As much as golf courses wanted more rain two years ago to help feed their starving fairways, now they are begging for Mother Nature to turn off the water spigot.
“We really need some sun out here,” said Jason Hurd, the teaching professional at the Bethel Inn and Country Club. “It’s been terrible for golfers so far.”
The Bethel Inn’s course is already set around natural water, and the over-saturation this spring and into June has waterlogged some of the lower-lying fairways.
“It’s hard, sometimes, to get the mowers through,” said Hurd.
Still, Hurd said, there are plenty of reasons to dust off the clubs and make the trip to Bethel. The course is green, and the scenery still hasn’t changed. Also, new this year, the Inn is offering a new family golf school package that lets a family of four enjoy a three-hour golf lesson with Hurd, a two-time Maine teaching professional of the year, and his staff.
“That allows the family to go out and hike or sight-see, or even play more golf on their own,” said Hurd. “We’ve been getting a great response on that so far.”
Kids’ program rolls on
Norway Country Club’s junior program, which has existed in some form for almost 30 years, has continued to operate despite the spring’s soggy conditions.
“It’s like deja vu from last year,” said Dave Mazzeo, who runs the junior program at Norway. “We actually got in our first full week (Friday).”
Mazzeo’s numbers are steady, too. He has more than 20 golfers under the age of 12, and another 10 through the age of 16.
“We used to do a lot more, hold a tournament and everything,” said Mazzeo, but that was before the MSGA and others started having 16 tournaments a summer at 18-hole courses. We served a purpose for the time.”
Still, Mazzeo’s program remains strong. With the addition in recent years of a practice sand trap and driving range, Mazzeo has been able to break things up for the participants. On rainy days, he has video sessions. He teaches care of the course and etiquetee, too.
“The main thing, though, is to make sure they’re having fun,” said Mazzeo. “To keep them busy, and to keep them excited about the game.”
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