The Oaks
June 14, 2016
The U.S Open at Oakmont — Green Speed and the Stimp Meter This week’s U.S Open championship will be contested just outside Pittsburg, PA at Oakmont Country Club. It will be the ninth U.S. Open hosted at this famed venue. Virtually all of golf’s aficionados consider Oakmont one of the most difficult courses in America; a fantastic facility to host the nation’s most prestigious golf championship. Narrow fairways, deep bunkers and punishing rough… but, the real challenge of Oakmont is […]
May 31, 2016
One of the unique aspects of golf is that it is a game of integrity. There are no umpires or referees; quite simply… there is no on course supervision. Instead, the game relies on the integrity of the individual – the golfer – to show consideration to others, abide by the rules and to have respect for the course. Over my more than 30 years as a golf course superintendent I’ve seen virtually every imaginable type golfer behavior… some good… […]
May 10, 2016
During the summer months of my golfing youth I loved playing a late day “twilight” nine with my father. We’d arrive at the course between 5:00 and 6:00 PM and always find a group of evening golfers to join with for a game. And, as the season moved to the latter part of the summer, we’d frequently finish these twilight rounds in the dusk of the soon to be darkness of night. The ninth hole at the course we played […]
May 3, 2016
Use my “Boy Scout “system to host, and still be able to enjoy these events. Every year, here at The Oaks, among our most popular events are our special “Holiday Buffets”. On Easter Sunday, Mother’s Day and Thanksgiving we host upwards of 600 guests. Yes – 600 guests going through the buffet line! And, as executive chef, it’s my responsibility to make certain that the guest experience is exceptional from the arrival of the first patron to the time that […]
April 5, 2016
Each week I read a Fishing blog posted by a well-known NH Professional Fishing Guide. For a number of reasons, I look forward to each of his posts. First and foremost — I’m a fly fishing nut! If you can’t find me at The Oaks, and I’m not playing in a golf tournament, chances are I’m waist high in a river searching for my next fish. Second — WHERE the fish are most likely to be biting. Third — WHAT […]
March 29, 2016
Technology is finding its way into almost every facet of life. With the ease of accessibility, you can put numerous tools at your fingertips. Golf is no exception. With so many applications available, which ones do you install into your “Mobile Golf Bag”? Being a tech nerd, I am always looking for the latest and greatest apps to improve in my golf game. Some may say there are not enough apps available to take on such a task, but I […]
March 15, 2016
When I started as food and beverage director at The Oaks it was my first experience at a golf facility. I wasn’t sure what to expect. My culinary school education taught me a great deal, but it didn’t prepare me for everything…. What kind of food does a golf course serve? Who is the clientele? I soon came to the conclusion that, when it comes to the good food and beverage side, a golf course and a ski resort have […]
March 1, 2016
A common question that course superintendents hear from golfers is: “what do you guys do in the winter?” Sometimes I think they presume that there really isn’t much for a golf course grounds crew to do during the cold, snowy months of a New England winter. The reality is actually quite the contrary. That said, like most golf course maintenance crews in our area, my assistants (Bill Nickerson and Jeremy Stafford) and I do scale back to a 40 hour […]