Although many golf courses in New Hampshire are still dealing with wet conditions, the golf season is expected to start soon. To get you up to speed on what to expect in the upcoming 2023 season, we’ve put together the following Q&A.
Q: Can golfers still play at Green Meadow Golf Club before it closes?
A: No. Rumors circulated during the winter that Green Meadow might remain open for part of the 2023 season, but Target Corp. purchased the property, and both the Jungle and Prairie courses are now closed. Green Meadow was a popular recreational destination for golfers and hosted several New Hampshire Golf Association events, including the Stroke Play Tournament and State Am qualifiers.
“The biggest news is probably Green Meadow shutting down,” said NHGA Executive Director Matt Schmidt. “Although we’ve known it was coming for a while, losing a 36-hole facility in a state where golf courses are already in short supply is a challenge. We’re concerned about the players who frequented Green Meadow, especially those who traveled from Massachusetts. It will be a challenge for other courses in the area to absorb those players.”
Q: Where will some of the marquee golf events be held this summer?
A: The men’s Amateur Championship will take place at Manchester Country Club from July 10-15. This year’s tournament marks the first time the championship has returned to Manchester since 2005 when Craig Cyr won at Canterbury Woods. The women’s State Am will be held at Montcalm Golf Club from July 31-Aug. 2, while the New England Golf Association’s Junior Amateur will be hosted at Mount Washington Resort from Aug. 7-9.
Q: If a player breaks their putter in frustration during a tournament, can they replace it?
A: No. Even though a USGA rules change effective January 1, 2023, permits players to replace a damaged club during a round, the club cannot be replaced if the damage was caused by abuse.
Q: Who is Darin MacEacheron, and why will he be surrounded by women this summer?
A: Darin MacEacheron was hired as the director of women’s golf for the NHGA last November. The NHGA absorbed the day-to-day operations of the now-defunct New Hampshire Women’s Golf Association, which added many women’s events and required more staff to manage. MacEacheron’s role focuses on organizing women’s tournaments, including those run by the NHWGA in the past few years.
Q: Where can I find more information about New Hampshire golf?
A: Check out the “Granite State Golfers” podcast, hosted by Durham resident Mica Stark, which covers amateur golf in the state. The latest episode features guest Chantel McCabe, a New Hampshire native who covers PGA and LPGA events for The Golf Channel.
Rules question:
Q: True or false: If a committee member is unavailable to assist with a rules issue in a reasonable amount of time, the player must continue playing and must not unreasonably delay the game.
A: True. According to USGA Rule 20.1a, players must continue playing and should not cause any unnecessary delay if a committee member is not available to assist with a rules issue.
