Peter Harrity
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 […]
December 12, 2018
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. […]
September 26, 2018
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 […]
July 11, 2018
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 […]
May 9, 2018
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 […]
April 25, 2018
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 […]
April 18, 2018
What should you expect for golf in 2018? From the professional tours to your local courses to vendors, there is a lot to get excited about in 2018. Are you excited about the return of Tiger? With the USGA and R&A looking to alter some rules, the golf world is having discussions about major changes. Technology is steadily making their footprint in golf and looking to make bigger splashes. Watching golf has changed in 2017 and looks to continually enhance […]
December 20, 2017
To a golfer, few things are as satisfying as playing a good game of golf on a course with mature trees lining each side of the fairway. Players come to the course for the game but also to appreciate the calming beauty that a golf course can offer. However, it has long been known that trees on golf courses can wreak havoc with turfgrass quality and playability. For us, trees and the work they create have become a part of […]
December 13, 2017
I am a fan of new discoveries. The allure of the unknown has always interested me, especially the notion that what I hold to be true could very well turn out to be false. The turf industry is no exception when it comes to new discoveries. It seems every year there is a new piece of equipment to try, a new chemical to spray or a lost philosophy that will solve all our problems. Choosing which new discovery to try […]
December 6, 2017
Candia Woods along with most public access golf courses rely on golf outings to help generate revenue. Most golf outings take advantage of not only the golf aspect but also food and beverage making it an attractive opportunity for fundraising groups as well as the golf courses. Hosting a golf outing at Candia Woods is a combined team effort of all of our departments; Matt Evans, grounds, Doug Alderman, Mike Lloyd and Christina Desjardins with food/beverage and of course Craig […]
October 5, 2017
The following account is about a man named George Lucas. No… not the Star Wars guy. This George Lucas was never a movie maker, but he has had an illustrious career during which he has displayed a range of extraordinary accomplishments; Yes… in the arena of golf. And, I had the privilege of knowing him personally. • A professional caddie on the PGA tour. o Arnold Palmer’s personal caddie throughout 1980-81. o Inducted into the Professional Caddie Association’s “Hall-Of-Fame” in […]
July 19, 2017
Two tips I received from tour caddies… They might sound simple, but might well help you lower your score! Throughout my life I’ve had a passion for golf and, for many years I also had an inner drive to improve my game. I practiced, I sought out renowned teachers for lessons and I read books with subject matter covering all aspects of the game. Given all of that and, although profoundly simple, I think the two most helpful tips […]
May 3, 2017
Golfers could soon be, in the words of Mike Love and the Beach Boys, “loading up their woody with their boards inside and headin’ out singing their song”? No. It’s not that golfers are about to give up their game to become surfers; instead, it’s a new concept being introduced to golf that may link these two sporting passions together. Named the Best New Product at the 2014 PGA Merchandise Show, a device called the GolfBoard is starting to appear […]
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 […]
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 […]
October 13, 2016
As the leaves turn and begin to fall from the trees our weather certainly gets colder. But, that doesn’t mean you have to stop playing golf; those who do miss an experience that is unique and fun. American golf had its beginning in the northeast, and a number of our courses are classic in their shaping, routing, and shadowing. The first American golfers got out on the courses very early in the spring, and played until the snow covered the […]
September 27, 2016
This past Sunday, September 25, a great golfer and a great American passed away. Arnold Palmer was 87. The BLOG post below is a reprint of a golf ezine story I wrote several years ago… I offer it now as a tribute to “Arnie”. NINE HOLES REMEMBERED FROM LONG AGO As I get older my recollection of the astounding events of a long ago winter day seem to get more and more vague. Each year, as the end of the […]
September 15, 2016
This coming week my wife Dana will be competing in the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship at Wellesley Country Club in Wellesley, MA. This event will mark more than 25 USGA tournaments that she has qualified as a participant. In addition Dana is 16 times NHWGA champion, a past winner of the New England Women’s Amateur and won the prestigious women’s Eastern Senior Amateur. Fantastic accomplishments that I suspect many might feel comes from her innate athletic talent, and a lot […]
August 30, 2016
Some time ago I received the following e-mail from Jon Godfrey: “My foursome got to talking after a round at the Exeter CC the other day about NH’s oldest golf courses, and decided it would be fun to play the dozen or so oldest courses in the state (which still retain some semblance of their original layout). The NHGA responded that they don’t know, and I wondered whether you might either know or be able to tell me where to […]