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 […]
October 7, 2016
On October 6th, 2016, I played 18 holes split between two beautiful venues… life’s tough I know! I was hired for the first 9 holes for a playing lesson at The Oaks with two fabulous members of The Oaks (a couple). The second 9 holes was spent with my wife, and two sons Jackson (5 years old) & Graham (3 years old) at Candia Woods. This day may very well have been the best weather we’ve had all year! 70 […]
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 […]
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 […]
June 21, 2016
After a round do you ever say to yourself: “I played OK but I could have scored better”. Maybe it was the putt(s) that lipped out, or the errant shot that found a pond. Either way, you feel that your score should have been better. Well… How do you improve that score? Practicing seems to be the obvious answer; that, or taking a lesson. But, before you take the step to lowering your scores, I suggest you first determine which […]
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 […]
June 7, 2016
Have you ever had a hole in one? Tradition is that the player who hits a hole in one buys a round for everyone. I was curious about this tradition and looked into it and its history. There is no definitive event marking the first round bought by a player acing a hole but may assume it was the result of exuberant golfers celebrating their accomplishment with others and eventually became customary to buy a round for everyone. Naturally […]
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 24, 2016
Why are couples now looking for a Woodland Themed Wedding? Well, it starts with their personalities, outside activities, inspiration and vision of what their perfect day would be. Woodland Themed Weddings are gaining more and more popularity, as this is an amazing theme for an outdoor soiree that can be brought indoors. With all of the natural beauty and elements that you could utilize such as burlap, lace, wood based centerpieces, moss, tree branches and seasonal flowers, add a few […]
May 17, 2016
When going to the driving range/practice facility and you take a look around. What is the most commonly used golf club? That’s right…you guessed it…The Driver! It is the longest club in the bag…It hits the ball far…it makes that great smash sound when you hit the ball…and best of all, the golf ball is teed up! Of course, when we play it is important to hit the tee shot well. However, there are several parts of the game that […]
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 […]