The crowd at Salem Country Club looks on as Glenna Collett Vare tees off during the 1932 Women’s Amateur Championship.

By ANNE MARIE TOBIN

If history has anything to do with it, this year’s U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club is going be a real doozy.

At the 2001 Senior Open, eight players were within two shots of the lead on the back nine. Five of them – Jack Nicklaus, Isao Aoki, Jim Colbert, Larry Nelson and eventual champion Bruce Fleisher – were even par and held shares of the lead.

Salem CC’s executive chef, Fred Yanosick, and general manager, Greg Cincotta, estimate that as many as 17,000 meals will be served to guests during Senior Open week. | Photo: Spenser Hasak

By BILL BROTHERTON

While Tom Watson, Gene Sauers, Fred Couples and other professional golfers are making birdies on Salem Country Club’s championship course June 26 – July 2, the club’s general manager, Greg Cincotta, and executive chef, Fred Yanosick, and their staffs, will be doing a thoroughly professional job taking care of guests behind the scenes.

Proprietor John Moore behind the new, custom-made bamboo bar. | Photo: Mark Lorenz

By BETH BRESNAHAN

When we visited Nahant Golf Club at Kelley Greens soon after the first of the year the clubhouse was covered in sawdust and the walls were being stripped down to the studs. Play It As It Lies Golf Management Inc., the course’s new management team led by partners Anthony De Dominicis and John Moore, shared they were transforming the former clubhouse into a facility that offered patrons a fine dining experience, a nice bar and lounge.

Sagamore plans a Masters-ful change on 9th hole

If the newly-designed ninth hole at Lynnfield’s Sagamore Spring Golf Course looks familiar, don’t be surprised if Dave Loggins’ iconic theme music, “The Masters” (yes, that music), pops into your head as you approach the green. That’s because, well, the hole has been cleverly renovated to replicate the treacherous par-3 12th hole at Augusta National Golf Club.

By ANNE MARIE TOBIN 

Sometimes it all comes down to being in the right place at the right time.

For Dick Blaisdell, that place happened to be his own Western Barber shop at the intersection of Route 1 and Salem Street in Lynnfield, where Blaisdell has spent the past 50 years cutting hair.

Salem Country Club Golf Course Superintendent Kip Tyler and “his assistant” Molly inspect the 18th green.

By BILL BROTHERTON

Kip Tyler, Salem Country Club’s golf course superintendent/miracle worker for the past 35 years, looks out at the 18th fairway and smiles. The grass is, for the most part, green and lush. After a drought-plagued summer of 2016, the classic Donald Ross-designed links came through winter just fine.

‘Drive it in the fairway; stay below the hole’ offers Salem’s genial PGA pro Kevin Wood

By BILL BROTHERTON

Salem Country Club’s Head Golf Professional Kevin Wood discusses the upcoming U.S. Senior Open. | Photo: Spenser Hasak

No male golfer has ever finished under par during a USGA championship at Salem Country Club. Bruce Fleisher, the 2001 Senior Open champion, shot a 2-under 68 in the final round to finish at even par. Dale Morey, who captured the 1977 Senior Men’s Amateur at the Donald Ross-designed gem 4 and 3 over Lewis Oehmig, was medalist at 143, 3-over par.

1ST ROW: Merchandise on display at the 2017 PGA Merchandise Show held in January at Orange County Convention Center in Orlando; A colorfully-dressed crew attending the show. (PHOTOS: Traci Edwards/PGA of America); 2ND ROW: Ed Toner of Swampscott gets ready to tee off on Middleton Golf Course’s 1st hole; Jen Dorney of Peabody and Susan O’Connor of Danvers at Middleton Golf Course. (PHOTOS: Spenser Hasak) Kevan Elliot on the green at Beverly Golf & Tennis Club. (PHOTO: Owen O’Rourke) 3RD ROW: The clubhouse at Olde Salem Greens; Dennis McFall plays the 18th at Gannon Colf Club in April. (PHOTOS: Spenser Hasak) 4TH ROW: Connor Hayes plays at Olde Salem in May (Photo: Spenser Hasak); Karen Miller, Sue Page, Lea Healey, Betty Lou Fecteau and Jane McDonald, all sporting fascinators, have Kentucky Derby Day fun at The Pub at Ould Newbury. (PHOTO: Mike Norris)

On Monday, May 22, Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead will be one of the qualifying sites for the Massachusetts Golf Association Open. The top 14 and ties will advance to the championship, to be held at Sacconnesset in East Falmouth June 12-14.

Eighty-four players will battle for two qualifying spots Wednesday, May 24 at the 18-hole sectional for the U.S. Senior Open at Kernwood Country Club in Salem. The two successful players will advance to the 38th U.S. Senior Open slated for June 29-July 2 at Salem Country Club in Peabody.