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GIVE THE “GIFT OF GOLF”
GIVE THE “GIFT OF GOLF”
Happy Holidays from your friends at North Ridge Golf Club!
— 10% Off All Gift Certificates $100 or more, now through December 24th —
Please visit the pro shop in person to purchase this special deal.
HOURS
Mon – Fri: 8:30am to 4:30pm
Sat & Sun: 9:00am to 4:00pm
Happy Holidays!
The Staff at #!facilityname!#
860.628.0879
Big Cup Week sponsored by TaylorMade Golf started out with a lot of anticipation for the larger than normal golf holes and ended on a real high note with the Glow Ball Touranment.
We’d like to thank all of those participated last week and congratulate Vic Czarnecki who was the lucky recipient of the TaylorMade driver random drawing. Vic will be fitted with a brand new TaylorMade driver.
Special congrats to the low 18 hole score of the week, Mr. Zachary Stennett, assistant golf professional from Tallwood Country Club who shot 63 on his own ball during Wednesday’s Assistant Pro Invitational.
The glow ball event went out without a hitch as 60 players played nine holes in the dark. The winning team shot a score of 3 under which is very impressive.
Thanks to all who participated in last weeks events and hope to see you all this fall here at North Ridge.
Jack McConachie, 2014 CT PGA Hall of Fame Inductee
SOUTH GLASTONBURY (July 22, 2014) – The Connecticut Section PGA Professional Hall of Fame Committee also announced the newest inductees for 2014. The first member of the 2014 Hall of Fame class is PGA Professional, Tom Gleeton, head golf professional at the Country Club of Waterbury in Waterbury, Conn. Gleeton has several playing achievements during his career, including section Player of the Year in 1998, Connecticut PGA Champion, Connecticut PGA Professional Champion, and five-time Tournament of Champions winner. He was also named the section Golf Professional of the Year in 2001 and served as President in 2005-2006.
Our second member is Jack McConachie. McConachie has been serving over 35 years as golf professional at North Ridge Golf Club (formally Pine Valley) in Southington, Conn. He also has an impressive playing career, winning several premier golf championships, including: Connecticut PGA Championship, Connecticut Open, Connecticut Senior Championship, and Connecticut Senior Open. McConachie has been awarded with section Golf Professional of the Year in 2008 and Teacher of the year in 2012.
The final inductee of the 2014 Hall of Fame is PGA Life Member Century, Bill Fox. A golf professional trailblazer, Fox pursued membership at the age of 61. He actively volunteered and served in numerous section activities. Fox was the catalyst for the start of the Connecticut Senior Open in 1983. From 1997 he was the chairman of the championship, which continues today and bears his name on the champion’s trophy. Fox also earned section Golf Professional of Year in 2008.
Each year, over 30 distinguished PGA Professionals of the section are considered for this great honor. The Hall of Fame Committee is comprised of PGA Professionals, Walter Lowell, Gary Reynolds, and Frank Selva, who, since the Hall of Fame’s inception in 2008, complete the research needed to honor these individuals. A total of 21 PGA Professionals have been inducted since 2008.
By Ray Van Stone – REPUBLICAN-AMERICAN
Sunday May 18th, 2014
SOUTHINGTON — The sign at the end of the driveway says North Ridge Golf Club. As you turn into that driveway, a bright, white clubhouse is straight ahead. Something looks very different at the old place known since 1960 as Pine Valley Golf Course. There are a lot of different and new things, other than the name, going on at the course well-known to Greater Waterbury golfers.
“There is a new energy here,” said pro Jack McConachie. “Our new owner, Mark Lovley, is the Energizer bunny. He never stops.”
Lovley is not just the owner, but an avid golfer as well. Five or six rounds a week are not uncommon. “He can play 36 holes straight without breaking a sweat,” said McConachie.
Since purchasing the golf course last summer, Lovley has renovated the clubhouse, including the snack bar, the upstairs bar, lounge, banquet room and patio, as well as the men’s and ladies’ locker rooms.
He has hired a second PGA of America professional, John Dipollina, to join McConachie in the pro shop. A fixture at the course for more than three decades, McConachie had been solo in the shop for 12 years. Dipollina had been the head pro at Gillette Ridge in Bloomfield and was also the head pro at Minnechaug in Glastonbury.
The food and beverage business has been turned over to the Testa’s Banquet Facility, a well-know Southington company.
Lovley also hired Tom Rodden as the new superintendent. He is a member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. He has started a tree-cutting and trimming program that has opened up the golf course and has several projects on a number of holes. Work has been done to correct the drainage issues that have plagued one side of the course.
“Since we aerated the fairways, you can drive a cart out there on (Nos.) 12 and 13, even after the rain we had last weekend,” said Lovley. “And we are working with a company that deals in drainage and has some ideas to help solve that problem.”
North Ridge is even on Facebook now.
A lot has been done, but still the perception that the club has been reduced to a nine-hole layout remains out there among area golfers and seems to have been since the sale.
Pine Valley was an 18-hole golf course. North Ridge is an 18-hole course and will be at least through the conclusion of the 2015 season.
Lovley Development does have plans to starting building houses in 2016 on the front side of the course, which will remove nine holes from play. But that is not the end of the story.
“We are trying to have a new concept,” said Lovley.
A three-hole layout will be built on 30 acres of property the club owns alongside the 12th hole. This will serve as a quick, three-hole round for a player with time constraints, or for a three-hole practice session with one of the pros.
“Instead of taking a lesson on the range, play three holes with the pro,” said Lovley. “Or come out before work and play three holes”
Lovley is also pursuing the purchase of another 40 acres across the street from the club that is currently owned by Tilcon.
“We have been meeting with Tilcon and going over the details,” said Lovley. “The land has been mined out and is just vacant land.”
If that deal is done, Lovley plans to build nine new holes to replace the front nine. Already, work has started on 30 new homes near the 16th fairway. Lovley reports that he already has 25 deposits on the 30 lots.
Lovley has also tried a new approach to greens fees. He lowered them. Weekday greens fees for 18 holes with a cart dropped $6 to $46 and weekend fees dropped $10 to $50.
“It was too expensive,” he said. “We are bringing it down to make it more appealing. We’ve been getting a lot of compliments.”
Despite the lousy spring weather, the course has been busy. Memberships are up. The men’s club had around 100 members four years ago. Last year, it was down to 40, but this spring, even with the bad weather, the number is up to 50. And there some new leagues this spring.
Lovley has created a new energy at the club, with players and staff. And just to add some more anticipation, he has plans for a completely new clubhouse in three years to replace the recently renovated existing facility.
“A Southern-style building,” said Lovley, “with a wraparound porch.”
He does not want to slow down, and the old Pine Valley is the new, invigorated North Ridge.
Register in the Pro Shop or call 860-628-0879 for details.
Pine Valley Golf Club has opened under its new name, North Ridge Golf Club. Call 860-628-0879 for leagues, memberships and tournaments.
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