CandiaOaks
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 […]
November 8, 2016
As a golf instructor for the past 9 years, I have had the opportunity to share my knowledge of the game with many golfers of varying skill. One question I get asked often by beginning golfers is, “When should we start to play the golf course?” This, in my opinion, is the barrier in golf that is quite difficult to tear down. There are many fears and anxieties that new and even experienced golfers can endure regarding playing on the […]
November 1, 2016
As Mark Twain once said….. “If you don’t like the weather in New England now… just wait 5 minutes “ Many couples dream of having the perfect outdoor wedding with spectacular weather. Sometimes Mother Nature does not receive that email and doesn’t deliver the 75 degree sunny day. Some say that rain on your wedding day is a sign of good luck and fertility. Being said, the benefits of rain and snow will deliver the most gorgeous photos and […]
October 25, 2016
There are no words to describe that last-second sheer-panic that crawls up your spine in that moment when being asked by that smiling face of a barkeep “what would you like to drink?” Bourbon or whiskey? (Whisky depending on the region). It has been the poison that has brought nations together, the celebratory drink of admirable men and woman throughout history, or shared over grievances to find comfort. The simplicities of even defining the differences between whiskey and bourbon are […]
October 18, 2016
Following the theme of my previous post [Click Here to read Pace-of-Play Myths], I will continue to tackle the pace-of-play elephant on the course. There is an abundance of resources but I found some tips on USGA.org and wanted to add some comments. “Tee It Forward” unless you are consistently able to reach greens in regulation from the back tees. In other words, play from a set of tees that is comfortable for you – one where you are more […]
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 21, 2016
The other day on a walk through Bear Brook State Park I came across a tree with long serrated leaves that I just knew had to be an American chestnut (Castanea Dentata.) After closer inspection of the leaves, bark and structure of the tree, there was no mistaking it, it was indeed an American chestnut. Most people have probably never seen an American chestnut, and for those that have, the grandeur of this tree is nothing more than a memory. […]
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 […]