Play the world’s greatest courses at The Clubhouse in Middleton

By BILL BROTHERTON

Bob Bowman takes a mighty swing and splits the fairway with his tee shot. His playing partners, Mike Bondanza, Marc Jean and Jim Varzakis, applaud his effort, but not without a bit of good-natured ribbing. The foursome is about halfway through their round at Wildstone Golf Course in Cranbrook, British Columbia.

Training program a perfect Fit for All golfers
By BILL BROTHERTON

David DuPriest, owner of ALLFIT Performance Training in Wilmington, teaches his clients to work from the ground up.

By BILL BROTHERTON

Matt Sawicki, director of championships for the United States Golf Association, says he spends about 180 days a year on golf courses. “Recently I spent five weeks in a row on courses and I didn’t hit a single golf shot,” said the St. Louis native. “I play five to 10 times a year, and my 10 handicap reflects that. … though it’s a trending-up 10.”

By ANNE MARIE TOBIN

The late Bill Flynn accomplished many things during his lifetime. A member of the Professional Golf Association of America for 52 of his 74 years until he passed away in 2011, he excelled as a player, was a skilled businessman and, when it came to giving back to the game of golf, had an unparalleled passion for serving others and promoting the game, especially when it came to juniors and inner-city youth. He believed that the game of golf could teach children some of life’s most important values.

“The players, they love to come to this area. A lot of them bring their families for the week.” ~ Andrea Bruno 

By BILL BROTHERTON

The art of hospitality is defined as the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.

Andrea Bruno, Salem Country Club’s executive committee division chair of the Hospitality Committee for the 2017 U.S. Senior Open, says it’s the perfect job for her. And it’s easy to see why, after sitting in the clubhouse and chatting for a bit with the affable Lynnfield resident. She’s having a blast, and the hip surgery she had 2½ months prior hasn’t slowed her down one bit.

The New England Professional Golfers Association has announced that Ed Carbone, the executive director of the U.S. Senior Open at Salem Country Club June 26 to July 2, and Jim Lane, the retired head PGA professional at Winchester Country Club, are major award winners for 2017.

Courtesy photo

Bill Paxton, right, directs Shia LaBeouf in “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” the film that chronicled Francis Ouimet’s unexpected 1913 U.S. Open victory at The Country Club. Paxton died on Feb. 25 at age 61.

By ANNE MARIE TOBIN

Bill Paxton’s death last week brought back a few memories. Most people remember him as Helen Hunt’s co-star in the movie “Twister” or as Brock Lovett, the treasure hunter searching for the Heart of the Ocean diamond in “Titanic.”  

Rob Oppenheim had quite the successful week at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am tourney.

By Gary Larrabee

He knew he was going to make the biggest paycheck of his professional career, but that was not uppermost in his mind as Salem-born Rob Oppenheim faced his third shot on the 72nd and final hole of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Sunday afternoon.

It’s been a busy week for Tiger Woods. He switched from Nike to TaylorMade equipment, and yesterday he returned to the PGA tour after a long hiatus. How did he do? Check out ESPN’s report here.

PHOTO BY MARK LORENZ

Matt Sawicki, director of championships for the United States Golf Association, met with U.S. Senior Open managers at Salem Country Club on Wednesday and Thursday.

By BILL BROTHERTON

PEABODY – The U.S. Senior Open doesn’t arrive at Salem Country Club until late June, but Matt Sawicki, director of championships for the United States Golf Association, and his team have been planning the event for some three years. Those efforts are heating up in advance of the June 26-July 2 championship, the crown jewel of the Senior circuit.