Small world!

We received an email from our friend Mike Macklin of WBZ Radio. While playing at Old Head Golf Links in Kinsale, Ireland a couple weeks ago, he ran into another friend of ours, the one and only Pat Bradley!

I was there on a buddies golf trip with Tony Athanas, Kevin Hannaway, Bill Crane, Paul MacDonald, Bob MacCauley, and Nolan Previte.  I'm a member at North Andover Country Club. The other guys are members at Tedesco Country Club in Marblehead.

While at Old Head I ran into Pat Bradley, the LPGA hall of fame golfer, originally from Westford, now living in Hyannis.  

Pat was with her 5 brothers and their mother, Kathleen Bradley of Osterville, celebrating their Mom's 90th birthday.  Pat and her brothers were playing behind my group.

There are two photos that include me, Pat and Pat's mom and a group photo with me, Pat and Pat's brothers, including Keegan Bradley's dad, Mark Bradley.  Mark was set to travel Ireland to Scotland this week to watch Keegan in the Ryder Cup.

The group photo line-up is: Tom Bradley (San Francisco, CA), Mark Bradley (Jackson Hole, WY), Mike Macklin (Boston, MA), Pat Bradley (Hyannis, MA), Chris Bradley (Chelmsford, MA), and John Bradley (Williamstown, MA).

Pretty neat! Thank you, Mike for sharing this with us!

Pat, who is a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, will be joining us in two weeks at Blue Hill CC, as she gives a special welcome address at the inaugural Massachusetts Golf Hall of Fame Gala. We are so honored that she is joining us!

Brrrr

Hard to believe that the season is winding down, but if you were outside this morning, there was a definite fall chill in the air. Luckily the season isn't quite over yet and we have some pretty big events yet to come.

From now through Wednesday we are at Blue Hill Country Club for the 31st playing of the MGA Mid-Amateur Championship. We have a really strong field playing this championship layout - who do you think will win? We do have 9-time champion (and defending champion) Frank Vana, Jr. in the field...but there are a handful of guys poised to take the Ted Bishop Cup this week. Stay tuned! Keep up with live scoring here.

Speaking of Ted Bishop, we will be back at Blue Hill in just a month for the first ever Massachusetts Golf Hall of Fame Gala. Things are really coming together for what is going to be a fantastic night celebrating the rich history of golf in Massachusetts. If you haven't purchased your ticket yet, there is still time! Mike Dowling, who has been a great friend of the MGA and supporter of golf in Massachusetts, will serve as our master of ceremonies. Click here to learn more!

And next week, we get to go down the Cape for the MGA Senior Amateur Championship at the incredible and historic Oyster Harbors Club. Fall down the Cape is great, and add in a beautiful course - what could be better? Franklin CC's Keith Smith hopes to defend his title, but will have a strong field of golfers to contend with.

And we really must be gluttons for punishment because we have also teamed up with the GCSANE and USGA to present a unique on-course educational seminar at the end of September! The half-day event will take place at Dedham Country & Polo Club and is the perfect opportunity for green committees and superintendents to get out on the course and build their knowledge base on the issues that affect them every day throughout the course of the season. It's only $50 to attend and will provide a wealth of information. Check it out!

Additionally, the Course Rating season is heating up. Our Course Rating team, led by fearless leader Scott Whitcomb, is hard at work getting a LOT of courses rated this fall. Course Rating is a crucial, albeit behind the scenes, part of the golfer experience. Without effective course rating, the Handicap System would be a mess! Ok, that's a little dramatic. But you get the point - it's a hugely important part of what we do!! Click here to check out a little video primer we put together to better explain the rating process.

The end of season push is on! We hope everyone is enjoying the beautiful weather and getting as many holes in as possible before...I don't even want to say it...SNOW.

A super day!

Scenes from the first ever MGA Super Senior Amateur Championship at beautiful Cohasset Golf Club - what a perfect day! Check out more photos from New England Golf Images.

Fall is coming!

Check out Brae Burn Country Club looking great in Tom Brady's newest UGG commercial! Doesn't this make you excited for fall golf?! There's nothing like getting out on the course on a crisp fall afternoon.