Sports - Golf Daze

McGregor Links has always had the reputation of being one of the most demanding golf courses in the Capital District. Its challenge attracts the area's best golfers to traverse its hallowed grounds, but at the same time intimidated recreational golfers.

If you watched the U.S. Open last weekend, you heard the golf reporters comment on the difficulty of the par 3s at 232 yards, 210 yards and 211 yards. McGregor Links members have been facing two par 3s at 230 yards and 240 yards for 88 years and 50 percent of the members could never reach the green.

What was the phenomenon that changed the McGregor Links into an all-purpose golf course? Did it call for moving tons of earth to redesign the holes? Or did they have to build new tees to alter the course for the golfer who enjoys a fair and reasonably challenging 18 holes? It was none of the above. Shaughnessy and the Bentrovata put their heads together and added 18 new strategically placed green tees.  It added a whole new dimension, making the course shorter and much more playable.

Once that was decided, it took about two hours to put them in place. At a cost of under $100 for the wooden blocks, McGregor Links now has design that is purely recreational but still challenging enough, requiring good shot making and course management.

I have been an advocate of a shorter course for the past five years; when the new management took over this year, my dream was finally realized.

Golf should be fun. In my own case, as I got older and my game got shorter, golf became an effort in futility. Now with the new green tees, golf is fun again. I can honestly say that the green tee course is one of the best layouts for any level of golfer in the Capital District.

For example, the two long par 3s at 228 yards and 256 yards have been reduced to 165 - 170 yards, a comfortable distance. The second hole from the white tees at 417 yards makes it impossible for most golfers to reach the green in regulation. Move to the green tees and nail your driver - a five iron or less will get you home in two.

This theme is repeated over and over throughout the remainder of a round. Find your comfort zone and golf becomes fun again. No longer will McGregor be known as the domain for the young and virile. The McGregor of today is an everyman's (and woman's) course.

If you were looking for a country club to join but were intimidated by what you had heard in the past, redirect your thinking and give McGregor Links a second chance. Believe me, you won't be disappointed.

McGregor Links Men's Association Results from June 20, 2009

Net

First Place

Bill Beers, Russ Terpening, Tim O'Brien, Karl Bellinger, 86

Second Place

Tom Dillon, Mike D'Arcy, Bill Walbridge, Pete Rogers, 87

Third Place

Jack Lewis, Ken May, Kevin Ture, Dick Desrochers, 92

Goss

First Place

Kirk Emmons, Mark Patterson, Rich Sheridan, Art Manso, 102

Second Place

John Arpey, Bill Ferrero, Ed Esposito, Ted Sienko, 111

McGregor Links 

Men's Association Best 

Ball Partners - US Open - Combined Score

Net

First Place

Terry Loftus / Tom Dillon, 127

(Mickelson - 69)

Second Place

Bill Walbridge / Lou Yellen, 129

(Woods - 68)

Third Place

Nick Alex / Frank Crowley, 130

(Duval - 70)

Gross

First Place

Jim Carroll / John Moller, 143

(Woods - 68)

Second Place

Al Barclay / O.B. O'Brien, 144

(Woods - 68)

Third Place

Ed Esposito / Ken May, 147

(Mickelson - 69)

Ladies' ABCD Best 

Shootout - 3-Way Tie

Net

First Place

Sharon May, Kathy Nygard, Jinnie Burt, Janis Verderose, 73

Second Place

Chris Denew, Mary Ellen Carpenter, Ellie Raymond, Judy Ture, 73

Third Place

Betty Bellinger, Pam O'Brien, Maureen Ireland, Nancy Indiano, 73