Franconia GC undergoes major changes

MUCH ANTICIPATED OPENING AFTER ONE YEAR ABSENCE

Franconia Golf Course, one of two municipally owned golf courses run by the city of Springfield, has undergone a complete facelift. The Dwight Road course was closed for the entire 2000 season so work could be completed. As soon as the weather cooperated Nugent Golf of Kissimee, FL began construction on several areas of the course. According to John Cirelli, golf course manager for the city of Springfield, "this project was long overdue, there really was no major improvements to the course except for the 15th hole in 1992." Improvements in 2000 were made on a hole by hole basis. Golfers were anxious to play the renovated course in the fall but the decision was made to keep the course closed to give all the newly planted grass a chance to take root.
Total cost of the project was $ 2.56 million. The city bonded out 1.56 million with the state adding a grant of $ 1 million. In addition to course renovations the clubhouse was painted and a new roof added.
On average over 40,000 rounds are played at Franconia GC each year. There is also a new golf course superintendent in Scott Pierce. Pierce, formerly of Westover CC will inherit a course far different than what we were used to. Mayor Albano pledged that before he leaves office Franconia GC would be like Augusta National. Not quite, but the course is on par with any course in Western Mass. (CONTINUED)

Driving the ball “Out There”

Western Mass clubs awarded several championship golf events

So you can't get on the hit television series but your deadly with your 8 iron. Bob Tomasulo, past chairman of the Canon Greater Hartford Open (1977) has announced plans to bring a unique golf event to Western Massachusetts and Connecticut. His company, New England Golf Skills Championships has signed on to host 5 such events in 2001. One of those 5 events is scheduled for Hampden County at the Fenway Golf Recreation Center in East Longmeadow, June 13-17. The first event in the series will be hosted by Torza's Professional Golf Center in Cromwell. CT May 16-20. Another event will be held at ClubGolf, in Manchester, CT August 8-12. Bob will be finalizing his plans for the remaining 2 sites shortly and they will be posted on his web site.
The Golf Skills Championship consists of 3 events, the long drive competition, the hole-in-one challenge, and the putting contest. Golfers purchase tickets for $1.00 each , good for one shot and you can purchase up to 50 shots at a time (11 shots for $10, 25 shots for $20, 50 shots for $35).
At the Long Drive Competition, you could walk away with prizes or cash each day. The longest drive of the competition will advance to the $5,000,000 finals.
In the Hole-In-One challenge, golfers aim at a pin 120-125 yds. away. The goal is to land on a spot within 4 ft. of the pin to move onto the qualifiers event. Daily qualifiers receive prizes.
In the Qualifiers Round, the top 3 closest-to-the- pin advance to the $5,000,000 Finals on Sunday afternoon. In the Putting Contest, golfers add their score for 5 tough putts, participants can try as many times as they like. Daily winners also qualify for the finals and one "lucky" or good golfer will get one putt from 50 feet for $10,000.00 cash and a shot at the $5,000,000 Finals. In addition, participants can have a chance to qualify to make 3 putts in a row for $25,000.
Players can receive 10 free shots by registering in advance at www.golfskills.net/negsc. Charities benefiting from the Golf Skills Challenge are the Arthritis Foundation and the CT PGA Foundation. Sponsorships are available by contacting: Bob Tomasulo at: Negsc@aol.com, Good Luck.

When they met as freshmen at a dance at Mount Holyoke College in 1969
neither Alistair Catto nor Bonnie MacNeill played golf.
Alistair didn't really dance either.
He was a student at Amherst College and a pretty good squash player.
She was a student at Mount Holyoke and a played the cello at about scratch.
After they graduated in the early 1970s a couple of things happened that made them a team.
They got married.
They discovered golf. Or golf found them.
And as "Mr. and Mrs. C" they have made their share of golfing history
over the past two and a half decades.
Alistair, who became serious about competing in the late 1970s, is a native of Forfar, Scotland but did not discover the game while under British rule.
Bonnie, who became a professor at Mount Holyoke, had barely hit a golf ball until the fall of 1978 when they lived in a faculty provided home not far from the practice range at the Orchards Golf Course (as it was then called).(Continued)

The Ranch

By JAY NOMAKEO

Contracts and fuel oil I know because I work for a commodities trading firm. Baseball and bugs I know because I have two sons but as of yet I do not have the experience to know the world of tee's and tams. I have neither heard nor felt the calling that has spirited away so many of our husbands, sons and bosses (and the occasional sister!).

Once, though, when I was on a long weekend vacation with my husband in New Hampshire we happened to be staying near a very impressive public golf course. My husband wanted to play so badly that he decided to introduce me to that world (of course I'd tried my hand at miniature golf many a time but the big league had up to this point eluded me). So there we were, clubs in hand with a view that was quite spectacular - Imagine, all that wide open space and not a toddler in sight! Quick, grab a beach chair and the suntan lotion!!
(Continued)

Tee Party links 3 golf generations

Senior women set for New England

There will be a senior flavor to four of the pro tour golf events scheduled for New England this summer.
The United States Senior Open will bring the world's best 50 and over players to Massachusetts and historic Salem Country Club in Peabody June 28-July 1.
That will follow by one week the annual Senior PGA Tour stop at Nashawtuc Country Club in nearby Concord. This year the Fleet Boston Classic will be played June 22-24 with Larry Nelson the defending champion.
Hale Irwin will defend in the Senior Open. Though the Senior Open is, in fact, open to amateurs it is realistically just one more stop on the Senior PGA Tour.
The Fleet event has been moved ahead from its usual late summer slot to provide a two-week swing for the senior boys.
The Greater Hartford Open will surely be won by one of the PGA Tour's regular members when it is staged in direct conflict with the Senior Open with its June 28-July 1 dates at TPC of Connecticut in Cromwell. But to celebrate the event's 50th running past champions are being invited.(Continued)