Par for the Course: Maine's golf season ahead of schedule - Lewiston Sun Journal

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The entire State of Maine is being told that COVID-19 is in the process of containment, and that people can begin to think about a return to normalcy.

This definitely applies to golf courses.

Bill Kennedy, Golf Columnist

Some courses will continue to have rules like social distancing, according to Brian Bickford, executive director of the Maine State Golf Association, who noted that clubhouses may or may not be open, and if open, facemasks may need to be worn.

Bickford believes the entire state is ready for a full season of golf, and it comes at an ideal time because Maine golf courses this spring are in prime condition. Many opened in April, and as Bickford pointed out, “Maine courses in April were in June condition.”

So, avid golfers have flocked to courses throughout Vacationland.

COVID-19, however, has caused golf courses to be innovative, and a prime example of this is Poland Spring, Maine’s most historic course and golf property.

On June 8, Poland Spring will be the site of the annual Fenn-Ross Tournament, which is a fund-raiser for the Poland Spring Preservation Society. The field is full at 36 teams for a third consecutive year.

To ensure that the event will not become a COVID-19 breeding ground, there will be a continental breakfast and box lunch on the course. If the State of Maine recommends that dividers are used in two-player golf carts, Poland Spring is prepared to comply because it is one of many golf courses which did that for the 2020 season.

“We will do what the state tells us what we can do,” said Fenn-Ross tournament committee chairman Jim Delamater.

There is, however, hope that some of the golf restrictions — like closed restaurants and bars, and masks, will be lifted before this tournament is held. A bonus is that it appears that the Poland Spring museums will be open for tours by players when the tournament is concluded.

Weather has been kind to Maine golf this spring, which is yet another reason the “new normal” of Maine country clubs, semi-private clubs and municipal courses has evolved into traditional golf competition and outdoor19th holes.

If you are a Maine golfer, you have to be happy about the prospects of all of this.

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The Maine State Golf Association is having “Play Days” for men and women. To be eligible for this, players need to have a GHIN membership along with a membership at a Maine golf club/course.

This week’s men’s schedule includes play days May 25 at Samoset, and May 28-29 at Fairlawn. The women’s schedule has one May 25 at Sanford/Lakewood.

There also is a weekly play day May 26 at Goose River.

The MSGA also is conducting its club team championship Sunday and its senior club championship May 24, both at Belgrade Lakes.

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The MSGA has released an interesting statistic about Maine golf courses. It reported that 52 percent of the golf courses in the Pine Tree State are nine-hole facilities.

The National Golf Foundation (NGF) disputes this, claiming that 54 percent of Maine’s courses are nine holes. It also says this ranks Maine No. 7 in terms of nine-hole golf courses, among the 50 states.

The percentage difference was not explained, but that could be because two percent of Maine’s nine-hole golf courses do not have a membership in the MSGA.

*****

The return of “Par for the Course” after missing the 2020 season, is exciting for this veteran golf writer. It is the hope here that significant and entertaining golf news can be transmitted during the 2021 season to all readers who love golf.

Bill Kennedy, a retired New Jersey golf writer and editor now residing on Thompson Lake in Otisfield, is in his ninth season as the Sun Journal’s golf columnist.

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