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Conference 7.286::golf

Title:Welcome to the Golf Notes Conference!
Notice:FOR SALE notes in Note 69 please! Intros in note 863 or 61.
Moderator:FUNYET::ANDERSON
Created:Tue Feb 15 1994
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2129
Total number of notes:21499

212.0. "New Central MA. Course" by FILM::PIEL () Mon Feb 29 1988 17:57

       In 2/28's Worcester Sunday Telegram & Gazette, there was an article
    about a new course that is in the proposal stage. The location will be
    in Sturbridge,Ma., next to Old Sturbridge Village. The 18 hole course
    is being built for the Mass Golf Association (MGA). The article mentioned
    that the opening is targeted for 1990. It will be open to the public
    and will be the site of many of the MGA's sponsored events.
                                                               
    
    
                         Ken,
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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212.1MGA-Old Sturbridge Village MeetingKSYS::DONOVANTue Mar 08 1988 10:2619
    Courtesy of The Boston Globe, Sunday, MArch 7th:
    
    			MGA EYES STURBRIDGE COURSE
    
    	   "The Massachusetts Golf Association has signed a letter of
    	intent with Old Sturbridge Village to explore the possibility
    	of constructing, at the MGA's expense, an 18-hole, premier
    	golf course.
    	    The course would be built on a parcel of land owned by the
    	Village commonly known as the Morgan Tract, a 1200-acre plot.
    	    The MGA has a working relationship with George Wright GC
    	in Hyde Park, but has never had its own course.
    	    Representatives of Old Sturbridge Village and the MGA will
    	meet Wednesday (March 10) to discuss the new course."
    
    Sounds promising.
    
    	JD
    
212.2More on MGA-SturbridgeKSYS::DONOVANTue Mar 15 1988 10:5616
    Again, courtesy of The Boston Globe, Sunday, March 13th
    ............
    	"Although there is no definite timetable, it is hoped an architect
    	can be selected by June, and ground breaking could begin as
    	early as the fall.  More than 30 letters were sent to top course
    	architects as Pete Dye, Rees Jones, Tom Fazio and Brian Silva
    	and player-architects such as Hale Irwin and Ben Crenshaw. 
    	If anything could hold up the creation of an MGA-Sturbridge
    	course, it would be financing.
    
    	The MGA estimates the facility will cost $3 million to $5 million
    	and there is a slight possibility there could by 36 holes.
    
	The proposed course would be the site for several qualifying
    	tournaments but not the permanent home of any major MGA events,
    	such as the Massachusetts Open or the Mass. Amateur.
212.3More New CoursesENGINE::PIELTue Aug 07 1990 16:0821
        I felt that this note would be a good place to mention some of the
    construction activity that may be going on in central Mass. 
     There has been mention of a new 18 hole course in Paxton, which is
    just north of Worcester. No comments were made if it was going to
    public or private. It is to be located at Athern Farm.
    
     I noted that there is going to be an attempt made in my home town of
    Sutton (home of PV). A group of investors is supposed to present their
    plans to the zoning board very soon to build two 18 hole courses. The
    grapevine in town suggests that these will be public courses and both
    will be in excess 6900 yards.
     This proposed facility may be located very near to PV. Naturally, I am
    very excited about having something so close to home. I plan on
    attending zoning board meeting (if I find out when this proposal will
    be made) to get more details.
     
     If there is any interest, I will give out any information that I can.
    
    
    
                        Ken  
212.4Anyone heard what's going on with the new course in Sterling, lately? How about Stow?LEDS::OBRIENRTue Aug 07 1990 16:420
212.5ENGINE::PIELTue Aug 07 1990 18:016
        It appears to be on schedule to open next year. There are still 30
    or so memberships available.
    
    
    
                             Ken
212.6More on Sterling...CURIE::TDAVISWed Aug 08 1990 18:1441
Actually, there are about 120 memberships left--with a hitch. They 
have 180 members at present. Once they hit 200 or at the end of this 
month--whichever occurs first--the deal changes. Right now, your bond 
can be sold for a profit when you leave the club and you can get up to 
$1500 more than your bond back (the owners get the rest, if it sells 
for more than the original bond + $1500). After August 31, all new 
membership bonds are non-profit. Also, the annual dues for late 
joiners will be an extra $100/year. Something like that, anyway. The 
point is, they want to make it attractive to join NOW, rather than 
later--to get those who can't make up their minds to climb down off 
the fence.

The course is coming along nicely (I live about a mile from it). 
They've seeded a number of holes and expect to have the whole course 
seeded by September. They hope to open for play in May. That may be 
optimistic, but it will certainly be ready by mid June. When it's 
ready, it'll be a beauty. Wetlands, ponds and woods frame and accent 
the holes. No blind tee shots. Bent grass tee to green. Woods planted
with grass to about 20 yards deep--ala Augusta. And it'll be as tough
as it is pretty. They expect the slope to be about 135-140 from the
tips. If that unsettles you, there are 3 men's tees and 2 women's, so 
you'll find a comfortable range somewhere.

Although the course is open to the public, greens fees will be steep 
and members can call ahead for tee times well in advance of the 
public. That makes weekends and afternoons virtually private. The
clubhouse will have separate facilities for members and public,
including private 19th hole, locker room, and practice tee. 
And from what I've seen, a lot of good players have joined.

In case you haven't noticed, I'm pretty enthusiastic about Sterling 
CC. Digging deep into your pockets to cover a non-secured bond is not 
without its risks, but from everything I've seen the developers are 
doing everything right. (Including not tying the project to real 
estate--the major cause of other club failures.) They seem destined 
for success. 

If you're interested, call the club offices at (508) 422-3335. Or drop 
me a note, I'll answer all the questions I can.

Tom