Montague Golf Course Opens

The front nine greens at Montague Golf Course have been enlarged, repositioned, and rebuilt for the first time since 1897 to provide the high-quality play the course needs to attract golfers. The work was possible only because it was accomplished by Montague's own course maintenance crew, under the direction of Course Supt. Garry Crothers. From left, they are Gordon Harding, Elwin Preston, Thomas Sheltrin, John Palmer, Garry Crothers, Dave Pash, Kade Vorce, John Benedetto, Kit Gage, Ken Brown, Matt MacAskill, and Mike Wright. (Photo provided / Tom Menger)

Its Rebuilt Front Nine Greens

For the first time in more than a year, golfers will step up to the first tee at Montague Golf Course this Friday at noon, knowing they will play the entire Montague course—all 18 holes of it.

During the last year, the golf course has been engaged in an ambitious rebuilding project, reshaping and rebuilding the first nine greens—for the first time since they were installed in 1897. During that time, Club members and guests could play the front nine holes, but utilizing temporary greens.

Finally, starting Friday, all the new greens will be playable.

At the beginning of the 2005 golf season it became evident that greens #1 through #9 were in desperate shape and could not be salvaged. Based on the recommendation of the Montague’s new superintendent Garry Crothers, the directors approved a plan to rebuild these greens. The work began in early June of 2005 and was completed in the fall.

The new greens were reshaped, recontoured and in some cases repositioned to make them more interesting and playable. The Montague grounds crew, under the supervision of Crothers, did all the work at a minimal cost.

This work was done to ensure that Montague will be a viable facility not only for existing golfers but also for a new generation of golfers in the Randolph area.

The new greens will be played for the first time Friday as a specially-designated foursome of Club officers tees off at noon.

In addition to building new greens, Montague has rebuilt and reshaped its bunkers and replaced the sand mix, which is a vast improvement over the old. Montague is also installing a new irrigation system, which will be completed in mid-July, ensuring that the condition of the course will be first rate no matter what the summer weather may bring.

"The golf course is in the best shape I have ever seen it in," said Tom Menger, one of Montague’s board members. "These improvements are a result in no small way of the hard work of Garry and his crew. I expect the course will get even better as the year progresses," said Menger.

Montague will continue to integrate changes so that area golfers can experience a great day of golf for a reasonable cost that is friendly to all playing levels.

The improvements did not stop at the 18^th hole, Menger noted. The clubhouse has undergone renovations and a new menu introduced to better serve golfers at the 19^th hole.