The CSGA Links Volume 3 Issue 6 September 2015 | Page 6

FIRST SHOT
Message from the CSGA Executive Director - Mike Moraghan

A few thoughts about private and public golf courses in Connecticut

D

an Hallen, a veteran of the pharmaceutical industry, may have discovered a
cure for the ills private clubs have suffered in recent years – sagging membership rosters.
Hallen frequently starts his pitch by saying, “It’s not
1985 anymore,” before launching into a soliloquy
meant to reinvent the treatment country clubs apply to their woes. His prescription may just be the
drug of choice to cure this ailment and set many
clubs on the path to better health - see the next
page (7) for more about Hallen and his company,
Professional Golf Services of America.

Meanwhile, one of the oldest clubs in America, Brooklawn Country Club in Fairfield is resurrecting a championship that has been dead for 74
years. The Brooklawn Invitational, once one of the
Northeast’s top championships faded away at the
start of World War II. The club’s membership is
excited as are the field of two-man teams who include many of Connecticut’s top players - see page
42 for more about the return of The Brooklawn
Invitational.

There’s also plenty of excitement at our
nearly one hundred Connecticut public golf
courses, with many reporting good numbers after
a sluggish start due to a late spring. Personally, I
continue to be amazed at the fine quality of the
greens at so many of these courses. I’m old enough
to remember a time when there was no comparison
between the quality of the turf at private and
public golf courses. But many public courses like
Fairview Farm (see page 26 for coverage of our
Public Links Championship) have beautiful putting
surfaces. Advances in turf science and management
techniques over the years, and the work of dedicated
superintendents throughout our state have helped
public golf courses compete with private clubs in
terms of playability and the quality of their turf.

And congratulations to a man who has spent

6 | CSGA Links // September, 2015

his entire golfing life working and playing at both
private and public courses. Bobby Gage (pictured
below), who grew up at Greenwoods in Winsted,
and for many years has taught at Candlewood
Valley in New Milford, recently celebrated his 50th
birthday by going out and Monday-qualifying for a
Champions Tour event, the Dick’s Sporting Goods
Open in Endicott, New York.

Bobby shot 75-71-71 (217) and collected
$3,515 for his efforts. He also beat some outstanding
players including former major winners Jay Haas,
Mark Calcavecchia, Craig Stadler, Scott Simpson,
Fuzzy Zoeller, Sandy Lyle, Larry Nelson and Mark
Brooks. Way to go, Bobby. Good luck in your next
tournament!

At the CSGA, we are thoroughly dedicated
to the health of all of our member clubs, both
public and private. We’ll continue to fight the tax
battles that affect all of our clubs, we’ll continue to
promote new ways of thinking that can benefit all
of our clubs, we’ll continue to conduct our Public
Links Championship (which the USGA and some
states have discontinued), and we’ll continue to
celebrate those champions who hail from private or
public courses, or both.

www.csgalinks.org