Les Kennedy’s Course Record
https://www.pga.com/archive/news/golf-buzz/time-pga-tour-player-three-putted-avoid-course-record
Double click on above link for PGA article
https://www.pga.com/archive/news/golf-buzz/time-pga-tour-player-three-putted-avoid-course-record
Double click on above link for PGA article
Winter Golf is a different game. PCC offers the best environment with covered carts and regular greens that have 3 holes pre-cut on every green. Once the greens are frozen you can’t damage the turf. With propane heaters that fit in the cup holders, the cart can get very toasty. With several layers of clothing, hand warmers, and a winter toke, winter golf can be enjoyable.
Wind chill can spoil the fun. If the temperature is freezing and the wind is 12 miles+, then I believe that it is too cold. With no wind, 25 degrees is comfortable.
The greatest challenge is playing the big bounces off frozen turf. Par 5 holes suddenly can be reached in 2. Short par 4s may be reached in a single shot. Errant shots can be drastic, so hitting the ball straight is critical. Approach shots must be played well short of the greens and low trajectory makes the shots manageable. Bump and run links style is the way to score.
The best winter golf is in Florida or Arizona, but if you are back home there are days that are just fine to play. Fore!
Everyone was a winner at this years Jim Tanner Caddy Classic. Riley Whitehead was recognized as the recipient of the 2021 Jim Tanner Scholarship. Jim Tanner was recognized for his 69th year of working at Pawtucket Country Club serving the members and being the ambassador of goodwill to all that visit and golf.
There was a great turn out with 20 teams competing on a perfect mid 70s golf day at the club. Pawtucket Country Club was in perfect condition. There was new sand in a number of the bunkers and the food and banquet that followed was very good. Every player received a FootJoy rain jacket with the Jim Tanner Caddy Classic Logo.
John Carta was a double dipper winning the team low net, as well as, the $500 50/50 prize. The Burke Fund was also a winner of $500 from the 50/50 drawing. When all is tallied, the Jim Tanner Scholarship will have raised more than $125,000 in scholarships since the tournament started 15 years ago.
Closest to the Pin #7 Les Kennedy Jr.
Closest to the Pin #15 Rich Matte
Long Drive #18 Men Jeff Macchi
Long Drive #18 Women Jayne Bellows
3rd Net Team: 55 Henry Lopez
Tom Gifford
Bill Skwirz
Joe Wetton
2nd Net Team: 55 Rodney MacKenzie
Bruce MacKenzie
Tim McCarthy
Austin Toole
1st Net: 53 Joe Audette
Bob Audette
John Cotta
John Murphy
1st Gross: 63 Nate Hall
Jeremy Hall
Bill Fischer
Kyle Hoffman
Riley Whitehead, 18, the son of Michael and Ellen Whitehead of Rumford, has been awarded the James Tanner Scholarship from the Rhode Island Golf Association’s John P. Burke Scholarship Fund. Riley is a 2021 graduate of Saint Raphael Academy, and is starting his freshman year at The University of Rhode Island in the College of Business this September. Riley has worked as a greenkeeper at Pawtucket Country Club for the past four seasons. He played varsity lacrosse for Saints and enjoys golf, basketball and football in his spare time. Having known Pawtucket’s beloved Caddie Master for as long as he can remember, Riley feels especially honored to be selected as this year’s recipient of the scholarship endowed in JT’s name.
The rain came down in buckets so the tournament was postponed with hope that we will have better weather on the last day of August.
The Jim Tanner Caddy Classic will be played for the 15th consecutive year on Monday July 12th at 9:00. There will be 28 foursomes that will play the best ball of the foursome with a gross and net total. 112 players will celebrate the tradition of caddying and the 70 year career of Jim Tanner at Pawtucket Country Club.
The Jim Tanner Caddy Classic Golf Tournament started as a gathering of many friends that caddied, worked on the grounds crew and played golf together as teenagers. The first year of the event there were 24 players. The tournament was postponed twice because of bad weather. We finally had the event in late October. We decided to do a collection at the end of the tourney and the money would go to the Burke Scholarship Fund in honor of Jim Tanner.
Since then the JT Classic has raised over $120,000 and more than a dozen students that work at golf courses around the state have received the Jim Tanner Scholarship. Every year there are thousands of Charity Golf Tournaments but very few last more than a few years.
The JT Classic continues to be successful because of the man that it honors, as well as, the money that it raises for scholarships. Jim Tanner grew up on Crescent Street in Pawtucket. Jim started caddying when he was 10. Jimmy would leave his house in the morning and spend a good part of his day at the course shagging balls and carrying bags for the members. Over time JT became a skilled golfer and eventually became the assistant golf professional at Pawtucket.
Jim took a brief time away from the course to serve in the Navy. When he came back to the club, he was offered the position as Caddy Master. Today there are no caddies at Pawtucket Country Club. Most golfers take a cart. Those that walk carry their own bag or use a push cart. Jimmy manages the members’ bags making sure that the clubs are always clean and that the bags are placed on the carts assuring that all players are paired properly.
JT is the official ambassador of goodwill at Pawtucket Country Club. When a guest shows up at the club, JT greets them with a big smile and how can I help you. If they are golfing, Jimmy will ask who is their host member and what time they will be playing. JT will make sure their golf bag will be paired with their hosts bag. Jimmy will provide directions on the club house, proshop and practice facility. In that short moment, the guest will realize that Pawtucket Country Club is welcoming and that he or she is dealing with a first class organization. JT has been providing a first class “Welcome” for over 70 years.
I learned about caddying, golfing and providing service to the membership when I started caddying in 1967. JT was my mentor and a mentor to hundreds of other young men and women for many years.
On Monday, I will be playing in my 15th Jim Tanner Caddy Classic. I will be playing with my brother Bruce, my golfing buddy Austin Toole and my golf professional friend Rob Baxter. We will all experience the big Welcome and will recognize this event as the Celebration of a special man and his service to golf. The golf course will be in perfect condition. It will be another great day for all who participate.
In addition to the Jim Tanner Classic, the membership has recognized Jim Tanner’s service by naming a second tournament in his honor, the Jim Tanner Spring Member Guest. JT has also been inducted into 3 Hall of Fames. They are the Pawtucket Country Club Hall of Fame, the Professional Caddie Hall of Fame and the Rhode Island Golf Association Hall of Fame.
John played in every Jim Tanner Caddy Classic. John caddied Pawtucket Country Club as a youngster and loved golf like no other. John played early on at Stone Lea and eventually bought a home on 18th tee at Wannamoisett.
John played Pawtucket most every day and had membership at Pawtucket and Wannamoisett.
We will miss John and hoping that there are no bad lies and no three putts where he is now.
RIP
Tournament will be held Monday July 12, 2021 with a shotgun start at 9:00