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 […]
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; […]
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 […]
August 24, 2016
This is a question that most every golfer has asked their golf professional at one time or another. We are all bombarded with ads while watching our favorite golf event or listening to the golf channel or similar programs as why their golf ball is the best or fits a certain golfer. Even after listening to the ads there are probably still many doubts as to what golf ball to play. My opinion and recommendation as to what ball to […]
August 18, 2016
You might embrace my philosophy in your kitchen! What is your favorite dish to prepare? In my position as executive chef at The Oaks the above question is the one I most frequently hear from members and guests. And, my answer is always the same: “The next item that goes on our menu.” Growing up in a family of thirteen children I was amazed how my mother could create dishes that we all enjoyed. And, at the same time, she […]
August 9, 2016
This is the first part of a series in discussing pace-of-play Have you ever asked a staff member at the course, “How’s the pace today?” An answer to that question can set the tone for the round. You typically see golf courses’ pace-of-play policy being 4 hours to 4 hours and 30 minutes. There are many factors that create pace-of-play issues, but I am here to debunk a few myths. Pace of Play Discrimination Slow play does not care […]
August 4, 2016
(This post in written from Sarah Cote, a beverage cart attendant at Candia Woods) Over the past three years, I have had the pleasure being a beverage cart attendant at Candia Woods. People are always asking me, ‘Is this the greatest job in the world?’ and ‘This has to be so easy, right?’. For the most part they are right. Being a bev cart attendant is a lot of fun, and considering the other summer jobs that a lot of […]
July 28, 2016
Last evening I watched the Golf Channel’s live presentation: “This Week at the PGA Championship”. During the telecast I heard one of the commentators remark that the PGA was once played as a head to head match play completion and, for many of the past championships, played at match play, the stymie rule was in effect. I, as an older and life-long golfer, immediately knew about the stymie rule. But, I immediately wondered if many of the other viewers had […]
July 19, 2016
A good chef or cook is both an artist and scientist. In this blog post I will focus on the artist side of the chef. There is no question that people eat with their eyes. Many chefs take their time perfecting their skills on presentation. It is a way for the chef to demonstrate the pride in his or her work. The plate, platter or table the food is on is the canvas, the food itself is the paint and […]
July 13, 2016
Golf is a social game that seldom ends after the last putt is holed on the 18th green. Virtually every round is replayed over a cold beer in the grillroom, or as we golfers refer to it… the Nineteenth-Hole. And, with the onslaught of the micro-breweries coupled with a more sophisticated golfer/consumer, the selection of drafts offered at a course’s Nineteenth-Hole can no longer be just a simple domestic light beer. Don’t misunderstand me, there remain those who prefer the […]
July 5, 2016
Bunker Sand A few years ago I was invited to play a golf course in Maine named Belgrade Lakes. Located about 12 miles due north of Augusta, a bit off the beaten path, Belgrade Lakes is a lovely course. I found the layout, designed by Scotsman Clive Clark (he also did Lake Winnipesaukee Country Club), to be an enjoyable play through rolling terrain. Beautifully conditioned greens, tees and fairways but, from the very first hole, the most striking feature of […]
June 28, 2016
For many, the dog days of summer signify a return to easy living; vacation at the beach, barbeque in the back yard, cold drinks by the camp fire and of course, golf! Summer is an amazing time of year to be on a golf course, I have logged many. The warm temperatures bring about a variety of bustling life both plants and animals, all of which I enjoy seeing as I go about my work. However there is a life […]