Granite Links Wins NE Course of the Year!

Feb 10, 2010

Last night at the National Golf Course Owners Association Annual Meeting in San Diego, Granite Links Golf Club was recognized as the organization's "2010 Course of the Year" for the New England region. 

imgThe Course of the Year Award honors member clubs that demonstrate excellence across four criteria:

     - Exceptional quality of the course,
     - Exceptional management,
     - Outstanding contribution to its community, and
     - Significant contribution to the game


Each NGCOA regional organization selects a Chapter Course of the Year who are then also contenders for National Course of the Year. Chapter winners are all regarded as model operations to their peers.

Accepting the award for Granite Links was Head Superintendant, Brad MacDonald, representing Granite Links' general manager, Walter Hannon III, and club owners, William O'Connell, Peter O'Connell, Tom O'Connell and Charles Geilich, collectively of Quarry Hills Associates.

img"We're honored by this designation," said Walter Hannon, "and pleased to be able send Brad to receive the award on our behalf.  He and his team provide such great care and superlative maintenance to our course and we're keenly aware that this is a critical contributing factor to all the wonderful recognition Granite Links has been getting." 

MacDonald was quick to point out the "Wow Factor" of the club's unique setting, especially when standing atop the par five Granite #1 tee box whose expansive perch seems to give golfers a preview of nearly the entire course.  MacDonald takes pride in the consistency of the club's 27 greens (planted with L-93 Creeping Bent Grass) which are noted for their uniform performance and resiliency.  He notes typical green speeds of 10-10.5 here, with the ready ability to increase for professional tournament standards.  Another unique feature is Granite Links' eye-catching bunkers which the club's grounds crew regularly tends to in order to keep the silica a brilliant white.  In all, MacDonald is responsible for maintaining 140-150 manicured acres over a footprint of approximately 500 total acres.

Kevin F. Osgood, President of the New England Golf Course Owners Association said, "Granite Links is to be commended for not just persevering during one of the most challenging economic times our industry has seen, but actually prospering and growing.  It's a real testament to the quality of golf experience they're offering that demand for tee times has not waned and desire for new membership enrollments is still so strong."

At this time,  Granite Links is still accepting new Individual, Corporate and Young Adult Members.  For information on benefits and pricing and to request an Application, contact membership / marketing director, Diane Brickley at [email protected] or call 617-689-1900 x 102.


A complete list of the 2010 NGCOA Chapter winners includes:

California Golf Course of the Year - Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms
Charleston Golf Course of the Year - Dunes West Golf Club
Colorado Golf Course of the Year - Harmony Club
Florida Golf Course of the Year - Coral Ridge Country Club
Georgia Golf Course of the Year - RiverPines Golf
Indiana Golf Course of the Year - The Hawthorns Golf & Country Club
Michigan Golf Course of the Year - Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa
Midwest Golf Course of the Year - Ridges at Sand Creek
Myrtle Beach Golf Course of the Year - Shaftesbury Glen Golf and Fish Club
Nevada Golf Course of the Year - Siena Golf Club
New England Golf Course of the Year - Granite Links Golf Club
New Jersey Golf Course of the Year - Atlantic City Country Club
Ohio Golf Course of the Year - River Greens Golf Course
PGO East Golf Course of the Year - Wyncote Golf Club
PGO West Golf Course of the Year - Birdsfoot Golf Club
Sandhills Golf Course of the Year - Seven Lakes Country Club
South Carolina Golf Course of the Year - Arthur Hills Course at Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort
Wisconsin Golf Course of the Year - SentryWorld

The NGCOA 2010 National Course of the Year winner was Industry Hills Golf Club at Pacific Palms, a 36-hole public/private resort facility in East Los Angeles, while Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, (host of the World Golf Championship's Bridgestone Invitational), was named winner of the Jemsek Award for Golf Course Excellence.


 

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