Family traditions run deep and strong in the game of golf and
such is the case with Sullivan County's McNamara's golf course maintenance
family.
Last week we highlighted information about Patrick McNamara, the new golf course superintendent at the Town of Fallsburg Tarry Brae and Lochmor Golf Course.
Leadership as a golf course superintendent has been a major part of this family and it all started as a post Army mechanic's job for Ray McNamara in 1957 at the former Homawack Lodge on Route 209 near Ellenville.
As local golf history reveals Ray's three sons, Mike, Pat and Terry all began their golf course maintenance careers at the Homawck.
When each of the boys turned 14 they went to work on the course doing work that did not involve using power tools but started out by raking bunkers, weeding and helping wherever they were needed.
In addition to working on the course dad Ray thought the boys needed an appreciation of the game so he taught them to play.
Mike, the oldest, is presently the superintendent at Grossinger's Country Club where he started as a seasonal employee at the age of 18, after already working for his dad for four years.
Mike graduated from Delhi in 1977 and became an assistant at Grossinger's and after seven years became the superintendent in 1984.
As we mentioned last week Patrick, before taking the superintendent's job at Tarry Brae and Lochmor was superintendent at Kutcher's. He, of course, also worked with his father and also worked courses at Mohonk, Paupack Hills, Swan Lake and Apple Greens.
Terry, the youngest son, spend 10 years in the hotel technology business in Atlanta, Ga. and returned to Sullivan County and went to work for his brother, Mike at Grossinger's and also worked at the Mohonk House and held the superintendent's position at the former Pine's Hotel golf course.
Dad Ray still works at the Big G (Grossinger's) as does Terry.
Over the years this well-known golf course maintenance family always collaborated with each other on problems and projects and they always were able to lend equipment and expertise.
Everyone at these golf resorts benefited from this family that shared their experience.
The four McNamara's always possessed a strong interest in keeping up with the changes and challenges in golf course construction and maintenance and had many opportunities to add their imprints to the courses they worked at.
This family of golf course maintenance experts have always been very supportive of professional organizations like the New York State Turfgrass Association and the Golf Course Superintendents Association.
And yes, the family still gets together to play a friendly but competitive round of golf ..... where there are no gimme putts.
Ed's Outlook
Several upcoming golf tournaments to report on this week.
The Steve Lagoda Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held August 25 at the Villa Roma golf course. This event will have a 1 p.m. shotgun start. A putting contest is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Four person captain and crew format.
Contact Brian Starr, PO Box 115, Lake Huntington, NY 12752 or call 845-397-2939.
The Roscoe Kiwanis Club's 23ed annual tournament is set for July 27 at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. For information call 607-498-5000.
The Lockmor LTGA Ladies League is holding a special "Goofy Golf" Disney Classics Ladies Invitational on Wednesday, July 23 starting with a 7:30 a.m. Continental breakfast and registration.
Tee time is 8:30 with a 18-hole shotgun start featuring a format of 2 player best ball of foursome with handicaps. There will be prizes, raffles, free give aways and a special prize for the best costume.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Allyson Whitney Foundation. For information call the Lochmor Golf Course at 845-434-1257.
Ed Townsend is a PR Consultant to the sport of Golf. Ed writes and compiles the information for this column. If you have league and tournament information, shoot a hole-in-one or even shoot your age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177 or 845-866-0333, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com, fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and all of Ed's pictures at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.
The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges
In today's ever-changing golf game, most players are under the influence that if they hit the ball longer they will play better.
Even though technology has increased how far the ball will travel, the scores are about the same.
There is no doubt that is you hit the ball longer you should have less club to the green and be able to get the ball closer to the hole and make more putts.
I believe this to be true, but you better be able to hit the shots on the green close to the pin. In order to hit the ball close, I feel it is important to carry three wedges in your golf bag. Most golfers have a pitching wedge that comes with the set. This club has about a 47-49 degrees of loft.
You have a choice to make for the other two wedges. A gap wedge comes with about 50 to 53 degrees of loft and a lob wedge is about 60 to 64 degrees of loft. I would choose between these two clubs depending on how far you hit the ball.
A lob wedge will save you shots around the green and a gap wedge will help you with the in between yardages in the fairway. You should always carry a sand wedge that has 54-57 degrees of loft.
Some touring Professionals will carry four wedges in their bag. The next time you play a round of golf, count how many strokes you take from 100 yards in to the hole. I think you find this will total about 60 percent of your score. When you are trying to improve your score, it is important to lower the number of shots you take close to the green. I think having three wedges in your bag will help you accomplish a lower score.
Robert Menges is the golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323 or by email at menges@hughes.net
Putting Tip
By Joseph Bermel Jr.
A special key to good consistent putting is finishing the putting stroke.
Most golfers do not finish and then they wonder why they are short of the hole.
You start the stroke.......you must finish and hold the finish.
Finishing means the putter head is a minimum 2 feet past the ball and this helps the momentum and the ball will roll end over end and will reach the hole.
Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, goup, corporate, organizations and golf show/tournaments. His special edition DVD "How To Putt Well" and his Putting Calendar are available at 631-589-1384, at his Web site www.ThePuttingDoctor.com or by email at joe@theputtingdoctor.com
Last week we highlighted information about Patrick McNamara, the new golf course superintendent at the Town of Fallsburg Tarry Brae and Lochmor Golf Course.
Leadership as a golf course superintendent has been a major part of this family and it all started as a post Army mechanic's job for Ray McNamara in 1957 at the former Homawack Lodge on Route 209 near Ellenville.
As local golf history reveals Ray's three sons, Mike, Pat and Terry all began their golf course maintenance careers at the Homawck.
When each of the boys turned 14 they went to work on the course doing work that did not involve using power tools but started out by raking bunkers, weeding and helping wherever they were needed.
In addition to working on the course dad Ray thought the boys needed an appreciation of the game so he taught them to play.
Mike, the oldest, is presently the superintendent at Grossinger's Country Club where he started as a seasonal employee at the age of 18, after already working for his dad for four years.
Mike graduated from Delhi in 1977 and became an assistant at Grossinger's and after seven years became the superintendent in 1984.
As we mentioned last week Patrick, before taking the superintendent's job at Tarry Brae and Lochmor was superintendent at Kutcher's. He, of course, also worked with his father and also worked courses at Mohonk, Paupack Hills, Swan Lake and Apple Greens.
Terry, the youngest son, spend 10 years in the hotel technology business in Atlanta, Ga. and returned to Sullivan County and went to work for his brother, Mike at Grossinger's and also worked at the Mohonk House and held the superintendent's position at the former Pine's Hotel golf course.
Dad Ray still works at the Big G (Grossinger's) as does Terry.
Over the years this well-known golf course maintenance family always collaborated with each other on problems and projects and they always were able to lend equipment and expertise.
Everyone at these golf resorts benefited from this family that shared their experience.
The four McNamara's always possessed a strong interest in keeping up with the changes and challenges in golf course construction and maintenance and had many opportunities to add their imprints to the courses they worked at.
This family of golf course maintenance experts have always been very supportive of professional organizations like the New York State Turfgrass Association and the Golf Course Superintendents Association.
And yes, the family still gets together to play a friendly but competitive round of golf ..... where there are no gimme putts.
Ed's Outlook
Several upcoming golf tournaments to report on this week.
The Steve Lagoda Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held August 25 at the Villa Roma golf course. This event will have a 1 p.m. shotgun start. A putting contest is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Four person captain and crew format.
Contact Brian Starr, PO Box 115, Lake Huntington, NY 12752 or call 845-397-2939.
The Roscoe Kiwanis Club's 23ed annual tournament is set for July 27 at the Tennanah Lake Golf & Tennis Club. For information call 607-498-5000.
The Lockmor LTGA Ladies League is holding a special "Goofy Golf" Disney Classics Ladies Invitational on Wednesday, July 23 starting with a 7:30 a.m. Continental breakfast and registration.
Tee time is 8:30 with a 18-hole shotgun start featuring a format of 2 player best ball of foursome with handicaps. There will be prizes, raffles, free give aways and a special prize for the best costume.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Allyson Whitney Foundation. For information call the Lochmor Golf Course at 845-434-1257.
Ed Townsend is a PR Consultant to the sport of Golf. Ed writes and compiles the information for this column. If you have league and tournament information, shoot a hole-in-one or even shoot your age, let Ed know at 845-439-8177 or 845-866-0333, email at edwardctownsend@hotmail.com, fax at 845-205-4474. View this column and all of Ed's pictures at http://bght.blogspot.com We are also on Facebook and Twitter.
The Golf Tip
By Robert Menges
In today's ever-changing golf game, most players are under the influence that if they hit the ball longer they will play better.
Even though technology has increased how far the ball will travel, the scores are about the same.
There is no doubt that is you hit the ball longer you should have less club to the green and be able to get the ball closer to the hole and make more putts.
I believe this to be true, but you better be able to hit the shots on the green close to the pin. In order to hit the ball close, I feel it is important to carry three wedges in your golf bag. Most golfers have a pitching wedge that comes with the set. This club has about a 47-49 degrees of loft.
You have a choice to make for the other two wedges. A gap wedge comes with about 50 to 53 degrees of loft and a lob wedge is about 60 to 64 degrees of loft. I would choose between these two clubs depending on how far you hit the ball.
A lob wedge will save you shots around the green and a gap wedge will help you with the in between yardages in the fairway. You should always carry a sand wedge that has 54-57 degrees of loft.
Some touring Professionals will carry four wedges in their bag. The next time you play a round of golf, count how many strokes you take from 100 yards in to the hole. I think you find this will total about 60 percent of your score. When you are trying to improve your score, it is important to lower the number of shots you take close to the green. I think having three wedges in your bag will help you accomplish a lower score.
Robert Menges is the golf professional at the Swan Lake Golf & Country Club, Mt. Hope Road, Swan Lake. He is available for private lessons and if you have a question or subject you would like covered, he can be reached at 845-292-0323 or by email at menges@hughes.net
Putting Tip
By Joseph Bermel Jr.
A special key to good consistent putting is finishing the putting stroke.
Most golfers do not finish and then they wonder why they are short of the hole.
You start the stroke.......you must finish and hold the finish.
Finishing means the putter head is a minimum 2 feet past the ball and this helps the momentum and the ball will roll end over end and will reach the hole.
Joe Bermel is available for private lessons, goup, corporate, organizations and golf show/tournaments. His special edition DVD "How To Putt Well" and his Putting Calendar are available at 631-589-1384, at his Web site www.ThePuttingDoctor.com or by email at joe@theputtingdoctor.com
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