Editor’s Letter: Spring has (not exactly) sprung

As I sit typing this column for the Spring issue of North Shore Golf magazine, it’s snowing like gangbusters, the third in a series of March storms that clobbered the region and left

thousands of homeowners with flooded basements, uprooted trees and no electricity.

The golf community was not spared. The flooding may have subsided, but debris and downed branches still litter nearly every course north of Boston. That’s bad news for those of

us clamoring to get outside and hit a bucket of balls or even tee it up at our local course.

So, to get my golf fix, I settled into my easy chair, poured a glass of my favorite adult beverage, cooked up some popcorn and binge-watched a bunch of golf-themed movies. For 10 hours! There are more than you’d think.

In this edition, I rate the films I sat through. You might be surprised by the films that get my highest ranking. One takeaway from my long day’s journey into night of movie exploring? I think it’s criminal that Humphrey Bogart never made a golf movie, especially with a nickname like Bogie.

Also in this issue, Steve Krause writes about the late Bill Connell, a Lynn native who had a huge impact on Massachusetts Golf. The Golf House and Museum and the TPC course, both in Norton, would likely not exist if it wasn’t for Connell.

There’s more! Former Boston Bruins goaltender Reggie Lemelin talks about his new role as membership ambassador at Ferncroft CC. A 55-and-older residential development is being considered at Sagamore Spring GC in Lynnfield; will it have any effect on one of the region’s most popular public courses? And the new Grazie restaurant at Four Oaks CC in Dracut has diners saying “thank you.”

But wait! North Shore Golf’s course directory has been updated and our Notebook shares breaking news, including welcomes to new head PGA professionals at Wenham CC and Woburn CC and new club managers at Salem CC and Kernwood CC.

Our columnists are at the top of their game. Gary Larrabee writes about the talented Emmerich brothers of Swampscott, St. Mary’s of Lynn and Kernwood CC. Bob Green, who is beginning his 40th year as head PGA professional at Tedesco CC, weighs in on the slow-play problem that plagues the PGA Tour and all of us at local courses. Joining us this issue is Jim Sullivan, the well-known Boston rock and roll writer, who introduces us to his mentor, the man who taught him about golf, life and so much more.

We hope you agree the elements of this Spring issue of North Shore Golf would make one mighty fine movie, certainly on a

par with some of the genre’s finest.

Now if that darned snow would just melt …

Bill Brotherton is editor of North Shore Golf magazine. He grew up in Beverly, caddied and worked in the pro shop at Essex CC, is a Ouimet Scholar who graduated from Suffolk University, has written about golf for the Beverly Times and Daily Item of Lynn. He’s retired from the Boston Herald, where he wrote about music and edited the Features section. Like all of us, he can’t wait for golf season to begin. Tell him what you think at essexmediagroup.com.