North Shore Golf Spring 2021

NORTH SHORE 

GOLFSPRING 2021 

PLAYING 

IT SAFE 

THE TOP 20+ 

OF 2020 

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2 >>> SPRING 2021 

A publication of Essex Media Group 

The 

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 Financial Officer 

William J. Kraft 

Chief Operating Officer 

James N. Wilson 

Community Relations Director 

Carolina Trujillo 

Editor 

Bill Brotherton 

Associate Editor 

Anne Marie Tobin 

Design and Layout 

Sean Casey 

Contributing Writers 

Mike Alongi 

Bob Green 

Steve Krause 

Gary Larrabee 

Photographer 

Spenser Hasak 

Advertising Sales 

Ernie Carpenter 

Ralph Mitchell 

Eric Rondeau 

Patricia Whalen 

Advertising Design 

Trevor Andreozzi 

Sean Casey 

Edwin Peralta Jr. 

ESSEX MEDIA GROUP 

110 Munroe St., 

Lynn, MA 01901 

781-593-7700 ext.1234 

Subscriptions: 

781-593-7700 ext. 1253 

01907themagazine.com 

04 Must-haves 

08 Top 20+ of 2020 

10 Picture perfect 

11 Middleton update 

12 The golf boom 

14 Kelley Greens 

15 Rowley's new team 

16 Shooting his age 

17 Sagamore shift 

EDITOR'S LETTER 

INSIDE 

18 Pro Tip 

20 Course record 

21 Golf calendar 

22 Shades of Green 

24 Course directory 

26 Notebook 

28 Northern Getaway 

32 Flynn still Golden 

BILL BROTHERTON 

Great Golf Boom of 2021? 

What a year! 2020 started out so well … and then in mid-March the coronavirus pandemic arrived 

like a belligerent, foul-mouthed houseguest who refused to leave. 

Health experts were emphatic: “Wear a mask, wash your hands till they’re raw and stay at least six feet 

apart. And if you have a Hazmat suit hanging around, wear that too.” 

The state shut down businesses and schools and restaurants and sports arenas and entertainment 

venues. And golf courses and driving ranges! Most of us ditched the office to work remotely from home. 

A trip to the supermarket instilled fear in all of us. 

Finally, on May 7, during Phase 2 of the state’s reopening plan, golf courses were allowed to reopen 

under strict guidelines. 

Slowly, gradually, rules were relaxed. Restaurants offered outdoor dining. COVID-19, that houseguest, 

may still be around, but there’s hope thanks to companies like Moderna and Pfizer offering the promise 

of a return to a semi-normal life. 

But what an ordeal. We’ve spent many, many hours on our computers, praying it would lead us to the 

promised land. We’ve set the alarm for 5 a.m., rushed to our laptops and turned our attention to specific 

websites that we prayed would link us to some joy. 

But navigating the websites was annoyingly frustrating. They behaved badly. We not-so-patiently hit 

the refresh button hoping we could finally schedule a time. No such luck, time and again. “There are no 

openings” the websites taunted. Until, finally, suddenly success! We were able to BOOK A TEE TIME! 

Hallelujah. 

Wait! You thought I was talking about the difficulty of booking an appointment to get the 

COVID-19 vaccine? 

Uh-uh. Did you try to land a tee time at a public golf course last summer? You don’t know what stress 

is until your buddies tasked you with reserving a mid-morning tee time on a Saturday. 

Something unexpected happened last year when courses were finally allowed to reopen. Everybody 

wanted to play golf. As Mike Alongi, the sports editor of the Daily Item in Lynn, reports in this issue, 

the United States saw the biggest increase in rounds of golf played in nearly 25 years. All told some 502 

million rounds of golf were played in the U.S. And local clubs anticipate The Great Golf Boom of 2020 to 

continue in 2021, judging from early season play. 

Anne Marie Tobin, North Shore Golf ’s associate editor, spent time at area golf retailers getting the 

scoop on products and equipment that are hot sellers and must-haves. She also writes about changes and 

shifts at Sagamore Spring GC, one of the North Shore’s busiest public courses, and brings us up to date 

on what’s up with the project at the site of the much missed Middleton GC, which closed in 2019. 

Also in this issue, you will meet Jim McHale, an 84-year-old who routinely breaks his age at Thomson 

Country Club. Kelley Greens in Nahant has a new management team: Give a warm welcome to Brett, 

Rhiannon and their adorable English Bulldog puppy Archie. And Toby Ahern, a respected longtime 

North Shore pro, is bringing his expertise and a new grounds superintendent to Rowley Country Club. 

Let’s not forget Jake Rand, who broke a course record at Winthrop Golf Club that was set 62 years 

ago. 

Hope to see you on the course this season … if we can land a tee time, that is. 

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

shop at Essex County Club, 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. 

COVER 

There’s no need to wear 

protective clothing from 

head to toe to stay safe. 

… though masks are 

optional once you’re on 

the course. 

PHOTO BY 

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4 >>> SUMMER 2020 

North Shore Golf’s guide to what’s hot in 2021 

Bass Rocks Golf Club 

Gloucester, MA 

Everything you need in a private golf and tennis membership. 

www.bassrocksgolfclub.org 

For more information please call (978) 283-1866 ext.7 

BY ANNE MARIE TOBIN 

As golfers head into a second season of 

COVID-19, all signs indicate this may be 

another record-breaking season for the 

golf industry. Sales at many golf retailers 

are flourishing as players are flocking to 

stores to stock up for the new season. 

At the PGA Tour Superstore in 

Peabody, General Manager Greg Cosgrove 

said many items are flying off the shelves. 

"It's been crazy, we are out of so many 

items so early in the season," he said. 

One of the highest demands has been 

for travel covers. 

"From what we see, people are traveling 

or planning to travel again," Cosgrove 

said. "We've also sold out of women's 

packaged beginner sets, so the new-golfer 

trend that started last year seems to be 

continuing. We are seeing them and elite, 

skilled groups continuing to purchase, so 

from everything we see as a retailer, it is 

shaping up to be another record year." 

1. FootJoy PRO | SL shoe – $199 

FootJoy is still the biggest seller at the 

Superstore. Its latest style - the PRO | 

SL comes in several models, all of which 

boast 30 percent more traction points 

in the outer sole. The design features 

FootJoy's reimagined PowerHarness that 

wraps the foot in comfort, to better release 

more power into the swing. Available with 

or without laces. 

2. PGA Tour Glove – $9.99 

The store's own PGA brand is sold in a 

2-pack. 

3. Vokey Design SM 8 wedge – $179 

The Vokey Design SM 8 features a 

pushed-forward center of gravity to 

produce more consistent ball-striking and 

improved accuracy and ball flight. 

4. Mizuno Blue Ion putter – $299 

Mizuno M Craft Type 2 Blue Ion putter 

has a deep-milled face for a softer feel and 

roll. It comes with a custom-fit weight kit 

that includes a pair of three-, eight- and 

13-gram weights to customize feel and 

performance. 

5. TaylorMade Hi-Toe RAW 

wedge – $179 

The Hi-Toe RAW with its innovative ZTP 

RAW Groove Design delivers more spin, 

especially in wet conditions. The clubface 

has narrower and deeper grooves. 

6. Titleist T series irons – $1,325- 

$1,599 

The Titleist T100, T200, T300 and T400 

series offer options for players ranging 

from beginner to scratch.

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7. PING G425 hybrid – $269 

Designed for all golfers, the new PING 

G425 has been a customer favorite when 

it comes to hybrids. Its new face design 

(Facewrap), promises to deliver more 

distance and higher launch. The club also 

sports a new three-circle system on its 

crown, which PING says serves as a visual 

cue to improve alignment. The club is 

available in lofts from 17 to 34 degrees. 

8. Titleist TSi2 driver – $549-$749 

The new Titleist TSi2 driver pushes the 

aerospace boundaries with a sleek design 

touted as the longest and straightest 

Titleist driver. The secret begins with the 

clubface, which is made with ATI 425 

aerospace titanium, which is stronger and 

more durable compared to traditional 

titanium alloys. 

9. Callaway Soft X ball – $48/dozen 

The Callaway Chrome Soft X is a top 

seller. 

10. Ecco BIOM Hybrid shoe– $199 

For women, the BIOM Hybrid is casual 

in style and billed as the industry's first 

hybrid performance shoes in that the 

spikeless soles allow the shoe to be worn 

stylishly on and off the golf course. 

11.Titleist and TaylorMade balls – 

$48/dozen 

Titleist Pro-V1 and Pro-V1x are top sellers. 

The TaylorMade pix ball has been big, 

so big they’ve sold out. "They have the 

special alignments on it and come in 

orange gray, the Rickie Fowler colors." 

said Cosgrove.

NORTH SHORE GOLF


Top 20+ of 2020 

The pandemic summer of 2020 

was filled with challenges and bad 

news. But golfers at North Shore 

clubs, both public and private, 

overcame numerous obstacles to 

perform at their best. With an assist 

from local PGA professionals and 

general managers, we were able to 

compile this list of North Shore Golf 

magazine’s Top 20+ of 2020. 

Without further ado, we announce 

the top male golfer and top female 

golfer at these North Shore courses, 

as recommended by their pro and/or 

club manager. 

Golf Course Men's Player Women's Player 

Bass Rocks Golf Club Jeff Gouzie Jenny Ceppi 

Beverly Golf & Tennis Larry Jacobs Lauren O'Brien 

Bradford Country Club Nick Maccario Krystal Knight 

Cape Ann Golf Club Kevin Bilow Bailey Kaplan 

Essex County Club Chris Comenos Lauren Herter 

Far Corner Golf Club Ki Cwon N/A 

Ferncroft Country Club Nick Leary Lisa Anderson 

Gannon Golf Club Ben Friedman Ann Dawson 

Hillview Golf Course Mike Heck Jinny Slagle 

Indian Ridge Country Club Colin Brennan Isabel Brozena 

Kelley Greens Brendan Locke N/A 

Kernwood Country Club Christian Emmerich Karen Solomon 

Meadow Brook Golf Club Charlie Johnson Kate Coppins 

Myopia Hunt Club Sam Cregg Katie Barrand 

Sagamore Spring Golf Club Phil Miceli Donna Deliso 

Salem Country Club Kevin Daly Diane Carter 

Tedesco Country Club Brad Tufts Kym Pappathanasi 

Thomson Country Club Chris McNeil Janice Lamb 

Wenham Country Club Pat Scanlon Martha Field 

Winthrop Golf Club Jake Rand Kathy Baron 

Jenny Ceppi won her 13th Bass 

Rocks club championship since 2003. 

First-time men’s champ Jeff Gouzie 

considers his most memorable round to 

be the final round of the 2019 Bass Rocks 

club championship, when he shot 67 to 

give eventual champion Mark Turner 

a run for his money, eventually finishing 

second. His dad, Tom, won the club 

championship five times. 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

At Hillview, Jinny Slagle won her 

10th championship and Mike Heck won 

his first.

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

Beverly G&TC’s Larry Jacobs 

(4.1 handicap index) and Lauren 

O’Brien (8.6 handicap index) are 

often in the winner’s circle. O’Brien 

is a three-time club champion and 

three-time player of the year. 

Our experience makes 

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● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

Kevin Murphy, head PGA 

professional at Bradford CC, praised the 

accomplishments of Nick Maccario 

and Krystal Knight. 

Maccario was Mass Golf’s Player of 

the Year in 2020. The former St. John’s 

Prep standout last year won the Mass 

Mid-Amateur Championship, the Mass 

Four-Ball Championship and qualified 

for the U.S. Amateur. Maccario also shot 

a 56 (15 under par) at Bradford playing in 

a casual round with buddies last August. 

Amazingly, Maccario didn't win 

Bradford’s club championship last year. 

Shawn Roderick shot 3-under in the 

medal play 36-hole event and beat him 

by two strokes. 

Knight, while at Merrimack, 

dominated New England college golf for 

four years and was named Division 2 

All-America. “She plays the back tees and 

beats all the guys,” said Murphy. 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

At Ferncroft CC, Lisa Anderson won 

her 10th consecutive club championship 

and 15th in all. Nick Leary was strong 

in match play, posting scores of 66, 

72, 72, and a final 69 (he played out 

the rounds and recorded some birdies 

after the matches were decided). Leary 

finished the season with a handicap 

index of 0.3 but was lower during 2020. 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

Ben Friedman (1.5 handicap) 

has won multiple Gannon GC club 

championships, and women's champ 

Ann Dawson (8.1 handicap) has 

competed in many Massachusetts 

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North Shore golfers get an early start on the 2021 season 

CLOCKWISE FROM 

TOP LEFT: Pat O’Brien 

of Lynnfield rolls a putt 

at Cape Ann Golf Club. 

Golfers make their way 

down the 4th fairway at 

Cape Ann Golf Club on 

a warm March day. 

Barbara Wills of Salem 

hits into the 9th green 

at The Meadow at 

Peabody. 

Erik Swanson of 

Rockport stretches 

before teeing off at 

Cape Ann Golf Club. 

Chris Chaput of North 

Reading gets into the 

swing at Golf Country 

in Middleton. 

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NORTH SHORE GOLF


Golf had a boom year in 2020 

...and it will likely continue post-pandemic 

Back in late March of 2020, 

when businesses and 

organizations throughout 

Massachusetts were shutting down 

due to the coronavirus pandemic, 

things weren’t looking very promising 

for golf courses. Massive drops in the 

number of rounds played throughout 

March and April due to closures 

occurred until courses were given the 

OK to reopen — with strict restrictions 

BY MIKE ALONGI 

— in early May. 

And that’s when something amazing 

happened. The country saw the 

biggest increase in rounds of golf 

played in nearly 25 years. According 

to the National Golf Foundation, 

rounds were up 6.2 percent in May, 

13.9 percent in June, 19.7 percent in 

July, 20.6 percent in August, 25.5 

percent in September, 32.3 percent 

in October, an incredible 57.5 percent 

in November and 37.3 percent 

in December. The national 2020 

increase was nearly 14 percent over 

2019 rounds, an increase of roughly 

75 million rounds — and that’s after 

losing an estimated 20 million rounds 

in March and April. All told some 502 

million rounds of golf were played in 

the United States in 2020. 

The only year on record that saw a 

bigger increase in rounds played was

NORTH SHORE GOLF


Changes are cooking at Kelley Greens 

BY BILL BROTHERTON 

Brett Waterman and Rhiannon Evans, the new managers of Kelley Greens in Nahant, sit 

with their English Bulldog puppy, Archie, in a portion of the newly-renovated restuarant 

at the course. 

PHOTO: SPENSER HASAK 

Kelley Greens, the 9-hole 

waterfront golf course in 

Nahant, has a rich and 

storied history. 

A new chapter in the club’s history 

began March 5, when Nahant’s Golf 

Course Committee and the Board of 

Selectmen selected Brett Waterman and 

Rhiannon Evans of R & B Management 

as the course and restaurant’s new 

lessees. They have a 5-year lease. 

Townies are happy Waterman 

and Evans, partners in life and 

business, have reverted back to the 

Kelley Greens name. The previous 

management team switched to the 

Nahant Golf Club name in 2017, but 

for many it will always be Kelley 

Greens. A few members still refer to 

the place as Sea Gaels or Tony C’s, 

named after the local Red Sox slugger 

whose family bought the course and 

ran the restaurant in the early 1970s. 

“Everyone knows it as Kelley 

Greens and locals call it by that name, 

so it made sense to return to that,” 

said Waterman. 

The club was founded in 1894, but 

it has shut down off-and-on through 

the decades. The Kelley Greens we’ve 

come to know and love reopened for 

good in 1966 when Selectman Charles 

A. Kelley took charge and guided the 

course’s rebirth as Drumquill Golf 

Course. After his death in 1988, the 

course was renamed in his honor. 

Waterman, a graduate of the 

University of Rhode Island turfgrass 

management program, plans to add 

new maintenance equipment to his 

arsenal. Waterman has been course 

superintendent at Nahant’s 3,910-yard 

links for the past two years, moving 

here from Tamarack Country Club in 

Greenwich, Conn. A new fleet of golf 

carts will soon arrive, and irrigation 

improvements will take place this 

season. The search for a PGA golf pro 

has begun. 

Chef/co-owner Evans, a native of 

Nottingham, England, was executive 

chef for the past nine years at the 

prestigious Quaker Ridge Golf Club in 

New York’s Westchester County (the 

golf course is annually ranked as one 

of the USA’s top 100). 

The couple, together for 10 years, 

has spent the past two years in a 

long-distance relationship. They met 

at Tamarack CC, where Evans worked 

in the kitchen as sous-chef. Are they 

happy to be working together at 

Kelley Greens? Their beaming smiles 

indicate the answer is yes. 

The day we visited, we were greeted 

by Waterman and Evans’ friendly, 

kissy 5-month-old English Bulldog 

Archie, who will be a regular at the 

site. During a tour of the dining 

room improvements, Archie had an 

“accident” on the rug. “It’s a good 

thing we’re replacing all the carpets,” 

said the couple. 

In fact, a lot of renovations are 

taking place in the restaurant. The 

couple plans to redo the interior and 

enhance the outdoor dining space, 

where cooling ocean breezes are 

prevalent. They hope to have the bar/ 

restaurant up and running by the end 

of April. Evans said the atmosphere 

will be casual and feature “simple 

good food.” 

“There aren’t many dining options 

in Nahant, just the Tides and a pizza 

place,” said Waterman. “The owner 

of the Tides, Mike O’Callaghan, 

has gone out of his way to help 

us. His support has been greatly 

appreciated.” 

For more information, go to the 

Kelley Greens Golf Course Facebook 

page.

Rowley CC 

welcomes 

Ahern, 

Godek 

BY BILL BROTHERTON 

Toby Ahern, a seasoned PGA golf 

professional with more than 35 years 

of experience, has joined Rowley 

Country Club as Managing Partner. 

Ahern was a key member of the staff 

at Ferncroft Country Club for more 

than 25 years, serving as Director of 

Golf, General Manager and Director of 

Business Development. 

“I’m very excited to join the 

Rowley CC team and look forward 

to working with (Director of Golf/ 

General Manager) Darin Chin-Aleong, 

who has been doing everything and 

has done an 

exceptional job 

since joining 

Rowley in 2015. 

I hope to support 

him and help 

make his job a bit 

easier.” 

Bill Godek 

will be Rowley’s 

new course 

superintendent. 

Godek has worked 

for more than 10 

years at Ferncroft 

under the tutelage 

of Michael 

Cassidy, head 

superintendent. 

The Swampscott 

native started his 

career at Tedesco 

Country Club. Zack Lamkin will assist 

Godek. 

Ahern, who grew up in Lynnfield 

and graduated from St. John's Prep in 

TOBY AHERN 

NORTH SHORE GOLF


Thomson’s McHale 

a marvel at age 84 

BY STEVE KRAUSE 

Jim McHale may be 84, but don't 

tell him he's reached "dufferhood." 

He may challenge you to 

a round … and he might just beat you. 

McHale, of Wakefield, has not lost 

that competitive edge. And while he's 

not setting any records at Thomson 

Country Club, where he’s a member 

and plays regularly, he shot or broke 

his age 44 times last year. And from the 

regular tees, too. 

"Well," mused McHale, "the older 

you get, the easier it is to do that." 

But to talk to McHale, it's easy to see 

why he's still tearing it up at Thomson. 

He's been active all his life. 

"I've stayed flexible for my age," 

McHale said. "That's important. I've 

kept myself in fairly good health too." 

And … he tries to walk the course as 

often as he can. 

"If it's too wet, they don't let you 

drive," he said. "So, I walk." 

Other life activities have 

also kept McHale 

in good 

enough shape 

to play golf as often as 

he does. He 

skied for 

years, 

which, 

he says, 

keeps his 

legs in good 

shape. 

"I only 

stopped a 

few years 

ago," he said. 

"It kept me in 

shape. I also do a 

lot of stretches with 

the rubber band. 

That keeps my golf 

muscles toned up." 

He learned all 

about the legs as an 

assistant pro at Unicorn Golf Course in 

Stoneham, working for the late "Wild" 

Bill Ezinicki, a former pro hockey 

player who won three Stanley Cups 

while with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 

the 1940s. 

"He was also a great golfer," McHale 

said, "and I learned the legs are an 

important part of the swing — just as 

important as the arms and stuff." 

McHale grew up in Somerville, and 

began caddying at age 14 at Unicorn. 

“They used to let the caddies play on 

Monday mornings. I probably had seven 

clubs, and none of them matched. 

"After a while, they made me caddie 

master at Unicorn, and that's really how 

I started playing golf regularly," McHale 

said. "I just kind of got the bug." 

He also played in the youth 

tournaments run by Msgr. John Carroll 

at Ponkapoag in Canton. 

"We'd get there at six in the morning 

and get out of there at five at night," 

he said. "Ever since then, I've always 

tried to keep my hand in the game. It's 

something to do, especially as you get 

older. You can't play football, or some of 

the other sports. But you can play 

golf, almost right up to the end." 

When he first began 

playing golf seriously, 

McHale simply wanted to 

go out and match par every 

round. And he wanted to 

beat whoever he was with. 

"Just the competition," he 

said. "It was a challenge. And 

it's still a challenge. I'm not 

going to (shoot par) anymore, 

but at my age, 75 or 76 is still 

pretty decent." 

These days, McHale carries 

a 6 handicap (5.4 U.S. Golf 

Association). Back in the day, he 

said it was about a 2. And he's 

shot as low as a 65, which he 

did at Unicorn when it was an 

18-hole course. 

And he's still out there 

going for the golf gold. 

"I still compete in the club 

tournaments, and I'm still playing against 

younger guys and trying to beat them," 

said McHale, who won his one and only 

club title in his 35 years as a Thomson 

member in 1985. The following year, he 

and club pro Chuck Frithson won the New 

England Pro-Am. 

McHale says he finds Thomson a 

challenging course, especially since 

condominiums were built there, 

"because it makes the course narrower. 

"I still enjoy being out there with the 

guys, out in the sun and stuff. Some 

guys go out for fun and have eight 

beers. If I'm going to have a beer, I'll 

wait and finish my round." 

And what happens during those 

rounds when things don't go right? 

When balls are sliced or hooked? Or if 

there's the dreaded three-putt (which, 

he says, drives him crazy)? 

"I'll go to the range and figure out 

what happened," he said. "Just last 

week I was down at Richardson’s 

hitting balls, though it was too cold for 

an ice cream. You try to figure it out 

and get it straightened out." 

But, he knows one thing: "I know I'm 

not going to shoot rounds like I used to. 

I'm not hitting as long. Some of these 

kids I'm playing against are hitting it 

60 yards longer. I still want to shoot the 

best I can though." 

Lest you think that McHale's life is 

lived in the middle of the fairway, think 

again. His wife of 60 years is ill, and at 

the moment is in Lawrence Memorial 

Hospital in Medford. To complicate 

things, she contracted COVID in 

January. Golf is about the only thing in 

his life that provides him with an escape 

of caring for her, or — as it stands now — 

visiting her in the hospital. 

So while McHale takes his golf 

seriously when he's out there, he does 

have a perspective that keeps him from 

taking every bad shot home with him 

the way some golfers do. 

"There are more important things 

going on," he said. 

JIM MCHALE 

PHOTO: SPENSER HASAK

New team in charge at Sagamore 

BY ANNE MARIE TOBIN 

Big changes are in place at Sagamore 

Spring GC in Lynnfield, with a new head 

pro and clubhouse manager on board. 

PGA golf professional Tim Doucette, 

formerly the assistant pro, has 

succeeded Steve Vaughn as head 

professional and general manager, while 

Austin Charette is the new clubhouse 

manager. The two are former Salem 

State University soccer buddies. 

Both expect that last year's COVIDfueled 

boom in the industry will carry 

over into 2021. 

"I am so excited to have both Tim and 

Austin on board this year," said owner 

Richard Luff. “Tim has been with us for 

several years and Austin has a wealth 

of knowledge about the restaurant and 

food and beverage industry and has a 

lot of great ideas he is bringing to our 

team." 

Doucette said he expects the course to 

have another busy year. 

"We did 67,000 starts (18- and 

9-hole rounds) last year and that's 

not including the six weeks we were 

closed," said Doucette. "Last year we 

saw a lot of new faces and we are hoping 

we will return most of them. There is 

simply more demand from new players, 

and we saw a huge increase in rental 

equipment, so we are projecting the 

same or better numbers for this year." 

Charette previously worked in the 

financial services industry as a debt 

settlement advisor. 

"I do have experience in the 

hospitality industry, so I think it should 

be a smooth transition," the Beverly 

resident said. "We still don't know what 

the final guidance from the state will 

be, so we are basically opening (the 

restaurant) on an in-and-out basis, 

meaning takeout with no lingering 

inside the building. Ideally, we hope 

to have people inside at some point, 

but for now, our plan is to just keep it 

simple and safe.” 

Luff said the grounds crew, led by 

Head Superintendent Gerry Dunklee 

and Assistant Superintendent Phil 

Micelli, was busy throughout the 

winter working on a significant course 

improvement project. Extensive tree 

removal has been done on the 2nd hole, 

the 3rd tee, the 5th tee and fairway, and 

the 6th and 14th holes. 

"These improvements are significant 

and will certainly be apparent to our 

players," said Doucette. "It's always 

good when the public knows that we are 

VISIT OUR SHAMROCK GRILLE 

• Open to the public, 7 days a week 

(10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) 

• Delicious lunches 

• Grilled homemade food 

18 Hole 

Championship Golf Course 

OFFERING: 

• Public Play, Membership & Outings 

• Weddings, Functions & Special Events 

Located just 40 minutes from Boston. A great choice for those who are 

looking for a fun, challenging game of golf. 

201 Chadwick Road • Haverhill, MA 01835 

978-372-8587 | Visit us online at: bradfordcc.com 

NORTH SHORE GOLF

Become a great ball striker 

This photo shows a ball strike on the toe, center and heel of the club. A simple reason you might be striking the ball on the toe is because you are standing too 

far from the ball at address. A heel strike might indicate you are standing too close to the ball. 

PRO TIPS 

STEPHEN VENTRE 

A great ball striker excels at the full swing. But becoming a great ball striker takes practice, patience and awareness!. 

We will show this using three color trajectories. Our example is a right-handed golfer with a neutral club path. The yellow line 

indicates a drive that starts left and bends right because of a heel strike. The red line indicates a drive that starts right and bends 

left, because of a toe strike. The blue line indicates a straight drive due to a center strike.

NORTH SHORE GOLF

20 >>> SUMMER 2020 

Rand sets course record at Winthrop GC 

Sixty-two years ago, Ronnie Hayes 

shot a record-setting 63 at Winthrop 

Golf Club. Many thought that record 

would never be broken. 

But on September 3, Jake Rand, a 

28-year-old Winthrop member, shot 

an 8-under-par 62 for 18 holes on 

Winthrop’s challenging 9-hole 6141- 

yard course. He had 11 birdies and 

three bogeys. 

Ed Montone, the club’s PGA golf 

pro, said Rand’s accomplishment was 

special for another reason: “Jake and I 

have been through it all as teammates 

... We basically grew up playing the 

game together here at Winthrop when 

we were 14 year olds.” 

Rand and his playing partners 

Frank Ciampa, Brian Sullivan and 

Mike Vatalaro started on hole No. 2, 

due to an onsite clinic, said Montone. 

Rand birdied 5, 7, 8 and 9 and 

bogeyed 4. On the second nine, he 

bogeyed 13 and 17 and birdied 10, 11, 

12, 14, 15, 16 and 18 and came within 

two feet of a hole-in-one on the 155- 

yard 6th/15th. 

“I was 7-under at one point, so I was 

aware that the record was within reach 

– the word was out,” said Rand, a 

former Northeastern Conference Most 

Valuable Player for golf. “I knew I 

had to go birdie-birdie on my last two 

holes (#9/18 and #1/10) to break it.” 

Rand hit a clutch 8-footer on 

the final hole to break the record. 

Montone said Rand is a power hitter 

who averages 300-315 yards off the 

tee. He plays Mizuno irons and a 

TaylorMade driver. 

Rand graduated from Winthrop 

High in 2011. At Endicott College 

in Beverly, Rand helped the golf 

team qualify for the NCAA Division 

3 Nationals in Greensboro, N.C. 

He earned a degree in Business 

Management and works at the 

Massachusetts Port Authority. 

160 SO. MAIN ST., Rte. 114 • MIDDLETON • Next to Richardson's Dairy 

978-774-4476 • Golfcountry.org 

Jake Rand, second from left, poses with playing partners 

Frankie Ciampa, Brian Sullivan and Mike Vatalaro after 

he set a course record at Winthrop GC. His scorecard is at 

the left. 

3/15/2021 POSTCARD.png 

• Fully-lighted 50 tee golf driving range 

• Natural grass practice area 

• Covered and heated tees for 

year-round practicing 

• 2 beautifully landscaped miniature golf courses 

• 9 station baseball and softball batting cage facility 

• Golf lessons by PGA professionals

Mass Golf Calendar 

MEN’S FOUR-BALL 

Where: The Golf Club at Turner Hill 

and Ipswich Country Club 

When: May 11-12 

MEN’S SENIOR AMATEUR 

Where: Salem Country Club 

When: September 27-28 

WOMEN’S ALLEN BOWL 

FOUR-BALL 

Where: The Meadow at Peabody 

When: July 19 

FATHER-SON 

MODIFIED SCOTCH 

Where: Renaissance Golf Club 

When: July 26-27 

Having Trouble Finding a Tee Time? 

Join our affordable club and 

enjoy guaranteed weekend and 

weekday tee times all year! 

Play in our weekly member 

tournaments or join one of our 

member leagues. 

39 and younger join for $1100 – 

Full member privileges! 

Best Junior Golf on the North Shore! 

• Kids 15 and younger play free 

with an adult. 

• Various kids golf teams and 

tournaments. 

• Weekly kids clinics and private 

instruction 

MEN’S MASS OPEN 

Where: Oak Hill Country Club 

When: June 14-16 

Qualifier at Kernwood Country Club, 

May 17 

MEN’S MASS AMATEUR 

Where: Brae Burn Country Club 

When: July 12 

Qualifier at Tedesco Country Club, 

June 7 

MASS JUNIOR 

Where: Indian Pond Country Club 

When: August 2-5 

Qualifier at Bear Hill Golf Club June 28 

Wenham Country Club 94 Main St., Wenham, MA 01984 

978-468-4714 • wenham.golf 

FAR CORNER GOLF 

 

 

 

 

AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS 

Where: Westover Golf Club 

When: August 17-18 

Qualifier site and date to be 

determined. 

SUPER SENIOR AMATEUR 

Where: Wianno Golf Club 

When: October 4-5 

Qualifier at Beverly Golf and Tennis 

Club, Sept. 16 

Event registration is open now at 

massgolf.org. 

 

 

FarCornerGolf.com • 978-352-8300 

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


> > > 

By 

SHADES OF GREEN 

BOB GREEN 

Golf's governing 

bodies should 

distance 

themselves from 

inane changes 

The two most powerful governing 

bodies of golf — the United States 

Golf Association and the Royal 

and Ancient — declared: “Any 

further significant increases in 

hitting distances at the highest level 

are undesirable. Whether these 

increases in distance emanate from 

advancing equipment technology, 

greater athleticism of players, 

improved player coaching, golf 

course conditioning or a combination 

of these or other factors, they 

will have an impact of seriously 

reducing the challenges of the game. 

The consequential lengthening or 

toughening of courses would be 

costly or impossible.” 

That was 19 years ago. 

In 2020, the same organizations 

wrote in their Distance Insight 

Report: “The USGA believes 

increasing distance is undesirable 

and detrimental to golf’s long-term 

future for two main reasons: 

“First: the inherent strategic 

challenge presented by many courses 

can be compromised especially when 

those courses have not or cannot 

become long enough to keep up with 

the increases in hitting distance of 

golfers who play from their longest 

tees.” 

“Second: the overall trend of golf 

courses becoming longer has its own 

adverse consequences that ultimately 

affect golfers of all levels.” 

Wow! 

Like it or not, the USGA and R&A, 

after hitting the pause button due 

to the worldwide pandemic, are 

resuming their quest to limit the 

distance a golf ball can be hit. They 

have entered “the solution phase.” 

Yes, many players on the major 

pro tours are hitting tee shots that 

average more than 300 yards. But 

these players represent a minute 

percentage of those who play golf. 

To roll back the distance a golf ball 

can go because of a few elite players 

is inherently wrong in my opinion. 

Many of the world’s best players and 

the general golf population at large 

agree with me. 

Rory McIlroy was asked what 

he thought of the Distance Insight 

Report and he didn’t hold back: 

“So, I think the authorities, USGA 

and R&A, are looking at the game 

through such a tiny lense, that 

what they’re trying to do is change 

something that pertains to .1 percent 

of the golfing community. … 99.9 

percent of the people who play 

this game play for enjoyment, for 

entertainment. They don’t need to 

be told what ball or clubs to use. We 

have to make the game as easy and 

approachable as possible for the 

majority of golfers.” 

McIlroy said the report was “a 

huge waste of time and money.” He 

did say he wouldn’t object to some 

form of bifurcation (equipment that 

restricts the distance the ball can go 

for tour professionals). 

I’m not in favor of bifurcation. 

I don’t think many tour players 

are either. And I’m guessing that 

equipment manufacturers would 

be vehemently against it. The cost 

to develop, test and produce such 

equipment would be astronomical. 

They’d be producing it for tour 

pros who don’t even pay for their 

equipment. Would you and your 

pals spend hard-earned money on 

equipment that would limit how far 

you hit the ball? 

As for the argument that the 

increase in distance is making our 

classic golf courses obsolete, I don’t 

buy it. For a few tour pros maybe, 

but not the 99.9 percent who play the 

game for enjoyment. 

The idea that courses have to be 

7,000+ yards to challenge golfers is 

not valid either. Courses built 100 

years ago are still challenging for all 

levels of players, including today’s 

tour pros. 

Most of those courses no longer 

host tour events, due to myriad 

reasons, but not because they’ve 

become obsolete to the elite players. 

The PGA Tour conducts several 

events a year on their own TPC 

courses, which have all been built 

since the ‘80s. It’s a lot more 

profitable for major professional 

sports teams to play in parks they 

own. Playing at their own venues 

also allows the Tour to control all the 

variables of hosting major events. 

These courses present a different set 

of challenges than the classic courses, 

primarily distance. They’re called 

Bombers Paradises for a reason. 

Peter Kostis, former CBS oncourse 

commentator and analyst, 

has an interesting theory about 

the supposed need to lengthen 

golf courses. Kostis says in the 

1960s magazines began ranking 

courses based on difficulty. Those 

building the courses naturally 

wanted their layouts to achieve high 

rankings, hopefully resulting in the 

opportunity to host major events 

and promote what they’re selling 

(memberships, real estate, etc.). 

Kostis also thinks the reason golf 

courses got longer in the ’80s and 

’90s is the rise in “player architects.” 

Kostis points out that during the 

golden age — the 1920s-’30s — 

course architects designed courses to 

challenge amateurs like themselves 

and club members. When “big name'' 

players and former pros began 

designing courses, they preferred to

design courses that challenge the 

world’s best players. 

Kostis says as courses got 

longer the “elite players started to 

emphasize length more than shot 

shaping and accuracy. Players 

then started to develop swings and 

manufacturers made equipment that 

launched the ball higher and made 

it spin less to maximize distance to 

attack long, straight holes.” 

He points out that Bryson 

DeChambeau increased his average 

drive by 27 yards in two years 

and there “has not been a gamechanging 

technology advancement 

in the past two years that can 

account for his 27-yard increase off 

the tee”. 

Kostis’ conclusion? “Why on 

earth would we want to make the 

game tougher just for the sake of 

maintaining the challenge for pros 

on 50-75 courses around the world!” 

The USGA/R&A are not going to 

back off their misguided efforts to 

roll back the distance a golf ball can 

go. It will hurt the game, just when 

golf has experienced the largest 

growth in history. Many have taken 

up the game or returned to it after 

years of inactivity. I, and every 

PGA club pro I’ve talked with, have 

never seen so many juniors playing 

regularly. 

The last thing the USGA/R&A 

should be devoting energy and funds 

to is creating regulations that would 

take away one of the fun parts of 

the game, smashing a long tee shot. 

Instead, they should put their efforts 

and resources into growing the 

game and making it more enjoyable 

for the 99.9 percent who play the 

game recreationally. 

WE’LL MAKE ALL OF YOUR 

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*2018 U.S. Brand Study of Andersen and Renewal by Andersen brands vs. competitive brands. 

“Andersen” and all other marks where denoted are trademarks of Andersen Corporation. 

©2020 Andersen Corporation. All rights reserved. 

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.


NORTH SHORE GOLF / / / COURSE DIRECTORY 

PRIVATE CLUBS 

Andover Country Club 

60 Canterbury St., Andover, MA 01810 

andovercountryclub.com; 978-475-1263 

Club Pro Kevin Christofaro 

Slope 131; Rating 73.1 

Bass Rocks Golf Club 

SEE OUR AD ON PAGE 8 

34 Beach Road, Gloucester, MA 01930 

bassrocksgolfclub.org; 978-283-1866 

Club Pro Peter Hood 


Bear Hill Golf Club 

2 North St., Stoneham, MA 02180 

bearhillgolfclub.com; 781-245-4295 

Club Pro Jeff Wirbal 

9 holes; Slope 131; Rating 70.2 

Bellevue Golf Club 

320 Porter St., Melrose, MA 02176 

bellevuegolfclub.com; 781-665-7900 

Club Pro 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 

Club Pro Jack Davis 


Ferncroft Country Club 

10 Village Road, Middleton, MA 01949 

ferncroftcc.com; 978-739-4032 

Club Pro Philip Leiss 


Haverhill Country Club 

58 Brickett Lane, Haverhill, MA 01831 

haverhillcc.com; 978-373-1146 

Club Pro Mark Mangion 


Indian Ridge Country Club 

Lovejoy Road, Andover, MA 01810 

indianridgecountryclub.us; 978-475-9484 

Club Pro Mike Miller 


Ipswich Country Club 

148 Country Club Way, Ipswich, MA 01938 

ipswichclub.com; 978-356-3999 

Club Pro Daniel R. Dwyer 


Kernwood Country Club 

1 Kernwood St., Salem, MA 01970 

kernwood.org; 978-745-1210 

Club Pro Frank Dully 


Long Meadow Golf Club 

165 Havilah St., Lowell, MA 01852 

longmeadowgolfclub.com; 978-441-1542 

Club Pro Shawn Scott 


Meadow Brook Golf Club 

292 Grove St., Reading, MA 01867 

meadowbrookgolfclub.org; 781-942-1334 

Club Pro Steve Sheridan 


Mount Pleasant Golf Club 

141 Staples St., Lowell, MA 01851 

mpgc.com; 978-452-8228 

Club Pro Joel Jenkins 


Myopia Hunt Club 

435 Bay Road, South Hamilton, MA 01982 

myopiahuntclub.org; 978-468-4433 

Club Pro Mike Bemis 


Nabnasset Lake CC 

47 Oak Hill Rd., Westford, MA 01886 

nabnassetlakecc.com; 978-692-2560 

Club Pro Dan Gillis 


North Andover Country Club 

500 Great Pond Rd., 

North Andover, MA 01845 

northandovercc.com; 978-687-7414 

Club Pro Matt Lombard 


Renaissance Golf Club 

377 Kenoza St., Haverhill, MA 01830 

renaissancema.com; 978-241-6712 

Club Pro Rhett Bishop 


Salem Country Club 

133 Forest St., Peabody, MA 01960 

salemcountryclub.org; 978-538-5400 

Club Pro Kevin Wood 


Tedesco Country Club 

154 Tedesco St., Marblehead, MA 01945 

tedescocc.org; 781-631-2800 

Club Pro Jake Leech 


Thomson Country Club 

2 Mid Iron Drive, North Reading, MA 01864 

thomsoncc.com; 978-664-2016 

Club Pro Christopher Young 


The Golf Club at Turner Hill 

3 Manor House Lane, Ipswich, MA 01938 

turnerhill.com; 978-356-7070 

Club Pros: Nate Hopley and Mike Brown 


Vesper Country Club 

185 Pawtucket Blvd., 

Tyngsborough, MA 01879 

vespercc.com; 978-458-8731 

Club Pro Stephen Doyle 


Winchester Country Club 

468 Mystic St., Winchester, MA 01890 

winchestercc.org; 781-729-1181 

Club Pro Jim Salinetti 


Winthrop Golf Club 

453 Main St., Winthrop, MA 02152 

winthropgolfclub.com; 617-539-0482 

Club Pro Ed Montone 

9 holes; Slope 118; Rating 69 

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 INSIDE BACK COVER 

134 McKay St., Beverly, MA; 

beverlygolfandtennis.net; 

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

Club Pro 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/Club Pro: 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; 

Tee times: 5 days in advance; Fee for 

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

weekend; Cart rental: $8 per person for 9 

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 

Club Pro Anthony Martinho; 

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

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



Gannon Municipal Golf Club 

SEE OUR AD ON INSIDE BACK COVER 

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

NORTH SHORE GOLF


North Shore 

Golf 

NOTEBOOK 

By 

BILL BROTHERTON 

and ANNE MARIE TOBIN 

Haverhill Country Club has 

entered a partnership with Up to Par 

Management, which will provide fullservice 

club management including 

the golf operations, food and beverage 

services, and sales and marketing 

support. Jonathan Cox is the club’s new 

executive chef. A graduate of the Culinary 

Institute of America in New York, Cox 

began his career in Boston, with an 

apprenticeship at Lumiere Restaurant. He 

perfected his skills at a variety of inns and 

ski resorts across the country, including 

the Inn at Thorn Hill in Jackson, N.H. 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

Ron Rice, respected general manager 

at Ferncroft CC, is now handling the 

same job at Meadow Brook GC in 

Reading. 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

At Beverly G&TC last year, firsttime 

club champ Bob Schmeck shot 

75-75-75-76 (301) for a four-stroke win 

over Mick Suttle (76-75-79-75). Arthur 

Athanas won his second straight Class 

A title, while Jim Danforth was Class 

B champ. Tom Sideri and John 

Gallagher won the C and D crowns 

respectively. On the women’s side, the 

winners were Carmen Madore (Class 

A), Allyson Danforth (B), Mary 

Berman (C) and Jeanette Fitzgerald 

(D). 

Beverly G&TC head PGA professional 

David Dionne reports that the club’s 

most improved by index last season were 

Jason Zubiel (went from a 7.4 to 4.2) 

and Christine Broyer (went from a 

23.1 to 19.9). 

Salem Country Club and a 42-year 

veteran of the golf business, has stepped 

down to focus on family and playing 

more competitive golf. Hanefeld has won 

three New England PGA Championships 

and competed on the Champions Tour, 

finishing in the top 10 three times. 

Hanefeld won the NEPGA Seniors title 

last year and is a member of the NEPGA 

and New Hampshire Golf Halls of Fame. 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

Kernwood CC will host the NEPGA 

Pro-Lady Invitational July 22. 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

Milestones: 

Bass Rocks GC was founded 150 

years ago 

Land to build New Meadows GC in 

Topsfield was purchased 75 years ago 

Kernwood CC hosted the NEPGA 

Championship 50 years ago. Charlie 

Volpone won. 

100 years ago, Myopia hosted the 

NEPGA Championship. Gil Nichols won. 

Rowley CC was founded 50 years ago 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

Alex Landry, a standout on the St. 

John’s Prep golf team, won the club 

championship at Indian Ridge last 

summer. 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

Meadow Brook GC head PGA 

professional Steve Sheridan was 

named the Massachusetts Chapter 

Professional of the Year by the NEPGA 

and also nominated for the NEPGA 

Professional of the Year. But all he wanted 

to talk about was his members who 

accomplished great things on the Reading 

golf course in 2020, such as men’s Club 

Champ Damon Lusk, President’s Cup 

champion Bill Connolly, Member- 

Member winners Ryan Dwyer and 

Randy Johnson, Fall Four-Ball champs 

Gil Barr and Jerry Comeau, women’s 

Senior Club Champ Marcia Brown, 

9-hole Club Champ Joan McDougall, 

Vice President’s Cup winner Tina 

Burke, Boys Club Champion Anthony 

Picano, Girls Club Champ Grace Cote, 

13 & Under champ Nate Vitarisi, 

Parent/Child co-champs Kevin and 

Jack Murray and John and Zachery 

Maher. 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

Meadow Brook’s new clubhouse 

is about halfway done, and is expected 

to open July 1. It will also host the PGA 

Playing Ability Test and the NEPGA Mass 

Chapter Pro-Am in October. 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

At Ferncroft CC, most improved 

golfers, based on handicap index, were 

Mike Holbrook (8.0 to 3.7), Denise 

Canale (28.1 to 19.6); and Junior player 

● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● 

Kirk Hanefeld, director of golf at 

Bob Johnson, top left, of Reading watches his tee shot on the 9th hole at Cape Ann Golf Club. Mike 

Jerram, above, of Kittery, Maine, reads his putt on the 4th hole at Cape Ann Golf Club. 

PHOTOS: SPENSER HASAK

NORTH SHORE GOLF

WHITE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

PAR 5 3 4 4 4 4 5 3 4 4 5 4 4 3 4 4 3 5 

YARDS 465 156 405 375 326 350 549 178 418 390 535 380 375 163 306 361 183 507 

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

Location: Casco, Maine 

Point Sebago 

Overview: Hailed as one of the finest golf courses in Maine, Point Sebago's 18-hole Championship 

course offers a fantastic day of golf. Situated on 500 acres of spectacular white birch forest, the par 72 course 

caters to all levels of play. Ranging from a challenging 7,002 yards from the back tee to a forgiving 3,200 

yards from the forward tee, Point Sebago delivers the best golfing experience possible. 

Amenities: Golf-learning center, 775-acre resort, 1-mile of sandy beach, 18-hole golf course, general store, 

boat and slip rentals, lounge, restaurant, 5-star activities program, daily entertainment, outdoor sports center. 

Accommodations: Point Sebago offers a variety of accommodations to meet every taste and budget. 

All the comforts of home, space for everyone, all in a beautiful Maine setting - from backwoods to beachfront, 

overlooking the lake, lodging on the 9th hole, or nestled among towering pines.Guests can choose from vacation 

homes or resort cottages, many of which are located on or near the golf course. 

Contact info: 800-655-1232; https://www.pointsebago.com

Location: Wilmington, Vermont 

Haystack 

Overview: Haystack Golf Club offers a classic, manicured layout with challenging greens and 

breathtaking scenery. Designed by acclaimed architect Desmond Muirhead in 1972, players of all abilities are 

welcome – pick one of the four sets of tees to match your game. Haystack Golf Club meanders over a gently 

rolling landscape without the blind shots and side-hill lies one expects from a mountain course. 

Amenities: There is a full service golf club offering a fully-stocked golf shop, a practice range, two putting 

greens, and golf instruction by PGA professionals. The Stack Restaurant, an Italian steakhouse, offers indoor or 

outdoor dining for golfers and non-golfers alike. It’s the perfect place to grab a bite after a great round of golf. 

Accommodations: The Lodge at Mt. Snow; the Inn at Quail Run; Vermont House; Doveberry Inn. 

Contact info: 802-464-8301; www.haystackgolfvt.com 

WHITE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

PAR 4 3 4 4 5 5 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 4 4 

YARDS 339 130 320 291 519 410 169 337 314 369 351 155 223 121 443 320 246 355

WHITE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

PAR 4 4 4 5 3 4 3 4 5 3 4 4 5 3 4 4 5 4 

YARDS 370 366 395 503 160 311 174 335 483 127 316 391 489 160 259 435 488 348 

Location: Thornton, New Hampshire 

Owl's Nest 

Overview: The course at Owl’s Nest sits among the magnificent White Mountains, giving golfers the 

ultimate in scenic vistas throughout the season. From the serious to the casual golfer, elevation changes and 

pristine conditions show off Owl’s Nest’s charm and challenge. Nicklaus Design,the global golf course design 

firm founded by Jack Nicklaus, oversaw course improvements. 

Called “the best value in the Northeast, if not the entire country” with “great staff, great course, and 

outstanding vistas,” the real challenge for golfers at Owl’s Nest is staying focused on your game while 

surrounded by spectacular mountain views. For visitors and members alike, golf at Owl’s Nest introduces a 

unique golf experience just less than two hours from Boston combined with the inspired living that can only 

be found in the White Mountains. 

Amenities: Indoor golf simulator, bar and restaurants, kayaking/tubing/fishing on the Pemi river, pool, 

outdoor Jacuzzi, platform tennis, fitness center. 

Accommodations: Onsite rentals, ranging from 1-bedroom cottages (with a king bed, an efficient 

kitchen and an open living area with a fireplace and television, and a pullout sofa) to rentals that can sleep up to 

10 (with an open concept kitchen, living, and dining area creating a laid back, comfortable hangout spot after a 

day on the course or exploring the local attractions). 

Contact info: 603-726-3076; owlsnestresort.com

Location: Jaffrey, New Hampshire 

Shattuck 

Overview: Carved from the granite foothills of Mt. Monadnock, The Shattuck Course is one of the most 

visually stunning golf courses you’ll ever play. Course architect Brian Silva calls The Shattuck “The most spectacular 

setting I’ve ever come across.”Golfers at The Shattuck enjoy unparalleled scenery and pristine conditions. It has 

been called New Hampshire golf’s hidden gem. The Shattuck Golf Course lives in harmony with its surroundings, 

spanning acres of natural wetlands that serve not only as hazards to the golfer, but home to a wide variety of 

wildlife including mink, fox, deer, moose, beaver, otter and the great blue heron. The golf holes themselves stand in 

striking contrast to the woods and wetlands, with lush bent grass on every tee, fairway, and green. 

Amenities: Facilities include a clubhouse, restaurant and bar, pro shop and practice range. Mt. Monadnock 

State Park, a favorite with hikers, is less than two miles from the golf course. Nearby Peterborough offers shopping, 

art galleries and a rich history. Contoocook Lake, a popular beach, is a short drive away. 

Accommodations: The Inn at East Hill, at the base of Mount Monadnock, is a tranquil inn and farm that offers 

boating, fishing, hiking, water skiing, swimming, and horseback riding. Monadnock Inn and Woodbound Inn are nearby. 

Contact info: 603-532-4300; www.shatuckgolf.com 

WHITE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 

PAR 4 3 4 4 5 5 3 4 4 4 4 3 4 3 5 4 4 4 

YARDS 409 200 405 370 612 564 200 407 386 426 432 199 315 160 544 391 339 405


STRAIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE 

By GARY LARRABEE 

Bill Flynn's 

legacy lives on 

As a golf historian, I have never been 

shy about sharing with readers my 

favorite people, places and events that 

have made North Shore golf so special 

during the 50-plus years I have had the 

privilege to write about them. 

It should thus come as no surprise to 

anyone who has followed my ramblings 

over the years that I hold the late, great 

Bill Flynn in the highest esteem. In fact, 

I consider Bill, who lived in Danvers his 

entire life, the most impactful person in 

the history of this grand golfing region. 

That dates back to the beginnings of the 

game on the North Shore in 1893, when 

Essex County Club in Manchester-bythe-Sea 

was the first course built and 

the first club founded. 

No person, man or woman, has had 

greater influence on golf hereabouts 

than William Joseph Flynn. As a result, 

I ranked Bill No. 1 when I listed the 

Golden 100 in my 2001 volume, “The 

Green and Gold Coast: The History of 

Golf on Boston’s North Shore.” 

Now, nearly 10 years since his death, 

at 74, on July 8, 2011, it is time to reflect 

on Bill’s incomparable career in golf. 

No person associated with golf on 

the North Shore has touched more 

lives in a positive way than Bill Flynn. 

Selfishly, I’ll start with me. Bill, as 

assistant golf pro and caddie master 

at Salem Country Club in 1961, gave 

me my very first loop – and my 

introduction to the game – at Salem, 

with a nine-hole carry one gorgeous 

July Sunday afternoon for Dave Hicks. 

At Bill’s invitation, he taught me how 

to caddie AA-style at Thomson Country 

Club in North Reading, where he 

served as the club’s first head pro and 

later as general manager, starting in 

1963. He also got me the most exciting 

loop of my life when, through his chum 

Paul Harney, head pro at Pleasant 

Valley, I was tossed into the caddie 

pool for the PGA Tour’s 1968 Kemper 

Open at the Sutton club. My man, Art 

Wall, finished second to Arnold Palmer 

that week in September. 

I’ve been writing about golf ever 

since, much of it about Bill Flynn. 

His gifts/legacies to the game? Let 

me count the ways; ways which should 

never be forgotten by members of our 

North Shore golf family 

• Careers for three of his four 

children, after his purchase of 

Lakeview in Wenham and Far 

Corner in West Boxford and his 

building of Windham Country Club 

in New Hampshire. Son Bob has 

been for many years, and continues 

to be, GM at Far Corner. Daughter 

Joanne has forever been head pro/ 

GM at Windham. And son Mike, 

who passed away in March, was the 

pro at Lakeview for two decades. 

• His support of junior golf was 

unparalleled in a variety of ways, 

most notably in providing free 

clubs and golf clinics to juniors at 

his courses on Mondays, a practice 

that continues today. He also was 

a big booster of inner city junior 

golf programs when teaming up 

with Mass Golf and The First Tee 

initiative. 

• The starts – and jobs over the years — 

he gave to countless men and women 

who wished to either work in the 

game short-term, for life, or become 

club professionals. That large group 

includes Don Lyons, former New 

England PGA president, NEPGA Hall 

of Famer, his former long-time head 

pro at George Wright and current 

long-time director of golf at Reedy 

Meadow and King Rail in Lynnfield. 

• His extraordinary work, in 

conjunction with Mass Golf, to 

revive the City of Boston courses 

George Wright and Franklin Park 

and Mount Hood in Melrose. 

• His dedication to his career 

organization, the New England PGA, 

in his role as secretary-treasurer 

on two different occasions and 

president from 1973-76, as well 

his work as vice-president at the 

national PGA level. 

• His role as a highly rated instructor 

to hundreds of students through the 

years. 

• His life-long inspirational role as a 

champion golfer (winner of the 1959 

Vermont Open at Lake Morey, 1963 

Massachusetts Open at Kernwood 

and 1968 NEPGA Section at Pine 

Brook), despite being born with a 

partially paralyzed right arm that 

forced him to play from the left side. 

An inductee into 1999 NEPGA Hall 

of Fame and the only recipient of 

two NEPGA Professional of the Year 

awards. He also supported amateur 

competition by founding the North 

Shore Amateur in 1978. 

‘Nuff said. “Golf has been great to me 

and my family,” Flynn told me for my 

2001 book. “I owe the game everything.” 

Well, countless golfers, including me, 

will always owe Bill Flynn a great deal, 

too. He was a golden link to the game 

in so many different ways to so many 

people. He shall never be forgotten.

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North Shore Golf Spring 2021

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