East Mountain Country Club Named Public Golf

Spring / 2009
Inside This Issue
Vol. XI, No. 1
Professionals in New
Management Positions
THE CONNECTICUT SECTION
City Senior Open Swing
Professi nal
Schedule of Events 2009
Travelers Championship
Teams with Connecticut
Section PGA
Play Golf America Day
The Newsletter for Golf Professionals of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts
www.ctpga.com
East Mountain Country Club Named
Public Golf Course of the Year
PGA Professionals
Named to New
Management
Positions
E
ast Mountain Country Club in Westfield,
Massachusetts, has been named the 2009
recipient of the Walter Lowell Public Golf
Course Distinguished Service Award, as the model
public golf course serving the game of golf in
Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. East Mountain
becomes the first course in Massachusetts to receive he
award that was inaugurated in 2001 in honor of Canton
Public Golf Course for the standards it set towards a
public course’s responsibility to its community to
provide playing opportunities for all those who want to
play and learn the game.
East Mountain is a family-operated facility that today is
overseen by Ted Perez Jr., a PGA Member and the 2005
PGA Junior Golf Leader of Connecticut and Western
Massachusetts. It was Ted Perez Sr., who, in 1961,
followed his dream of building and owning a public golf
course that was both playable and affordable for the
working class man and woman.
“Ted Perez has exemplified the spirit of what a PGA
member is and should be, as did the namesake of this
award Mr. Walter Lowell,” said Ralph Salito, President of
the Section at the announcement. “Our entire PGA
membership looks up to Ted as a leader, player, teacher,
fine gentleman and true friend to many. We are
extremely proud and happy for Ted and the entire Perez
family that East Mountain Country Club was selected to
receive the Walter Lowell Distinguished Service Award.
Although now retired, Ted Sr. instilled many principles
of operation that are still followed today. His goal of
making the course playable was so once a week golfers
can enjoy the game of golf. “Isn’t that the reason we play
golf ?” he asks. “To have some fun and feel good about
our game?” There are only 14 bunkers on the golf course.
The rough is
not long and
the fairways
are generous.
“We believe
a friendly
atmosphere and a positive attitude to help players enjoy
their time at East Mountain,” says Ted Jr. “Our course
can be played in four hours or less. Even on busy
Sundays or a full course outing, your round consistently
is completed within four and a half hours. We believe
players enjoy the game more when the pace of play is
steady.”
The list of community involvement and activities that
East Mountain supports is endless. From Westfield Park
and Recreation Junior Camps to Western Massachusetts
Tee Parties to High School golf and to Junior PGA
Tournaments such as the Frank Kringle, the course is a
perennial host of a wide-ranging array of events that the
public and families can enjoy.
This year marks the 46th season of operation for the
Perez family. They continue with the same enthusiasm
and example that founder Ted Sr. set to do whatever
they can to make every golfer enjoy their day at East
Mountain. Whether it is the once a year golfer or the
everyday golfer, they want everyone to feel welcome and
that their presence is appreciated.
The Perez family and representatives from East
Mountain will be honored on Tuesday, May 26, at The
Orchards Golf Club, South Hadley, Mass., during the
annual Walter Lowell PGA Tournament. PGA
Professionals from the Connecticut and Western
Massachusetts will participate in the golf tournament
and attend the awards ceremony that follows.
Connecticut Senior Open Accepting Applications Through June 1
City Senior Open Swing
The Connecticut Senior Open will again be hosted by
Shennecossett, a golf course rich in state golf heritage.
The Town of Groton celebrated its course Centennial
during the 1998 Connecticut Senior Open when the
Donald Ross design added and opened its three new
holes along the Thames River and former site of the
famous Griswold Hotel. This marks the twelfth
consecutive year that Shennecossett will host the
Connecticut Senior Open.
Senior professionals and amateurs who have reached
their 50th birthday by July 13, 2009, are eligible to
compete. Senior amateurs must have up-to-date and
verified USGA handicap index not exceeding 9.5.All
non-exempt players who are interested in competing in
the Connecticut Senior Open must qualify through one
of the three City Senior Open Swing events; the
Springfield Senior Open on Thursday, June 4 at
Franconia Golf Course, the Hartford Senior Open on
Tuesday, June 9 at Rockledge Golf Course, or the New
Haven Senior Open at Alling Memorial Golf Course on
Thursday, June 18. All non-exempt players must enter
and pay their Connecticut Senior Open Entry Fee by
June 1, and also pay the entry fee for the City Senior
Open Swing event they wish to qualify through.
• Entry fees are $80 for amateurs and $125 for professionals, golf
car fee included.
• Deadline to register is one week prior to each event.
• Each City Senior Open is an 18-hole competition with an
individual prize purse
• Each City Senior Open serves as a qualifier for non exempt
players for the 27th Connecticut Senior Open —
deadline to enter is June 1
• Applications may be completed online by visiting
www.ctpga.com.
• For a list of exempt players, go to www.ctpga.com
Thank you to this year’s sponsors:
American Express, Aquafina, Club Car, Foxwoods
Resort Casino, and the Waterford Hotel Group.
“The experts in the game and business of golf
in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.”
Several section PGA
Professionals have accepted
head golf professional
positions this season including:
John Cook, Manchester
Country Club; Kevin Mahaffy,
Pequabuck Golf Club;
Al Pascale, Keney Park Golf
Course; Wayne Smyth,
Indian Hill Country Club,
and Scott Targowski, Orange
Hills Country Club.
Welcome to the section the
following PGA Professionals
who also accepted head
professional positions:
Paul Barnsley, Race Brook
Country Club; Peter Egazarian,
The Tradition Golf Club at
Windsor; Stephen Roach,
D. Fairchild Wheeler Golf
Course;
Also accepting new
management positions are:
Pat Aquaro, Director of Golf,
Gillette Ridge Golf Club;
Bill Flood, General Manager,
Rock Ridge Country Club;
Al Pascale, head professional,
Keney Park Golf Course;
Frank Selva, Director of Golf,
Race Brook Country Club; and
Jim Stickels, General Manager,
Orchards Golf Club.
Matt Menchetti, MDM Golf
Enterprises has taken over
the management of Keney
Park Golf Course and Goodwin
Golf Course, and now oversees
a total of seven facilities
in Connecticut.
Also new to the section is
PGA Professional Sally Sohn,
who has been hired as the
Player Development Program
Manager for the Connecticut
Section.
Other PGA Professionals
new to the section include
Jennifer Barnsley, teaching
professional, Race Brook
Country Club; Kevin Cain,
assistant professional, Richter
Park Golf Course; Ryan Kesten,
assistant professional, Hartford
Golf Club; Patrick Gallagher,
assistant professional, Race
Brook Country Club; Paul
Grandazzo, Dick’s Sporting
Goods, Hadley, Mass.; David
Salustro, assistant professional,
Brownson Country Club; and
Brad Stewart, Dick’s Sporting
Goods, West Springfield, Mass.
2 THE CONNECTICUT SECTION Professional / Spring / 2009
The E-Z-GO PGA Pro
Officer at Yale
PGA Member
Elections
The E-Z-GO PGA Pro-Officer
Tournament is an important event
where section PGA Professionals
enjoy a day of golf with their club
or course president, owner, or
officer. This year’s 18-hole better
ball stroke play event will be hosted
by the historic Yale University Golf
Course, in New Haven, on June 16.
Defending champions, PGA
Professional Greg Farland and
partner Bill Plante from Quaboag
Country Club won with a score of
fourteen under par.
Congratulations to David Burstein,
assistant professional, The Farms
Country Club; Michael Devlin,
head professional, Elmcrest
Country Club; John Dipollina,
head professional, Minnechaug
Golf Course; Colin Mulready,
assistant professional, Rockledge
Golf Club; Andrew Ouellet,
assistant professional, Orchards
Golf Club; and Ronnie Pfaefflin,
head professional, Norfolk
Country Club; who completed
the necessary requirements
and have been elected to
PGA Membership.
New for this year will be an
educational component to the day.
Guest speakers will include Christine
Garrity, General Counsel and
Managing Director for The PGA of
America; and Major Ed Pulido, Folds
of Honor and Patriot Golf Day. Each
will make a short presentation at
lunch. Also, this year will mark the
first time that the event will feature
a prize purse, thanks to E-Z-GO
and supporting sponsors Kirk & Matz
and Mizuno.
Also, a drawing will take place for a
foursome in the Aetna Tournament
Players Pro-Am to be played on
Monday, June 22, at TPC River
Highlands. To qualify for this
exclusive drawing, PGA facilities
must have signed up through the
Travelers Championship and sold
a minimum of 40 tickets by the
Friday, June 5 deadline.
Junior Golf Association
Now Recruiting Members
Deadline to Register
is June 4
All junior golfers are invited to
register for the 2009 Junior Golf
Association (JGA) membership.
Membership in the JGA is open to
all boys and girls, ages 10-18, who
reside, or go to school, within the
boundaries of the section (includes
Western Massachusetts), and have
not yet begun college. There are no
handicap requirements to join, but
members must pass a USGA Rules
of Golf Test and must be certified
by a PGA Professional. In addition
to these two requirements, all
2009 members must attend the
4th Junior Golf Association
Orientation on Saturday, June 13, in
order to activate their membership.
For complete information go to
ctpga.com or contact Sally at
860-257-4653.
New for 2009
• In 2009, JGA is open to golfers
18 years old by the start of each
tournament who have not yet
begun college.
Half Century
PGA Member
Congratulations to PGA Life
Member Dick Burkarth who has
achieved membership in The
PGA of America Half Century
Club. This elite group has served
The PGA with honor and pride
for 50 years. He was the head
professional at Shuttle Meadow
Country Club for over 30 years.
Congratulations, Dick!
Tony Kelley Wins
PGA Tournament of
Champions In Playoff
Earns Exemption
To 2009 Travelers
Championship
NEWINGTON, CONN. –
Tony Kelley, the head golf
professional at Wyckoff Country
Club, birdied the first playoff hole
to win Connecticut Section PGA
Tournament of Champions at
Indian Hill Country Club, earning
him an exemption into the PGA
TOUR 2009 Travelers
Championship at TPC River
Highlands, June 22-28. Kelley
and Joe Mongillo, assistant
professional at Timberlin Golf
Course, both shot one-under-par
71, one shot better than Mark
Farrell, assistant professional at
H. Smith Richardson, who finished
third. Ed Day, the club champion
from Fairview Farm Golf Course,
shot 74 and was the low amateur
for the tournament.
It was the seventh individual
section championship title and
the first Tournament of
Champions victory for Kelley,
who now ranks tied for fifth in
the section for number of titles.
This marks the eighth time that
Kelley will play in the Travelers
Championship and he will be
looking to make the cut for the
first time.
• Travelers Championship PGA TOUR
Pro-Junior, Tuesday, June 23, 2009
An opportunity to play with PGA
TOUR professionals
Important dates to remember:
• JGA Orientation, Saturday,
June 13, 9-11:30AM, University
of Connecticut
• TOUR registration opens June 15,
6:00 PM
• First TOUR Tournament, Monday,
June 29
Tony Kelley (C) accepts the
Dennis Coscina Trophy from
Eric Clark, Tournament
Program Director, (l) and Tom
Hantke, Executive Director.
Experience excellence
round after round.
As a proud supporter of the Connecticut Section PGA, E-Z-GO®
shares your dedication to continually grow and enhance the
game of golf and its players.
To see our entire Golf lineup, visit www.ezgo.com.
Frank Savakis
203.605.0554
fsavakis@textron.com
THE CONNECTICUT SECTION Professional / Spring / 2009 3
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
2009
MAY
4
5
6
7
12
18
20
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Tuesday
Monday
Wednesday
26
26-27
Tuesday
Tues.-Wed.
SEPTEMBER
Mohegan Sun Pro-Am Series: Pro & 3 Amateur, Race Brook CC
Assistants’ Association Individual Pro Tour, Manchester CC
PGA Playing Ability Test, Stanley GC
Julius Boros Challenge Cup Matches, New Haven CC
Tournament of Champions, Indian Hill CC
United States Open Qualifier, Crumpin-Fox Club
Connecticut Special Olympics - Coaches Clinic,
Quinnipiac University
Walter Lowell PGA Tournament, Orchards Golf Club
Connecticut Women’s Open, Heritage Village CC
JUNE
1
Monday
2
4
5-7
Tuesday
Thursday
Fri.-Sun.
8
9
13
15
Monday
Tuesday
Saturday
Monday
16
Tuesday
17
Wednesday
18
Thursday
22
Monday
22
Monday
Tuesday
23
25
Thursday
25-28
Thurs.-Sun.
29
Monday
29
Monday
30
Tuesday
Madison CC
Mohegan Sun Pro-Am Series: Pro & 3 Senior Amateur,
New London CC
PGA Playing Ability Test, Laurel View CC
Springfield Senior Open, Franconia GC
Connecticut Special Olympics Summer Games,
Southern Conn. University
Travelers Championship Kick Off Pro-Am, TPC River Highlands
Hartford Senior Open, Rockledge GC
JGA Orientation and Testing, TBA
Salesperson-Professional Invitational Tournament,
Bull’s Bridge GC
Pro-Officer, Yale GC
Travelers Championship Pre-Qualifier, Bull’s Bridge GC
New Haven Senior Open, Alling Memorial GC
Travelers Championship 4-spot Open Qualifier, Bull’s Bridge GC
Stan McLennan PGA Pro Invitational, Suffield CC
Play Golf America Day, TPC River Highlands
Assistants’ Association Individual Pro Tour, Crumpin Fox Club
The Travelers Championship, TPC River Highlands
Mohegan Sun Pro-Am Series Pro & 3 Amateur, The Ranch GC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: Pequabuck Junior Open, Pequabuck GC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: Connecticut Elks Junior Tournament,
JULY
2
6
6-7
6
7
12
13
13-14
14
Thursday
Monday
Mon.-Tues.
Monday
Tuesday
Sunday
Monday
Mon.-Tues.
Tuesday
16
17
Thursday
Friday
17-19
18
Fri.-Sun.
Saturday
20
Monday
21
22
Tuesday
Wednesday
23
Thursday
27
Monday
27-29
28
Mon.-Wed.
Tuesday
The Western Mass. Open, Crumpin-Fox Club
Bic Pro Lady, Oronoque CC
Junior CT PGA Championship, Oak Lane CC
Connecticut Open Qualifier, New London CC
Connecticut Open Qualifier, Yale GC
Connecticut Senior Open Pro Am, Shennecossett GC
Connecticut Open Qualifier, Laurel View CC
Connecticut Senior Open, Shennecossett GC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: The Oak Ridge Junior Open,
Oak Ridge GC
Assistants’ Association Individual Pro Tour, Race Brook CC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: The Frank Kringle Junior Championship,
East Mountain CC
The New England Golf Classic, Wintonbury Hills GC
Connecticut Special Olympics Clinic & Golf Instruction,
Lyman Orchards GC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: The Ellington Ridge,
Camera Memorial Junior Open, Ellington Ridge CC
Pro-Assistant Championship, Tumble Brook CC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: The Charlie Ormsby Junior Classic,
Fairview Farm GC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: The Lyman Orchards Junior Open,
Lyman Orchards GC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: Torrington Rotary Junior Classic,
Torrington CC
The Connecticut Open, Hartford GC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: Chicopee Junior Open, Chicopee CC
AUGUST
3
3
4
8-9
10
Monday
Monday
Tuesday
Sat.-Sun.
Monday
10
Monday
11
12
14
17-18
17
Tuesday
Wednesday
Friday
Mon.-Tues.
Monday
18
20
Tuesday
Thursday
22
23
24-26
29
Saturday
Sunday
Mon.-Wed.
Saturday
31
Monday
The following is a comprehensive listing of section programs. Please
refer to the CALENDAR menu option (along the top of the home page)
on the section website, www.ctpga.com, during the season for changes.
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: The Ranch Junior Open, The Ranch GC
The Manchester Open, Manchester CC
PGA McGladrey Team Championship, TPC River Highlands
Massachusetts Special Olympics, Cherry Hill GC
Mohegan Sun Pro-Am Series: Pro & 3 Amateur,
Ellington Ridge CC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: The Pat Jackman Memorial Junior
Tournament, CC of Waterbury
PGA Playing Ability Test, Hunter GC
The Zwick Pro-Am, The Farms CC
The Tower Ridge Pro Junior Tournament, Tower Ridge CC
58th Senior CT PGA Championship, CC of Waterbury
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: Wintonbury Hills Junior Open,
Wintonbury Hills GC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: Indian Hill Junior Open, Indian Hill CC
PGA Junior Golf TOUR: Crumpin-Fox Junior Open,
Crumpin-Fox Club
Connecticut Special Olympics Tournament, Race Brook CC
Wethersfield PGA Championship Pro Member, Wethersfield CC
78th Connecticut PGA Championship, Wethersfield CC
Jack Kelly PGA Junior Tournament of Champions,
Fox Hopyard GC
Mohegan Sun Pro-Am Series: Pro & 3 Amateur, Mill River CC
6
8-9
9
14
15
15
21-22
27
28
Sunday
Tues.-Wed.
Wednesday
Monday
Tuesday
Tuesday
Mon.-Tues.
Sunday
Monday
29
Tuesday
Connecticut Special Olympics State Games
Assistant Championship, Springfield CC
PGA Playing Ability Test, East Mountain CC
Pro-Am Championship, Black Hall Club
Assistants’ Association Individual Pro Tour, Rock Ridge CC
The CAGCS Invitational, Glastonbury Hills CC
Section PGA Professional Championship, Watertown GC
New England Special Olympics Tournament, Raceway GC
Mohegan Sun Pro-Am Series: Pro & 3 Amateur,
Hop Meadow CC
PGA Playing Ability Test, Timberlin GC
OCTOBER
1
2
5
6
12
13
Thursday
Friday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Monday
Tuesday
15
19-20
26-27
29
Thursday
Mon.-Tues.
Non.-Tues.
Thursday
AA Fall Pro Pro & Annual Meeting, Hartford GC
The Shelton Exchange Pro Am, Brownson CC
The Watertown Pro-Member, Watertown GC
The Fall Golf Sales Representative Preview Show
The Elmcrest Pro-Member, Elmcrest CC
Mohegan Sun Pro-Am Series Team Championship,
Mohegan Sun CC
SNEWGA Pro-Lady, Sterling Farms GC
Match Play Championship, Wallingford CC
LOI PGA Pro-Scratch Invitational, Lake of Isles
Del Kinney Pro Pro, Gillette Ridge GC
NOVEMBER
2
22
23
Monday
Sunday
Monday
I
I
I
I
I
Fall Education Seminar, T.B.D.
Special Awards Banquet, Foxwoods
76th AnnualMeeting, Foxwoods
PGA Section Member Championships
Mohegan Sun PGA Pro-Am Series
Recognized and Approved Events
Section Tournaments and Programs
PGA Junior Golf TOUR
4 THE CONNECTICUT SECTION Professional / Spring / 2009
Travelers Championship Teams Up With
Connecticut Section PGA
Birdies for Charity Campaign
The Travelers Championship has partnered with Connecticut Section
PGA and the Junior Golf Association to raise funds for the
Connecticut Section PGA Golf Foundation. Several exciting initiatives
will be conducted to benefit The Foundation which in turn supports
numerous Growth of the Game programs in Connecticut and Western
Massachusetts.
Tickets to the Travelers Championship will be sold by all PGA facilities
at the reduced rate of $20 over the regular gate price of $32. Half of the
ticket price will be donated to a non-profit organization of choice.
Facilities that sell a minimum of 40 tickets by June 5 will be included in
a drawing for a foursome in the Aetna Tournament Players Pro-Am to
be played on June 22 at TPC River Highlands. The drawing will take
place at the E-Z-GO PGA Pro-Officer Tournament on June 16.
Members of the Junior Golf Association (JGA) will be participating in
the Birdies for Charity campaign. The JGA members with the top 24
highest pledges will have the extraordinary opportunity to play in the
Kickoff Pro-Am alongside a PGA TOUR professional on June 23 at
TPC River Highlands. Other spots will be selected from The First Tee
of Connecticut participants and via JGA Exemptions.
Play Golf America Day will be held again this year in conjunction
with the Travelers Championship on June 23. Attendees at the
Championship will have the opportunity for a Free Lesson with a PGA
Professional as well as equipment demonstrations by several vendors.
JUNE 22-28, 2009
TPC River Highlands ~ Cromwell, CT
Be Part of the Action at the Travelers Championship
Sell tickets, support local charities and you could play!
All Connecticut Section PGA golf facilities are invited to sell tickets to the Travelers Championship through
the Chip In for Charity program. In this program, facilities may sell tickets for just $20, offering a significant
savings, as gate price for tickets is $32. The Travelers Championship will then donate $10 of each ticket sold
to the Connecticut Section PGA Golf Foundation.
Incentives!
Participating facilities that sell a minimum of 40 tickets will be included in a drawing to be rewarded with a
foursome in the Aetna Tournament Players Pro-Am, to be played on Monday, June 22 at TPC River Highlands.
2009 Bonus!
If the total sales of all clubs reaches 2,500 tickets ($50,000), then the Travelers Championship will make
a $25,000 contribution to the CT Section PGA Foundation. In addition, the Travelers Championship will
sponsor the Assistant Professional Championship with an $8,000 contribution to the purse and travel
expenses for 2 Assistant Professionals to attend the National PGA of America Assistant Championship.
playgolfamerica
For details, contact Caitlin Champ
860-502-6804
cchamp@travelerschampionship.com
com
35 Cold Spring Road, Suite 212
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
HELP STOP THE NEW GOLF TAX!
CONTACT YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS!!!
Caucus Phone Numbers:
Senate Democrats: 860.240.8600
Senate Republicans: 860.240.8800
House Democrats: 860.240.8500
House Republicans: 860.240.8700
House Members:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/hlist.asp
Senate Members:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/menu/slist.asp
LAWMAKERS PROPOSING NEW 6% SALES TAX ON GOLF
Senate Bill 932
Senate Bill 932 will impose a new 6% Sales Tax:
• Green Fees
• Golf Lessons
• Practice Range Balls
• Golf Tournament Entry Dees
• An additional 6% tax on the current 10% tax on membership
dues
TAKE ACTION IMMEDIATELY:
It is important for all golfers to take action before this
becomes part of the 2010 budget on July 1, 2009. The
Connecticut Golf Alliance has created a website with
complete information on Bill 932 and how contact your
elected officials. Complete information is available at
www.ctgolfalliance.com on how to write or call your elected
officials to explain why you believe this is bad for golf, print
material for your golf shop, and join the Coalition.
The Newsletter for Golf Professionals of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts