The plan is simple and excellent. Implementation is the challenge.

No one knows that better than Sean McCarthy, director of operations of Resurrection Golf. Last Dec. 7, Sean and his father, Kevin, retired CEO (2013) of Unum, took over the Bath Country Club and have been running it all year.

“We were not a company then, because we had just one golf course,” Sean McCarthy said. “But then we bought Old Marsh and Penobscot Valley, so we created Resurrection Golf.”

Last week, the Bangor Daily News reported that Resurrection Golf acquired Penobscot Valley from Harris Golf without an exchange of cash. Instead, Resurrection Golf has agreed to pay $227,000 in back taxes, plus some other lesser outstanding bills.

Resurrection Golf’s small operation, which quickly became much bigger, also owns and operates Sandbaggers Driving Range and Mini Golf in Bath and Chips on the Green at Wawenock in Walpole.

So what is the vision of this growing golf operation?

“In general, what is good for the golf industry is good for us,” Sean McCarthy said. “We want to bring back the idea that golf is first. Then slowly get the courses back in shape. “

Resurrection wants to broaden its perspective, and to that extent it has held open forum meetings with club members and staff. From it, the plan, particularly at Penobscot Valley, is to place emphasis on fertilization and to renovate tee boxes, greens and bunkers.

It is early in this overall planning, but Sean McCarthy recognizes that taking small steps to accomplish the goals is the way to succeed.

“We are humbled by the opportunity,” he said. “Things are going very well so far. And we are trying to work with community programs and chambers of commerce.”

With the exception of Kevin McCarthy, all of the titled people in Resurrection Golf were employees of Harris Golf, the previous owners of Bath, Old Marsh and Penobscot Valley. That includes Sean McCarthy, Ryan Atwood, director of media and events, and Leon Oliver, director of golf operations.

“We learned a lot from that,” Sean McCarthy said. And now they have a chance to put that experience to good and successful use.

*****

At the U.S. Four Ball Qualifier held Sept. 12-13 held at the Black Rock Country Club in Hingham, Massachusetts, a total of 10 Mainers were in the field. The duos of Austin Teal (Brunswick) and Alexander Viola (Loudonville, New York) and Joe Alvarez (North Berwick) and Ricky Jones (Thomaston) shot 64s but failed to gain alternate positions.

Joe Walp (Portland) and Kyle Buschmann (East Haddam, Connecticut) and Jack Wyman (Old Orchard Beach) and Peter Wright (South Freeport) finished with 67s, while Craig Chapman (Auburn) Curtis Jordan (Portland) carded a 68, and Joe Baker (Oxford) Andrew Slattery (Portland) had 69.

Wyman, Walp, Jones and Alvarez are members of the Maine squad playing this weekend in the Tri-State Matches at New Hampshire’s Mt. Washington Resort.

*****

Just two Mainers — Cash Wiseman of Falmouth and Len Cole of Penobscot Valley — entered the New England Senior Championship Sept. 12-13 at the Wethersfield (Connecticut) Country Club. Wiseman shot 75-76—151 to finish tied for 25th place, while Cole had 73-80—153 to tie for 36th.

Wiseman is a member of the Maine team playing in the annual Tri-State Matches this weekend at Mt. Washington Resort.

*****

The Maine State Golf Association schedule for the upcoming week is highlighted by the Mid-Amateur Championship Sept. 23-24 at Dunegrass. There is a Mid-Week tournament Sept. 21 at Prouts Neck and a Senior Tour event Sept. 19 at Sanford. The U.S. Kids will be at Gorham Sept. 23.

Bill Kennedy

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