Polo Mallets & Assistant Pros

 

Thursday, April 27th. The New England PGA Assistant’s Association visited the rural terrain of Dedham Country & Polo Club, a Seth Raynor-designed golf course, the only one in Massachusetts. Many new members of the Association joined us for this event.

The natural terrain of the course was displayed beautifully with the routing. For the beginning holes, one and two, Raynor uses the low point of Rock Meadow Brook to bring caution to your mind on both tee shots. For each hole, you cross the brook with either your head held high or peering down to the brook to desperately search for your ball.

Adjacent to the clubhouse is the third hole, the place where the birdies began. Our President, Cody Sweeney, PGA, Thorny Lea Golf Club, started the contest with a great birdie on this long and challenging par 3, Redan template. Sweeney struck a perfect long iron into the wide green, the hole feeds any shot off the right side straight to the green. Sweeney, made a pure stroke on the ball allowing it to find the back of the cup and allowing the floodgates to open for the subsequent birdies.

The signature square greens of Seth Raynor lead to many birdies on the next three holes. Fairway bunkers had the unique feature of a rolling fairway cut straight into the bunker. In turn, this led to a plethora of bunker shots.

On the final three-hole stretch, Thomas Fernandes, PGA, Worcester Country Club, had a fantastic birdie on the elevated green of hole 7, Knoll template. Zane Brownrigg, PGA, Dedham Country & Polo Club, hit a tight approach shot into the 8 green to allow for a short and clean birdie putt on the Maiden template. The closing hole of the nine, Alpes template, presented a blind approach shot into the green. Nate Durant, Walpole Country Club, played the hole the way it was designed, play to the center of the green, and make an accurate putt to secure a birdie, which Durant executed perfectly.

After the conclusion of the round, we all enjoyed a wonderful lunch on the back deck overlooking the first-hole tee box and the practice facilities. Here we had an open discussion with all the participants about the facilities they currently work at, their previous ventures in life, and what their passions are. Max Doctoroff, PGA, New England PGA Section, also discussed his career path with us and his passion for the Rule of Golf and the game of Golf.

 

As a reminder, don’t forget to sign up for our remaining Skin Series event. Our next event is on Wednesday, May 24th at Plymouth Country Club, designed by the classic architect, Donald Ross.

 

https://nepga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/nepga23/event/nepga23135/index.htm

 

Article Written by – Fergus Keane III