything you may need! All the best, Brian Bain, PGA bbain@pgahq.com
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Patriot Golf Day The 13th Annual Patriot Golf Day will honor the sacrifice of our nation’s military heroes across America this Labor Day Weekend (Fri.-Mon., Sept. 4-7), by raising awareness and scholarship funds for the families of fallen and wounded Veterans. Serving as “the most heroic round of golf you will ever play,” Patriot Golf Day began as a grassroots fundraising initiative over Labor Day Weekend in 2007, with golfers nationwide encouraged to add an extra dollar to their green fees to fund Folds of Honor scholarships. Over the last 13 years, the effort has grown to encompass onsite donation boxes, a variety of fundraising events, tournaments and golf marathons led by PGA Professionals and golfers nationwide. Folds of Honor, a nonprofit that has provided more than 28,000 educational scholarships to spouses and children of fallen and disabled Veterans, and PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) are the hosts of Patriot Golf Day. Beginning this year, the two organizations have joined together to expand and grow annual fundraising efforts for both Folds of Honor and PGA HOPE to better serve the needs of Veterans and 22 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
their families through the game of golf. PGA HOPE is the flagship military program of the PGA of America’s 501(c)(3) foundation, PGA Foundation, Inc. d/b/a PGA REACH. “The academic scholarships provided by Folds of Honor through participation in Patriot Golf Day significantly impacts our military families,” said Lt. Col. Dan Rooney, founder and CEO of Folds of Honor. “Although it’s been a difficult year, the needs of our scholars have not changed, and Patriot Golf Day participants understand that. We’re grateful for the ongoing support and look forward to a successful Labor Day Weekend.” The Patriot Golf Day campaign is backed by Jack Nicklaus, who annually serves as honorary chair of the event and is also a strong supporter of PGA HOPE. Mr. Nicklaus will continue to stay involved in both causes through this new partnership. “I never had the privilege to serve our great nation, but I am passionate and committed to any initiative that allows us to recognize, assist and support the men and women of our military, who have sacrificed so much for our freedom,” said Nicklaus, who is
the first sportsman and fourth person in history to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Congressional Gold Medal and Lincoln Medal. “When we can use the game of golf as the vehicle to give back, it becomes even more meaningful to me. That’s why I feel blessed and honored to partner with great organizations like Folds of Honor and PGA REACH.” PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program includes a developmental six-to-eight-week curriculum, taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. In 2019, PGA HOPE programming impacted 2,500 Veterans nationwide. “We couldn’t be more proud of the work that PGA Professionals have done through PGA HOPE, utilizing the game of golf as a form of therapy and rehabilitation for Veterans,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “By partnering with Folds of Honor on Patriot Golf Day, we can expand our footprint within the families of those we serve through golf. This partnership is a natural extension of our long-standing mission to support our nation’s heroes.”
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The PGA National Club Championship represents a one-of-a-kind event that brings together Amateur Club Champions from golf courses coast to coast. This event is a celebration of the best amateur players and their PGA Professionals who help them achieve greatness at their local club. Winners of 2020 club championships will receive an invitation to the 2021 PGA National Club Championship at Pinehurst Resort in March. The championship will have four divisions (Men’s, Women’s, Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s). Each division will play 54 holes of competition on courses No. 2, No. 6, and No. 8. CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR CLUB CHAMPIONS. All professionals who submit their 2020 champions by October 1, 2020 will receive (1) MSR credit towards service to National.
2020 Goslings International Invitational Canceled Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 Goslings International Invitational has been canceled. The Goslings Family looks forward to welcoming everyone back to Bermuda for the 2021 International Invitational, November 16-19, 2021.
nepga.com | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | 23
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New England PGA Junior Tour Scholarship applications are now open! The New England PGA Junior Tour will award four (4) $1,000 scholarships to Junior Tour members. To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:
#RulesToThe Max Max Doctoroff, PGA Tournament Director New England PGA
Rory’s Rough Ruling
Why Rory McIlroy placed his ball deep in the rough during the PGA Championship
1) Be a 2020 high school graduate 2) Attend an accredited 2 or 4 year college or university in the fall of 2020; and 3) Be a NEPGA Junior Tour member for three (3) or more years (including 2020) Students who meet the eligibility criteria should start their application now using the link below. Applications are due Sept. 30, 2020.
APPLY NOW
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Hello all, I hope you enjoyed watching the PGA Championship a few weeks ago, with the added excitement of two NEPGA Professionals in the field to root for. While the tournament was full of great shots and had an exciting finish, there was one particularly interesting Rules of Golf scenario that played out during the event. While the procedures surrounding this ruling can be instructive to all of us as we play our own rounds of golf, the most notable thing about it was the sportsmanship shown by Rory McIlroy when he was placed in an uncertain situation. During the second round of the Championship, Rory hit a wayward tee shot into the rough on the third hole. After the ball came to rest, an on-course reporter accidentally stepped on his ball. While it may be intuitive that when a ball at rest is moved by an outside influence it must be replaced on its original spot, what is a player to do when the exact original spot is not known (as in this case, Rory was not close enough to tell, and the reporter obviously didn’t see the ball when they
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stepped on it)? Rule 9.6 tells us that the player must estimate the original spot of the ball, and replace it there. Estimating the original spot of the ball sounds simple enough, but there’s more to it than just the longitude and latitude of the ball’s original location. For more details, let’s refer to Rule 14.2: “If the ball was at rest on, under, or against any immovable obstruction, integral object, boundary object, or growing or attached natural object: the ‘spot’ of the ball includes its vertical location relative to the ground. This means that the ball must be replaced on its original spot on, under, or against such object.” This detail (especially regarding growing or attached natural objects (the grass in the rough) turned out to be important in the McIlroy ruling. When Rory first replaced his ball on the estimated spot, he ended up with a very good lie. Too good of a lie, in his estimation. So he informed the official that due to the general condition of the rough at that golf course, it was unlikely that his ball would have originally been sitting up as nicely as his replaced ball was. With his conscience as his guide, Rory re-replaced his ball, further down in the grass, into a sketchy lie at best (under and against the growing natural objects, just like the Rule told us). McIlroy went on to bogey the hole from his worse, but honest, lie. Perhaps the most important thing to take away from this scenario is that many of the Rules of Golf will rely on the player’s “reasonable judgement” in order to determine a location from which to proceed
under the Rules. This was one example of a player using his reasonable judgement to estimate the original position of his ball in the rough, but it also comes into play when determining where a ball crossed the edge of a penalty area, estimating or measuring when taking relief, and in several other situations. While this freedom to use your reasonable judgement does give you a fair amount of latitude as a player, it also relies on your integrity to do the right thing. Estimating the spot of a ball doesn’t mean placing it where you’d like it to be, it means doing what you know is right, even if it costs you a stroke or two. Rory McIlroy did just that, and while he couldn’t get out of the hole with a par, I suspect he gained a few fans.
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Your View From The Fairway
Joan Stuart NEPGA Director of Accounting & Finance
A FRIENDLY REMINDER ABOUT PGA DUES PROCEDURES In accordance with tax rules applicable to 501(c) 6 not-for-profit organizations, the PGA of America must collect annual dues. Please note that we will do so under revamped procedures that take into account the significant challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic for our Members and Sections. PGA Professionals have two payment options: 1. Pay full dues amount any time through October 31, 2020, without penalty or late fee (or) 2. Pay in two installments: o Pay Section amount only any time through Oct. 31 without penalty or late fee.
with our 41 sections to find the best path forward regarding 2020 dues payments,” said PGA President Suzy Whaley.
o Pay National, Life, Liability and MAP anytime through Oct. 31 without penalty or late fee.
“While we wish it was possible to waive dues for all members, as a 501(c) 6 not-for-profit organization, IRS regulations do not allow us to take such an action. Please note your PGA Board of Directors has approved delaying the $100 national dues payment until October 31st and is also moving up the annual Section funding payments from late June to April 1st to immediately help the business continuity of the 41 Sections. We understand the incredible pain that is being felt in the field. As you likely know, we are constrained as an Association in many ways by the rules of being a non-profit entity but pledge to continue to explore every avenue possible towards helping our PGA Professionals and Sections through these unprecedented times.”
Provided all dues components are paid by October 31, 2020, those unable to pay the full dues amount by October 31, 2020, would be moved to nonactive status, and can still pay the full dues by June 30, 2021, to “re-establish” Membership (per the Bylaws), and the PGA of America would waive the late and reestablish fee. If not able to re-establish by June 30, 2021, individuals would need to reinstate their Membership. If the one-time reinstatement option has been previously used, approval has already been granted for a second reinstatement for those affected by COVID-19. “During these extraordinarily challenging times for so many PGA Professionals, we have worked closely 26 | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | nepga.com
If you have any questions or concerns, please call the PGA Membership Department directly at 800.474.2776.
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INSURANCE & FINANCIAL BENEFIT INFORMATION You can gain access to top-rated insurance plans, offered through Mercer Health & Benefits Administration, to help protect the financial future of your family. Specifically designed for PGA Members, these Insurance Options are tailor-made to meet your needs and include:
• Medical & Dental • Auto & Home • Group Term Life • Disability Income • Long-Term Care
Life Insurance Life Insurance is offered through the PGA of America. Its annual premium is included as a separate line item on your dues statement.
UPDATE REGARDING THE 2020 NEPGA AWARDS DINNER Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and with an abundance of caution, the New England PGA is going to reschedule the 2020 Awards Dinner to the spring of 2021. The Awards Dinner was scheduled for Saturday, November 14th at the Renaissance Golf Club in Haverhill, MA. This event is the highlight of each year where our Award Recipients are honored by their peers and family for their amazing accomplishments. Look for information regarding the new date as soon as we receive confirmation from the venue.
Liability Insurance The Liability policy extends insurance coverage to PGA Members and Associates in good standing. Coverage is applicable on an individual basis only. Generally, this policy will pay damages that you become legally obligated to pay for bodily injury or property damage, while you are playing, practicing, officiating, teaching or coaching the game of golf and incidental club repair. Business entities are not covered through this program. For more information regarding your insurance and financial benefits including the Credit Union, Personal Insurance Options, PGA Life Insurance and Liability Insurance, PLEASE CLICK HERE. nepga.com | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | 27
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MY PGA JOURNEY The PGA of America created an app for recruits to explore a career in golf! They’ll virtually meet nine PGA Members and get mentored in the career tracks of Teaching and Coaching, Executive Management and Golf Operations. Students and parents will also learn about educational career pathways to PGA Membership through the PGA Golf Management University programs and the PGM Associate program, linked directly to the app. It’s free! Recruits, parents and PGA Members REGISTER HERE TO GET STARTED. Contact the My PGA Journey support team through the above link or through their contact information below to get additional information about the app and program, as well as digital marketing assets for your outreach. Help us grow the game of golf and recruit the next generation of talent to our industry.
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What is “My PGA Journey”? It is an interactive experience where leading PGA Mentors share their insights, passion and career guidance for a successful career in the golf industry. The program is free and open to all...students, players, parents, coaches...
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MEMBERSHIP UPDATES NEWLY ELECTED PGA MEMBERS Jake F. Ducharme, PGA The Country Club
A-8
Stephen R. Galanis, PGA Weston Golf Club
A-8
Brian M. Halloran, PGA Charles River Country Club
A-8
Cody M. Sweeney, PGA Thorny Lea Golf Club
A-8
Griffin T. Cosgrove, PGA Vineyard Golf Club
A-8
Daniel J. Kish, PGA A-8 Atkinson Resort & Country Club Andie N. Savel, PGA Club Champion - Boston
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Peter T. Weatherby, PGA Ekwanok Country Club
A-8
EMPLOYMENT CHANGES James J. Durfee, PGA Brunswick Golf Club
WELCOME!
A-6
Brian P. Kelley, PGA The Quechee Club
A-13
Michael A. Packard, PGA New England Section
A-11
Mark W.R. Hall, PGA Hermon Meadow Golf Club
A-6
Terrence P. Crimmins, PGA Nehoiden Golf Club
A-6
Drew P. Anderson, PGA North Kingstown Golf Course
A-6
Lucy Ann Hayes, daughter of Brian Hayes, PGA, born June 17!
Harrison Bruso, son of Stephanie and Bob Bruso, PGA, born August 20.
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CHAPTER ROUND UP
NEWS AND NOTES FROM AROUND THE SECTION MAINE submitted by Don Doyon Since our last news magazine, the Maine Chapter schedule has gotten into full swing. After cancelling all May Pro-Ams, we had our first Pro-Am of 2020 at Martindale CC on June 22. A field of 16 teams got the season underway. The home club team of Henry Fall, Will Kannegieser, Craig Chapman & Brian Bilodeau posted a 17-under 125 in the 2BB of 4 (1G&1N) format to take first place. Brad Rollinson, newly transferred to the Maine Chapter / New England Section from the North Florida Section, was low Professional with a -1 (70). Next on the schedule would have been a ProAm at Dutch Elm but it seemed that this event was doomed from the start. Having been rescheduled from an earlier June date, this time Mother Nature had her way and the event was rained out. On July 6, 29 teams descended on The Woodlands Club in Falmouth where Rollinson was again a factor taking the team title with amateurs Blaise MacDonald, Eddie Dickhaut and Eric Dupere, carding a 13-under 131. Low Professional was Shawn Warren with a 71. Sugarloaf week was next with a Pro-Am on Tuesday, July 21, followed by the State of Maine Championship on
July 22-23. Ben Morey was the low Professional for the Pro-Am with an even-par 72. There were 23 teams in the Pro-Am and when the dust settled, we had a tie between Morey’s team and Henry Fall’s team, both posting a 9-under 135. Our week at “The Loaf” continued with the Championship proper, where 62 players pegged it up and Jeff Seavey took the championship with a 5-shot win over Warren. Other notable flight winners were: Senior Pro – Jim Fairbanks; Low Amateur – Garrett Olson; Junior Amateur – Bennet Berg; and a tie for Senior Amateur between Kyle Ladd and Gary Manoogian. Our Pro-Junior Championship followed on July 27. Nine teams participated in the event contested in 90+ degree heat at Val Halla GC. The team of Brian Bickford, Lindsay Cote, Owen Moore and Ethan Curtis prevailed by 3 shots, at 9-under (135) in the 2 BB of 4 Gross format. There was a tie for low Professional with Jeremy Goulet (Dutch Elm GC) and Casey Cox (The Woodlands Club) both carding a 2-under 70. Off to Sunday River GC, where 17 teams battled it out with the team of Jerry Roman, Mike Rankin, Eli Spaulding and Caleb Manuel posting a 13-under (131) to take the team title. Mike Dugas (JW Parks GC) was low Professional with a 71. Of note, was the low round of the day from amateur Caleb Manuel who shot an impressive 64. Thanks to our sponsor Definitive Brewing who provided the refreshments after the round.
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VERMONT submitted by Jim LeClair, PGA
VERMONT NATIONAL PRO 3-AM The Country Club of Vermont Pro-Am was contested on August 3. David Jankowski responded to his opening hole double bogey six by rattling off 7 birdies over his final 17 holes to finish in a tie for first place (-2 70) with the CC of Vermont host professional David Bennett. David Bennett was sitting at four under par on the 18th tee before finishing with a disastrous double bogey of his own. Kevin Bennison used an eagle on the par five 15th hole to propel himself into third place finishing with at two over 74. Cameron White and Reece Delaire both tied for fourth finishing with scores of 76. The three teams from Burlington CC took first, second, and third in the team event (1 gross + 1 net). Dave Jankowski ’s team won the event posting an incredible 14 under 130. Kevin Bennison’s team came in second posting an impressive 12 under 132 and Brennan Earls team finished up the Burlington CC domination posting a nine under 135.
On the Junior front, the season ended at Waterville CC on August 10th. All in all, the season was a great success. In 2019 we averaged 49.8 juniors per event. In 2020, that went up to 69.9, an increase of 40%. We again awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze medals and had many other prizes thanks to a few generous sales reps and other donors. Player of the year honors were as follows: Boys 16-18 age division – Nick McGonagle Boys 14-15 age division – Lucas Flaherty Boys 12-13 age division – Michael Madden Boys 11 & Under age division – Drew Mertzel Girls 14-18 age division – Ruby Haylock Girls 13 & Under age division – McKenna Castle
VERMONT NATIONAL PRO 3-AM When the rain and thunder finally cleared the Ekwanok CC team led by Peter Weatherby finished the 36 hole shootout (one Best Ball of four) at 20 under par (124) to capture the 2020 Vermont PGA Pro 3-Am Championship. Ekwanok used a very impressive 11 under par (61) on their second 18 holes to hold off the CC of Vermont team led by David Bennett, whose team finished in second place at 17 under (127). The Quechee Club team led by Curt Goldsberry rounded out the top three finishing with a solid showing of 12 under par (132). (Pictured above: Peter Weatherby putting for eagle on the par 5 16th) nepga.com | SEPTEMBER, 2020 | 31
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MASSACHUSETTS submitted by Jacy Settles
The Massachusetts Chapter had a strong showing at the NEPGA Section Championship as over 35 Chapter Professionals made the cut! We hope to see the great play continue at the Massachusetts Chapter Championship, which is scheduled for Thursday, September 17th at Ipswich CC. Mass Chapter Professionals, don’t forget to register as the deadline is Friday, September 11 at 12 PM. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
NEW HAMPSHIRE submitted by Ken Hamel, PGA The NHC Championship is in the books. The course was in good shape and with virtually no wind the course still presented a challenge for the field of 39 NHC/PGA Professionals. Day one the saw some good play and low scores. Matt Arvanitis of SNHU led the way in round one with a 3-under par 68. He opened with a birdie on hole 1 and continued to make four more on the day, with only two bogeys. Jason Sedan of Lake Winnipesaukee GC finished the first round with a 2-under par 69. His round consisted of five birdies and three bogeys to end the day one behind. Jay Pollini of Ridgewood GC stood in 3rd place with a 1-under par 70, two shots behind.
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As always after the day one round NCCC hosted a shootout for the top 10 scores from Sunday’s Annual Pro/ Member tournament. One player gets eliminated each hole until one is left. This is a popular event for both the players and the members of NCCC. After some stellar play, the last two players standing were Bill Andrews and Matt Arvanitis. They both made 5 on the 9th hole bringing the challenge of teeing off from #1 green tee to the 9th green. A shot down the hill with the pin on the top level made this shot difficult to stop the ball close to the pin. Bill Andrews teed off first and hit a great shot stopping the ball 6 feet from the pin. This brought a tough challenge to Matt. Matt hit another outstanding shot stopping the ball 10 feet away. With that, Bill Andrews was crowned the shoot-out champion. Now it was time for the players to head to their rooms and get some rest for day two competition. Leader Matt Arvanitis started the front nine slowly with three pars and a bogey in the first 4 holes. However, he completed his front nine with 3 birdies to make the turn at 2-under par for round 2, 5-under par total. Jason Sedan shot 1-under par 34 on the front to make the turn at 3-under, two strokes behind and still withing striking distance. Danny Kish made the turn at 2-under par and five strokes behind. Cory Mansfield was also making a charge shooting a 3-under par on the front and also five strokes behind. Arvanitis continued his strong play on the back, shooting 1-under for his second-straight 3-under par 68. Cory Mansfield got the lead down to four at one point but was unable to catch the 6-under par total. We would like to thank the sponsors who sponsored this event. The PGA Tour, Avidia Bank, and NE Golf Cars all graciously donated to make this event the NHC premier event. Congratulations to all the players that participated in this event. NCCC puts on a great tournament and is a gracious host. The NHC thanks Kevin & Michelle Walker and their entire staff for the work they do. We also thank the members for having us again. This is the 40th consecutive hear playing this event at North Conway CC. Each year as we leave we can’t thank the staff and members enough for giving up their course for 2 days and for the way we are treated by them. With that said, we can’t wait to be back next year.
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CAPE COD & RHODE ISLAND submitted by Mickey Herron, PGA
Teams from The Bay Club gather around the scoreboard at Squirrel Run. 50 kids and 11 pros enjoyed another Pro-Junior coordinated by PGA head pro David Moore and sponsors David Moynihan and Dave Woods
ASSISTANTS’ ASSOCIATION submitted by Ed Doherty, PGA What a summer its been so far as golf courses across New England are busier than ever! With the amount of play across the area the Assistants Association this year has had an extremely limited schedule. However the Match Play Championship is in full swing, I’d like to congratulate Kyle Puzzo, Timothy Boush, Ben Raff, Greg Kelly, Brian Hartigan, Patrick Sharron, Danny Kish and Mitch Otten for all making it to the elite eight, good luck and keep up the great playing! The match play bracket can be FOUND HERE.
The Bay Cub assistant John Paesani celebrates his holein-one on the 15th hole with his happy team
NEPGA Assistants Association Board President, Edward Doherty, PGA: Black Rock Country Club Vice President, Matt Alwin, PGA: Dedham Country & Polo Club Secretary, Patrick Bigelow Past President, Jo-Anna Krupa, PGA: Belmont County Club Tournament Chair, Ryan Train, PGA: Tedesco Country Club Director at Large, Sean Fellows, PGA: Abenaqui Country Club
SENIORS’ ASSOCIATION
If you would like to get involved with the Assistants Association or have ideas on how we can make the association better for next season please email: ed@blackrockcc.com The final Seniors’ Association Pro-Ams is coming up on Sept. 30 at Tatnuck CC. Registration for the Pro 3-AM closes Sept. 26. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
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