Hey Everyone,

We’re on the precipice of another major. The U.S. Open starts next week. I hope it’s as good and challenging as the U.S. Women’s Open. Do I want Scottie Scheffler to make a 10 on his third hole of the tournament like Nelly Korda? Hell no. But I would like to see guys get ejected and have a deserving champion rise to the top over the last 36 holes, just like 22-year-old Yuka Saso did at Lancaster CC.

Will have some thoughts next week about Pinehurst No. 2 and a preview pod with Paul Burke.

News and Notes:

• The Mass Open starts on June 10 at Willowbend CC. I’m kinda “meh” on the course. Nothing to write home about. But if you live down near Mashpee and are curious about the course or want to watch pros and amateurs play Willowbend, it’s always worth watching great golf.

• Sadly, no Massachusetts golfers qualified for the U.S. Open last Monday during Final Qualifying. Ben James from Connecticut did earn a spot as the medalist at Canoe Brook in New Jersey. MassGolf sent Steve Hanjack down to Canoe Brook for the day. Here’s the recap.

• Tara Joy-Connelly is someone everyone should keep an eye on this season. She won the Women’s Stroke Play this week. She’s a Hall of Famer already and stared down Morgan Smith, the Big East Freshman of the Year, in a playoff to win the Baker Trophy. The more I talk to people around the country, the more I learn that MassGolf is one of the best and most respected state associations. Here’s another great recap. 

• Tatnuck is hosting the 2nd Worcester Women’s Amateur this summer on June 30 and July 1. Spread the word and if you’re eligible, sign up!

• A couple of years ago, I wrote about Mapledale CC which is now Stow Acres. It hosted the first two United States Colored Golf Association Championships in the 1920s. Here is the article I wrote in 2022.

  • Rediscover Mapledale is hosting its first tournament on August 26. Here are the tournament details and registration.

A Horse Named Back to Paris

June 7 would have been my dad’s 77th birthday. The last birthday I got to celebrate with him was his 67th birthday.

10 years can go by fast and slow all at the same time.

I fell in love with golf as an 8-year-old alongside my dad, who took up the game when I started.

The father-son golf story is a tale as old as time. Mine is laced with sunset strolls and exploring new courses with my dad.

When I was in college, my dad and I were playing golf in Ireland with a man who played rugby for the Irish National Team. He was in his 70s and quite a character. At one point in the round, he started talking about horse racing. My dad perked up; he loved horse racing. He’d watch Irish horse racing on Saturday mornings and used one of his brother’s addresses in Ireland to gamble. This was long before VPNs….

The Rugby player, whose name as escaped me, gave my dad a tip on a horse that was racing at Leopardstown Racecourse in Dublin that evening. My dad would go to Leopardstown as a kid with his older brothers; he was the youngest of six the boys in his family.

The name of the horse was Back to Paris, and he was a surefire winner that evening.

My dad couldn’t shake the tip from his mind, and when we hopped in the car after the round, we headed back to the house, collected my mom and brother and headed out to watch Back to Paris.

The horse didn’t race until the end of the session, so my dad put some bets on jockeys or trainers he liked and won a fair bit of cash before Back to Paris ran his race.

My dad took all the money he had won up to that point and put it on the tip of the night: Back to Paris.

I don’t think I’ll forget the look on my dad’s face as Back to Paris drifted to the back of the pack as they came down the homestretch.

I mean, Back to Paris wasn’t even close to placing, let alone winning.

“Back to Paris” became a running joke between us to describe a disappointment.

That evening at Leopardstown, the only time I ever went to a racecourse with my day, gave me a glimpse into the kind of kid he was, watching races from the same stands he occupied in the 1950s and 60s with his older brothers.

My dad wasn’t the most spontaneous person, but that evening he jumped at an opportunity and maybe was reminded why his logical brain made him so successful.

One thing I’m glad we did a lot, but I wish we had done more, was go on golf trips or check The Kentucky Debry off his bucket list. We had some great trips, and we talked about the other ones that never formulated.

So as Father’s Day nears, if you’re a father or a son or daughter. Don’t just talk about the trip or the thing you’d like to do together. Actually, do it. You have no idea when that chance to even talk about it will disappear.

Double Click(s)

1. Golfweek released its top public courses in Massachusetts. I don’t love rankings, but this is an absurd list.

Here’s what I had to say about this list…

2. I’m constantly blown away by how good amateur golf is in Massachusetts. I played in the Franklin Park Mass. Amateur Qualifier on Wednesday. The low score was 64 (-6) from Matthew Cowgill and 68 was the highest qualifying score. Then there was this wild finish from Cole Manning… stunning stuff.

3. This video about Pinehurst No. 2 was exceptional. I think I could listen to Bill Coore read the phone book.

3. Just because…

When I’m not golfing…

I’m reading…

• My friend Phil recommended that I try Puck News for the two-week free trial. They cover a wide range of media and business news.

• In 2018, Tiff and I went to Paris for a week. We spent one day in Normandy riding around in a car with a woman who was born the summer of D-Day as our tour guide. It was an incredible day that we planned with two friends who also happened to be in Paris at the same time. She would pull over at various points and tell stories about D-Day, and we hit all the major beaches and cemeteries. D-Day was 80 years ago. This NYTimes piece talks about how the last soldiers are dying now, and we’re losing our direct connection to that day and World War II.

  • An excellent read: The Splendid and The Vile by Erik Larsen covers Winston Churchill’s first month as Prime Minister. Incredible, inspiring stuff.

I’m listening to…

• I consumed a lot of NBA Finals content this week, which is already a little out-of-date. However, I would recommend subscribing to Off the Pike if you’re looking for reactions to the games.

I’m drinking…

• After a long day in the heat at Franklin Park Golf Course shooting 74, I enjoyed a few drinks. Nothing hits like a Narragansett Lager. I also had a bourbon and lemonade, and let me tell you, it might be my drink of the summer. Shoutout to Pat Brown for the rec.

I’m eating…

• This Orzo salad with peppers and feta was awesome. We used couscous instead of orzo, but still excellent.

I’m watching…

• Still making our way through Bodkin on Netflix.

• No Laying Up wrapped up their Australia Tourist Sauce at Kingston Heath.

New here? Reached the bottom?

Hell Yeah.

You should subscribe.

Bay State Archives

I'm (shamelessly) plugging...

• A list of golf courses open in the winter.

• Bay State Picks: Best courses you can walk for less than $60.

• Bay State Picks: Nine-hole courses to play before or after work

• Bay State Picks: 18 public golf that is worth your time

• Bay State Picks: Easy 18-hole public walks

• Bay State Deep Dive: Myopia Hunt Club

   

• "On Course" New England Journal Podcast

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• Amateur Golf Podcast

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