Many area golfers, including this writer, have crossed Summit Springs off their list of courses to play in recent years. The condition was so deplorable even the fantastic view to the west as you look at the White Mountains of New Hampshire did not attract golfers to Summit Springs.

Enter Dr. Steve Kinney, an Auburn veterinarian and a Poland resident of more than 30 years, who purchased the course in June 2014. While there is a lot left to be done at Summit Springs, Kinney and its staff have resurrected it.

Tree removal has opened the course to make the White Mountains view even more spectacular. Then Kinney came up with another viewing idea: Trees and brush were removed behind the clubhouse so that you could see the Poland Spring Inn to the east and beyond Greene as you look 25-30 miles to the northeast.

“I knew nothing about golf when I took over,” Kinney said.

But he certainly was a man of vision. He estimates that more than 60 trees have been removed. That makes it a better course, and aesthetically a more beautiful tract of land, which prompted him to say: “At first, people would drive by and wouldn’t think the place was open. A lot of people are checking us out now.”

The nine-hole course itself is a lot better because of an irrigation system, which has helped to improve the tee boxes and greens, long known to be mediocre. Again, Kinney recognizes that more improvements are necessary, but he is proud of the new-look Summit Springs, which has real sand in its bunkers.

On the staff is Mary Folan Rich, the course manager. At her encouragement, the shoddy old clubhouse has been converted to a modern facility. There is a deck surrounding the building. The kitchen also has been upgraded. It contains a meeting area and a room for catering. On the west side of the clubhouse is Mary’s Irish Pub, named after Mary Rich’s Irish mother. Members and nonmembers have found it to be a pleasant place to eat dinner or just hang out. Rich does a home-cooked meal 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday nights.

Kinney appreciates the history of Summit Springs, built in 1899 as a hotel and course for people who could not get memberships at the Poland Spring Inn and Golf Course. To that extent, a gazebo has been built on the east side of the White Oak Hill Cemetery, which is adjacent to the seventh tee and eighth green.

A putting green has been built, and a practice range is on the horizon. At one time, Summit Springs had a “back four holes.” They are now closed, but disc golf, which was started at the course Sept. 3, is being played on one of those holes.

The road to the Summit Springs’ revival has had its bumps and turns, one of which was late-night vandalism Aug. 28 that left $10,000 in damage to the course and greens, and an equipment cart was stolen. The lack of rain has left burned-out grass spots on the course, but all Maine courses are struggling with that.

Kinney knows there is a long way to go, but his goal is to make Summit Springs the “nicest golf course in the area.” He also wants to keep the membership at the same reasonable level it has been since he became the owner. He thinks both can be accomplished.

Occasionally, Kinney has scratched his head and mumbled to himself: “Oh my God, what did I do?” For the most part, though, he is enjoying the challenge of a new business along with making new friends and associates.

“We have a lot of good people working here,” he said.

One of them is their boss.

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The Bethel Inn Resort will host a Fall Festival Golf Tournament on Sept. 27-29 in which it expects 25 pro-am teams to compete for prizes totaling $17,000.

There will be daily and overall prizes. Information on the event is available by telephoning head professional Harry Andrews at 824-6276.

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In the New England PGA’s Maine Chapter two-day event Sept. 6-7 at Rockland, Bob Darling of Fox Ridge shot 60-74—144 to finish in fifth place. No other area pros were in the top 10.

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The Maine State Golf Association is hosting the final day of the Tri-States Championship today at Belgrade Lakes. It has a Senior Tour event at Sable Oaks on Sept. 12, the Four-Ball Championship on Sept. 14-15 at Webhannet, and the weekend tournaments Sept. 16-17 at Riverside.