Congratulations to Amherst Golf Club Board of Director member Jack Arena!

Jack is the Amherst College hockey coach and was recently named the winner of the Edward Jeremiah Award as the STX/AHCA Division III Men’s Coach of the Year.  It is the second such honor for Arena, who also captured the national award in 2012.

Jack also won the NESCAC Coach of the Year award this season, which he last won in 2009.  He has guided the Amherst College hockey program to a 427-310-58 record since taking the reins in 1983-84. Under his watch, the Jeffs have won three NESCAC titles (2009, 2012, 2015) and made four NCAA Divison III Championship appearances (1999, 2009, 2012, 2015).

Arena serves as the Amherst College Men’s Golf coach, and has also coached football and baseball at the college.

A native of Randolph, Mass., Arena became Amherst’s head coach immediately following his senior year with the program. Tied for fourth on Amherst’s all-time scoring list, he capped off his career in 1983 by receiving the Hoby Baker Award as the best player in Division III.  Arena has a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts. He and his wife, Diane Arena ’84, are the parents of two daughters, Emily and Ellen, and two sons, Patrick and John.

Read more:  http://athletics.amherst.edu/sports/mice/coaches/Jack_Arena

Amherst Golf Club had a 4 Ball Best Ball event and a Women’s 4 Club event on Sunday April 19, 2015.

4 Ball Best Ball

Gross – 70
Renderer Winslow
Ahmed Matt
DeLue Larry
DeSantis Charlie

Net – 59
Morgan Jesse
George Doug
Kelley Pat
Rogers Joel

Women’s 4 Club

Net
Appleby Marie – 39
Plante Susan – 47
Hunsberger Edith – 49

The Amherst Golf Club sends our sincere condolences to the family and friends of George Richason, who passed away on Tuesday April 14, 2015 at the age of 99.  He was the oldest living member of Amherst Golf Club, and had the longest active tenure as a member, joining the club in the 1950’s.   George was very active in supporting the club, being on the Board of Directors and various committees for 14 years.  He was the President of Amherst Golf Club in 1969 and 1970.

Funeral services are Tuesday April 21st at the Douglass Funeral Service in Amherst, followed by a funeral mass at 10 AM at St. Brigid’s Church and burial with military honors.

His obituary can be found here.

“Get ready to play, we have waited long enough!”  At this time, all 9 holes are open for play.

If you know anyone who is interested in golf, try and talk to them about being a member, or encourage them to come and play our course. We are very much in need of new members to meet our financial obligations.

The Tournament schedule is set and the league sign ups should be done so Dave Twohig can establish the schedules.  See details of upcoming events below.  The complete schedule can be found at https://amherstgolfclub.org/events/

Divot repairs: None of us enjoy having our ball in a divot that could have easily been repaired. Your assistants in fixing divots (yours or others) will be greatly appreciated and help prevent having a lousy lie. Plus it will assist in keeping our greens staffing finances down.

Also, I would like to recognize the dedication of two of our Board members: Past-President, Doug George, and Treasurer, Gordy Palley.  Please join me in extending them a warm thanks for their past and continuing efforts that have benefited the Club.

Sincerely,

Amherst Golf Club

Sam Lussier

President

PRO SHOP $ALE

Dave has inventory remaining from last year on sale in the pro shop at great pricing that is 50% to 60% off.  Shirts, hats, jackets & equipment at fantastic pricing! Stop by and see Dave.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Carl Teschke, Carl Jr. and Mike Gillis opening up the Rogers Pavilion.

Good Friday – the panels are coming off of the Rogers Pavilion this morning – more signs of Spring.  A partial opening of the course can’t be too far off!

Amherst Golf Club’s new Facebook page has reached the 100 likes milestone – keep inviting your FB friends! . . . Just click on https://www.facebook.com/AmherstGolfClub.  Then click on the “Like” icon.

Invite others to “like” our page by going to the left column and “See All Friends” and start inviting!  Parents invite your kids – kids show your parents or grandparents how to get on FB – be a fan of the Amherst Golf Club.

“The number of member tournaments and leagues Amherst Golf Club has to offer is so outstanding that I couldn’t pass up the deal [2015 new member drive: $600 for single, $900 for family]. Thank you so much for turning me on to that! I am looking forward to the new member day May 2nd.”
~ Testimonial from Susan, who took advantage of the 2015 New Member Special

From:  http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2014/02/gif-tiger-and-cheyenne-woods-golf-swings-side-by-side.html

When discussing why people aren’t playing as much golf these days, nine words are often invoked: The game takes too long and costs too much.  Amherst Golf Club is the exception to the rule.   For an affordable annual membership fee, you can play a couple of holes or a 36-hole daily marathon (like some of our members do on weekends) – whatever your heart desires!

For an increasing number of people, lives are busier and more complicated.  On average Americans are spending 500 to 1,400 more hours annually at the office than their parents did as well as more time with their kids.  Leisure time is precious, and the considerable chunk of a day that an 18-hole round often requires is not something everybody can afford.

Acknowledging the situation and trying to do something about it, Golf Digest, in concert with the USGA and the PGA of America, came up with an initiative called “Time for Nine” to promote shorter rounds that golfers can fit into busy lifestyles in which two hours is now the span for most leisure activities.

“We think golfers will play a lot more if they join the growing number of golfers who have come to love 9-hole rounds,” said Golf Digest chairman and editor-in-chief Jerry Tarde. “The real message is, don’t let the inability to play 18 pull the game away from you. Eighteen is great. But nine is fine.”

“5-hour rounds of golf are incompatible with the compressed time that many of us have for recreational activities,” said USGA president Glen Nager. ” ‘Time for Nine’ is a fun and creative start to promoting the 9-hole round of golf as a complete and enjoyable experience that is consistent with the traditions of playing the game.”  Contrary to the beliefs of some golfers, 9-hole rounds are compatible with the Rules of Golf and the USGA handicap system.

“Every other recreation, it seems, takes two hours: movies, dinner, cocktail parties, tennis, bowling, going to the gym,” Tarde writes in Golf Digest. “If golf were invented today, it would be a 9-hole game. By no means are we questioning 18 holes, but our culture dictates shorter blocks of free time. I’d rather squeeze in 9 holes than none.”

Nine holes are the way many of us got into the game; there is no reason they can’t keep us in it—or bring us back.

Check out Amherst Golf Club and become a member at the one of the friendliest and best 9-Hole courses in Western Mass, where the PUBLIC IS ALWAYS WELCOME!

Modified from Golf Digest “When Less Can Be More” article published May 6, 2013 (link).