Ron Bibeau, executive director of First Tee of Maine, might be one of Maine’s most decorated golf service awards recipient, but that is far from the many reasons he is so consumed by the sport.

“I don’t do what I do for honor or distinction,” said Bibeau, who was a golf course professional before he took the First Tee position in January of 2012. ” Every day, I absolutely can’t wait to go to work. It’s always fun stuff. I get to work with kids who need help with golf.”

His impact on the Maine First Tee program during his first season was so evident that he received the New England PGA junior golf leader award in 2013, and recently it was announced that Bibeau would be one of three men inducted into the Maine Hall of Fame Sept. 11 during ceremonies at the Poland Spring Resort. Alan Bouchard of Boothbay Harbor and Spike Herrick of Portland are the other two inductees.

First Tee and Bibeau have been perfect together. Many courses throughout Maine have started First Tee programs for kids under Bibeau’s guidance, and he even has a program at for critically ill children at Camp Sunshine.

Prior to being hired by First Tee, he was head pro at Riverside 2004-12 and at Turner Higlands 2001-04. It was at Martindale as an assistant pro for 10 years before being a head pro, however, that Bibeau’s life positively was altered forever.

Bibeau was asked to give golf lessons at nearby Fairlawn, and it was there that he met Julie Bartasuis, whom he married in 1998. Because she is the daughter of Fairlawn owner and pro Frank Bartasuis (a 2010 Maine Hall of Fame inductee), she had a great understanding of the golf business.

“Julie has been amazing,” Bibeau said. ” She is my inspiration.”

Bibeau is a multiple recipient of Maine PGA service and junior leader awards, but perhaps no honor in the state is greater than being selected for its golf hall of fame.

“I am very honored and humbled. This is a great distinction,” he said. “I have had a lot of mentors and worked for some great people.”

Still winterizing

Many of Maine’s golf courses continue to work their way through problems created by the severe winter of 2013-14. Sunday River is no exception.

The front nine was opened May 23, and the back nine June 20, which actually was an improvement over 2013, when Sunday River became open to the public July 17.

Through the efforts of the staff of superintendent Dave D’Andrea, Sunday River’s greens are immaculate. The next project is the fairways, which took a beating during the winter and will be the target of punching, seeding and reseeding, according to Grey Perry, who is in his sixth season as Sunday River general manager.

The goal is to have the fairways in top shape for the Exotics Tour’s fourth event of the 2014 season, which is scheduled Aug. 26, and is a tournament to which Perry and his staff look forward with pride.

“It’s awesome,” he said, “having pros with three members here at the jewel of the Harris crown.”

Shawn Warren of Falmouth won the Sunday River 2013 Exotics Tour title by shooting 71, and Perry said he hopes that 40 groups contend for this year’s championship.

For those who missed the July 17 Exotics Tour results at Old Marsh, with their scores and cash totals, Tim Desmarais ($3,000) of Purpoodock shot 67 to win, with Chad Hopkins ($1,250) of the Hopkins Golf School and former Maine Amateur champion Sean Gorgone ($1,087.50) tied for second at 68. JJ Harris ($1,337.50) of Penobscot Valley was fourth with a 70.

Six players tied for sixth with 71s: Ryan Gay ($498.71) of Augusta, Shawn Warren ($585.71), Michael Hersey ($410.71) of Samoset, Matt Prior, John Hickson ($485.71) of Dick’s Sporting Goods Topsham, Evan Hyme ($648.21) and Kirk Hanefield ($410.71) of Massachusetts..

That gives nine players more than $1,000 on the season, with Warren as No. 1 with $4,544.01, followed by Desmarais $3,810.40, Rich Berberian of Windham, N.H., $3,330, Harris $1,957.50, Gay $1,548.71, Hersey $1,336.87, Hopkins 1,250, and Gorgone, $1,087.50. Leon Oliver of Bath is 10th at $841.65.

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