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).

The team of Nate Mercer and Ben Premo tied with the team of Dennis Yarrows and Mike Lentner for the NovemberFest IV event, which consisted of an 18-hole 2-Ball Scramble that was held on Sunday Nov. 23rd.  The results are as follows:

NOVEMBERFEST IV

Gross Results
1st – Nate Mercer and  Ben Premo – 66 (tie)
Dennis Yarrows and Mike Lentner – 66

Net Results
1st – Carl Hoynoski and Mike Duclos – 62
2nd – Josh Dempsey and Jamie Crocker – 63 (tie)
Gary Kmetz and Ed Pedruczny – 63 (tie)

Complete tournament results are provided below:

The team of Don Hodgkins and Gene Klos won the NovemberFest III event, which consisted of a combined 9-hole Best Ball and 9-hole Scramble that was held on Saturday Nov. 15th and Sunday Nov. 16th. The results are as follows:

NOVEMBERFEST III
Gross Results
1st – Don Hodgkins and Gene Klos – 69
2nd – Jay Morgan and Jesse Morgan – 70 (4-way tie)
Bob Rainville and Chris McElligott – 70
Dennis Yarrows and Joey Wichowski – 70
Chuck Yetter and Mike Griffin – 70

Net Results
1st – George Pelis and Kris Carver – 61 (tie)
Mike Griffin and Mike Covey – 61
3rd – Dennis Sullivan and Scott King – 63

Complete results are provided below:

2014 Novemberfest III Results

The team of Nate Mercer, Aaron Punska and Mike Lentner won the NovemberFest II event, which consisted of a 4-Ball Best Two event held on Saturday Nov. 8th and Sunday Nov. 9th. The results are as follows:

NOVEMBERFEST II
Gross Results
1st – Nate Mercer, Aaron Punska and Mike Lentner – 139
2nd – Chris Varlly, Steve Jones, Garrett Cousineau and Winslow Renderer – 145

Net Results
1st – Don Hodgkins, Gene Klos, Larry DeLue and Jim Tudryn – 130
2nd – Dick Tozloski, Mike Covey, Steve Ciechomski and Ed Kurr – 133
3rd – John Lasek, Bob Storey, Alex Storey and Glen Calvanese – 135

Complete results are as follows:

2014 Novemberfest II Results

The team of Taylor Fountaine and Kevin Josepherson won the 2-Day NovemberFest event, which consisted of a 2-Ball Scramble on the Saturday Nov. 1st and a 2-Ball Best Ball on Sunday Nov. 2nd. The results are as follows:

NOVEMBERFEST I
Gross Results
1st – Taylor Fountaine and Kevin Josepherson – 65 + 73 = 138
2nd – Don Hodgkins and Gene Klos – 70 + 71 = 141 (tie)
Mike Johnson and Dennis Booska – 66 + 75 = 141

Net Results
1st – Rich Fay and Winslow Renderer – 62 + 63 = 125
2nd – Mike Covey and Dick Tozloski – 67 + 64 = 131
3rd – Peter Gaudette and Fran Baranski – 65 + 67 = 132
4th – Sam Lussier and Adam Lussier – 69 + 65 = 134
5th – Jesse Morgan and Kris Carver – 65 + 70 = 135

Out of Money
Gross – Chris Ciukaj and Matt Davol – 73
Net – Brian Wood and Craig Berry – 66

The complete results are as follows:

2014 Novemberfest I Results

The Amherst Golf Club thanks all the members and guests for their participation resulting in another great year of golf.  Thanks to Pro Dave Twohig and Superintendent Carl Teschke for their outstanding effort and performance day-in and day-out.  Some say the course never looked better.

Our focus now turns to getting ready for next year.  Look for regular newsletters this winter.  We will be keeping you abreast of developments, and seeking your input on how we can improve.  Weather permitting, feel free to play a few holes this winter utilizing the temporary greens.

We look forward to seeing you all on the course next year.  As always, members recruiting new members is important to the club’s sustainability for the future, so please pass the good word on to friends and associates so our membership stays strong.   Membership renewal information will be coming soon.

The Amherst Golf Club extends warm wishes to you and your families as the new year approaches.  Have a joyful and safe holiday season.

Amherst Golf Club

The team of Sam Lussier and Jack Jemsek won the 2-Day OctoberFest event, which consisted of a 2-Ball Scramble on the rainy Saturday Oct. 11th, and a 2-Ball Best Ball on Sunday Oct. 12th. Nick Stern and Kris Carver won the individual 2-Ball Best Ball event on Sunday. The results are as follows:

OCTOBERFEST
Gross Results
1st – Sam Lussier and Jack Jemsek – 71 + 72= 143

Net Results
1st – Jay Morgan and Blake Keedy – 67 + 68 = 135 (tie)
Roger Frant and Jeff Gold – 68 + 67 = 135

Out of Money
Gross – Frank Ficili and Larry Delue – 78
Net – Brad Worthley and Mike Fusia – 69

2-Ball Best Ball
Gross – Nick Stern and Kris Carver – 70
Net 1st – Sam Lussier and Jack Jemsek – 65
Net 2nd – Roger Frant and Jeff Gold – 67 (tie)
Frank Ficili and Larry DeLue – 67

The Amherst Golf Club will have an Annual Meeting Scramble this Saturday, October 18th. Please sign up for the 9-hole Scramble Event which will have a shotgun start at Noon. A FREE cookout will follow at 2:00 PM. All members are encourage to attend the Annual Meeting at 3:00 PM.

The team of Jay and Jesse Morgan won the Amherst 2-Ball Open, which was played on Saturday Oct. 4th and Sunday October 5th. The results are as follows:

Gross Results
1st – Jay Morgan and Jesse Morgan –  68

2nd – Aaron Punska and Paul Lentz – 70

3rd – Mike Johnson and Brian Wood – 71 (tie)
Mike Lentner and Dennis Yarrows – 71

Net Results
1st – Dan Cutler and Jesse Morgan – 65 (tie)
Bill Dowd and Jeff Brown – 65

3rd – Paul Torpey and John Collura – 66 (tie)
Gary Kmetz and Dennis Sullivan – 66

5th – Sam Lussier and Adam Lussier – 67 (tie)
Jim Tudryn and Roger Frant – 67
Sam Lussier and Roger Frant – 67

Complete Results:

Michelle Morgan and the late Ed Twohig Sr. will be inducted into the 8th class of the Western Massachusetts Golf Hall of Fame.  The Hall of Fame golf tournament and evening awards dinner will be at Wycoff Country Club in Holyoke on October 3, 2014.  Ticket information will be forthcoming.

Link to www.masslive.com article on Western Mass Golf Hall of Fame

Michelle is being recognized as the longtime Amherst College golf coach.  She has also reigned as the AGC Women’s Golf Champion 14 times since first winning in 1982, including winning the 2014 Women’s Club Championship.  Michelle has a golfing family with her husband Jay Morgan winning the AGC Men’s Championship 15 times, and her son Jesse winning 6 times, including the 2014 Men’s Club Champion.  Congratulations Michelle!  Link to Amherst College article honoring Michelle.

Ed Sr. will be honored in memoriam.  He was the head pro at Amherst Golf Club for 35 years and also fostered a successful golfing family.  In 1979, Ed Sr.  was succeeded by his son, the current AGC pro Dave Twohig.   His son Ed Jr. is also a PGA Pro in Hadley, Mass.  All six of Ed. Sr.’s sons worked in some capacity as part of the AGC operations, from “cooking hot dogs to shagging balls to caddying to opening and closing the pro shop”.   Link to UMass Magazine on Ed Sr. and Dave.

UPDATE:  Link to Masslive.com article on the Oct 3rd event

Western Mass. Golf Hall of Fame’s Class of 2014 shines on perfect induction day