Authors
The Art of Maintenance
Art and maintenance… two things that are not normally associated with each other. For many, maintenance is a mundane task, vacuous of thought and abundant in labor. On the golf course maintenance is taken to the next level. Superintendents have learned to shed the myopic view that sometimes accompanies repetition and look deeper into the business of maintenance. Timing, precision, and calculation, are all components of a well rounded plan that have their roots based in the art of maintenance. […]
Do’s and Don’ts of Wedding Planning
As a wedding planner I get a lot of feedback from brides on things they wished they had done for their wedding and some things they wished they hadn’t spent so much time on. Planning a wedding is no easy task but it is a lot of fun for most! During the planning period it is easy to get a head of yourself and out a lot on your plate because you think you will have plenty of time…that time […]
Craft Beer: The Ever Changing Tap
We all know that brands like Budweiser, Coors Light, Heineken and so many others will never be a thing of the past, but could they be competing with some local craft beers? In the past few years there has been a climb in the number of craft breweries popping up in our communities, and it has begun to spark an interest and even create a hobby with many beer drinkers. As someone who enjoys going to new local restaurants I […]
POA – A Seed Head Unlike Any Other
May is a great month; the sun is bright and shining high in the sky, the threat of frost is all but gone and flowers are in full bloom all around us. But while May is one of my favorite months, there is a down side during this time period that I must deal with every new season, Poa seed heads. For many, the term poa seed heads means nothing, but for those that do know the term you are […]
What Trends Will You Be Following This Season?
As somebody who loves attending weddings as much as I love to plan them there is nothing better than seeing what brides are doing at their weddings and what might be trending during that time. Year after year we see what trends brides are doing and what trends the wedding industry wants to see. It would take you a couple days to read through all of the trends that are arising, so I went thorough and picked out some of […]
March 15, 2017
Just over two weeks ago, the United States Golf Association (USGA) together with the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (The R&A) announced several proposed changes to the “Rules of Golf”. As part of a joint initiative by golf’s two governing bodies the changes are intended to both modernize, and make easier to understand the rules of the game. The proposed new rules are scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2019; during the interim period both […]
March 8, 2017
Written by: Kerry McCarthy With wedding season vastly approaching, its only natural to reminisce on all of the beautiful weddings over the years. When I think of beauty, romance and the perfect wedding atmosphere many of our past fall weddings come to mind. If you are thinking of having your perfect New England wedding it only makes sense that it would be in the cool, crisp air of the autumn months. Here are four reasons why we love fall weddings… […]
March 1, 2017
Part 2 of our 2017 Guest Blog Series – This post is written by Brian Bain – Regional Manager of the PGA of America Player Development in New England PGA Junior League Golf (PGA JLG) is a fun, social and inclusive opportunity for boys and girls, ages 13 and under, to learn and enjoy the game of golf. The program is designed for kids of all abilities and skill levels, which gives juniors the opportunity to play a […]
February 22, 2017
Winterkill is an easy problem to define but difficult to understand. Winterkill simply put, is when turf dies during the winter. However, understanding the mechanism’s that cause winterkill whether it be ice, crown hydration, low temperature kill or desiccation is not that simple. Creating effective prevention strategies and formulating actual recovery tactics can be complex, time consuming and at times experimental. What causes winterkill? Winterkill is a catch all term describing winter injury to turf that can occur through a […]
February 15, 2017
As we approach the upcoming golf season, it is not only important to work on your skillset, to play enjoyable golf; but we must also work on our mindset. In all sports, what happens first is our mind sees what must be done and then the body reacts. This is where it gets tough, is our mindset now positive or negative before hitting a shot; are we confident and believe that it can be done; do we have trust in […]
February 8, 2017
Written by Eddie Carbone, Executive Director of the US Senior Open Championship: Take it from someone who recently spent ten years working in a very different part of the country: New England has a rich sports history. From Bobby Orr scoring “The Goal” in 1970 to Adam Vinatieri’s field goal in Super Bowl XXXVI to current legends like David “Big Papi” Ortiz and… how about Sunday’s incredible Tom Brady Super Bowl dramatics. New England has a sports scene that few […]
February 1, 2017
Do you enjoy learning cool aspects about the game of golf… about the latest foods trending among golfers… about specialty drinks being served in the country’s best 19th holes? Last year we introduced the CandiaOaks BLOG called “OFF THE TEE”. Each week one of our team members posted some cool stuff about golf technique, course maintenance, the game’s new gadgets, 19th hole treats, some tidbits of golf history, an occasional personal story, even a tip or two about creating the […]
December 20, 2016
There are two reasons for covering greens turf during the winter months in the northern climate of the U.S. 1) To protect the turf from cold, dry winter winds. 2) To help prevent the forma on of ice on the greens surface. But, not all cultivars on our northern greens are the same… some need extra protec on and some actually benefit with no protection. The most susceptible turf species to winter damage is Poa Annua (poa). Poa plants are […]
December 13, 2016
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had several inquiries about the large holes in the greens; a process called deep tine aerification. It comes as no surprise of course that a magnitude of worry rushes over the unsuspecting golfer as she approaches the first green and sees the atrocity that has been committed. At first she holds nothing but contempt for the man on the tractor that seems suspiciously content with his actions and obtuse to the deprivation he […]
February 22, 2017
Winterkill is an easy problem to define but difficult to understand. Winterkill simply put, is when turf dies during the winter. However, understanding the mechanism’s that cause winterkill whether it be ice, crown hydration, low temperature kill or desiccation is not that simple. Creating effective prevention strategies and formulating actual recovery tactics can be complex, time consuming and at times experimental. What causes winterkill? Winterkill is a catch all term describing winter injury to turf that can occur through a […]
February 15, 2017
As we approach the upcoming golf season, it is not only important to work on your skillset, to play enjoyable golf; but we must also work on our mindset. In all sports, what happens first is our mind sees what must be done and then the body reacts. This is where it gets tough, is our mindset now positive or negative before hitting a shot; are we confident and believe that it can be done; do we have trust in […]
February 1, 2017
Do you enjoy learning cool aspects about the game of golf… about the latest foods trending among golfers… about specialty drinks being served in the country’s best 19th holes? Last year we introduced the CandiaOaks BLOG called “OFF THE TEE”. Each week one of our team members posted some cool stuff about golf technique, course maintenance, the game’s new gadgets, 19th hole treats, some tidbits of golf history, an occasional personal story, even a tip or two about creating the […]
December 20, 2016
There are two reasons for covering greens turf during the winter months in the northern climate of the U.S. 1) To protect the turf from cold, dry winter winds. 2) To help prevent the forma on of ice on the greens surface. But, not all cultivars on our northern greens are the same… some need extra protec on and some actually benefit with no protection. The most susceptible turf species to winter damage is Poa Annua (poa). Poa plants are […]
December 13, 2016
Over the last couple of weeks, I’ve had several inquiries about the large holes in the greens; a process called deep tine aerification. It comes as no surprise of course that a magnitude of worry rushes over the unsuspecting golfer as she approaches the first green and sees the atrocity that has been committed. At first she holds nothing but contempt for the man on the tractor that seems suspiciously content with his actions and obtuse to the deprivation he […]
December 7, 2016
Most of you know me as the General Manager/Director of Golf at Candia Woods and not as a golf professional and a teacher. I have actually been a golf professional since the tender age of 22 and a PGA Professional now for the past 41 years. One of the aspects of being a golf professional that I enjoyed the most was teaching the game to a wide variety of people that included men, women, and juniors of all ages. No […]
November 29, 2016
Do you set any golf goals? Have you ever wanted to improve some aspect of your golf game? If you have ever wanted to improve some part of your game, you need to have a plan. Not all goals are created equally. These goals do not have to be all about scores. Before you set your goals, you should set SMART goals, for a higher success rate. SMART goals are defined: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timely goals. For example: […]
November 23, 2016
One of the main responsibilities of a golf professional is to develop and maintain a “Tee Sheet” (a.k.a. Daily Tee Time Listing). I’ve been told by my staff that I’m quite the expert in designing & managing our Tee Sheet. This is probably a result of my experiences at busy daily fee, resort and private golf clubs through the years. You’re probably thinking to yourself, what’s the big deal… it’s just a list of daily tee times…? Believe me, if […]
November 15, 2016
Those of you who have never been involved in the hospitality industry have likely never considered the stress on family that can come for those of us who have selected a career in a field which prime time literally matches traditional family time. Dinner service interrupts a time of day that is usually reserved for family. And, in the hospitality industry, weekends and holidays almost always create a conflict between work time and family time. But, my passion is food; […]