by Jeremy Gottlieb
The town of Topsfield does not boast the golf course pedigree of other North Shore communities. But just beyond the Topsfield Fairgrounds, nestled away on Wildes Road off of Route 1, stands New Meadows Golf Club, a public, nine-hole course that has been drawing players of all skill levels for more than 40 years.
Designed in 1964 by local legend Phil Wogan, New Meadows exists within a perfect realm for the everyday golfer. The wide-open fairways, tough but not impossible greens and absence of hazards give New Meadows, which plays 2,906 yards from the back tees, the feel of a place where the lay golfer can work on his or her overall game while still having a lot of fun.
“The idea here now and when the course was designed was to have a public course that would be a great course to play, but not punishing at all,” says New Meadows general manager and acting superintendent Dana Williamson, now in his second year at the helm of the facility. “We want our players to be challenged, but not feel as though they’ve been punished by the course. It’s our hope that players will continue to come back to us in the attempt to keep trying to improve their games.”
While Route 1 is close by and even runs along the length of the course’s signature fourth hole - a long, downhill par 4 with a slightly elevated green - most of New Meadows elicits the distinct feeling of being on a camping trip. With the exception of the left hand side of that fourth fairway, New Meadows is surrounded almost entirely by trees. Tall pines are all that separate the first and ninth holes that run adjacent to each other. More trees line the right side of the fairway at No. 2, separating that hole from the par 4 sixth. And the seventh green, which lies just beyond one of only two water hazards on the course, is ensconced in a sea of maples, willows and even more pines.
“There are wetlands and conservation area land all over, especially on the back holes,” explains Williamson. “When you get toward the end, you feel almost like you’re in the middle of the woods.”
Williamson, a general contractor with a degree in civil engineering, would appear to be the perfect person to spearhead the next phase of existence for New Meadows, which revolves around the construction of 27 new homes around the course. Construction on this cluster housing will begin, Williamson hopes, in about a year, just as soon as all of the applicable permits are issued by the town to New Meadows owner and president Frank Iovanella.
“We’re looking forward to it and I’m confident that we will be able to make it happen,” says Williamson, who estimated that the project would take roughly two years to complete. “The construction will not disrupt play out on the course at all and having the housing in place will give us the ability to spend more money on the course. We can’t and won’t change any of the layout. There will be no holes added or yardages changed. But we will be able to move our maintenance area, which will open up enough room to build. And along with the houses, we are aiming to build a pub and a restaurant as well as expand the size of our clubhouse.”
And that’s not all. Since Iovanella bought the course five years ago, this year has seen the onset of more improvements to the facilities than New Meadows has ever seen. Perhaps the most important addition has been the hiring of former Rowley Country Club teaching professional Victor Skop to man the same role at New Meadows, as well as serve as pro shop manager. Skop, a Gloucester resident, is the first pro that New Meadows has ever had.
“There’s so much potential for improvement here,” says Skop, who is affiliated with the Professional Golf Teachers and Coaches of America and has served in that capacity for four years. “It’s such a pleasant course. Players have a good chance to make a birdie or a few pars and people always seem to leave with a smile on their face. It’s a wonderful experience for all kinds of players.”
While expressing excitement about the housing project and the subsequent financial wherewithal to improve the course, Skop raved about what can already be found at New Meadows. The practice facility has been improved thanks to three new nets. There is also a nursery area with a new green and chipping area alongside an improved practice bunker. Skop also cited Iovanella’s hiring of more people to New Meadows’ grounds crew and the purchase of more machinery to keep the grounds well manicured. Additionally, the course is now accepting advance tee times, courting more group outings and leagues and featuring other upgrades such as new carts and white, crushed limestone in each of its bunkers. All of this, and prices have not been raised in four years.
“We still have a ways to go,” Williamson says. “But the feedback this year has been great. I think we can get to the point of being one of the best [public courses] on the North Shore. I can’t wait to see how far it goes.”
To that end, one further adjustment Williamson continues to look into is the hiring of a permanent, full-time superintendent. Williamson has been performing the duties of the job since last season. Interviews for the job are underway and Williamson hopes to have someone qualified in place by the start of next season’s play.
“But I’m really enjoying it nonetheless,” he says of the work. “I’m working outside much more than I ever have and when you start working in a new field, it’s very refreshing and challenging. The community of golf supers has been very helpful and enjoyable to work with. Everyone plays everyone else’s courses so everyone wants to help and see you succeed. I’ll probably continue with it until the end of the season.”
Whenever the housing project is completed, the new superintendent takes over the grounds, or the next league decides to open up shop, New Meadows is a course on the rise. As Williamson noted, there is more work to be done, not just in terms of additions, but also in improving what’s already there. But even while that work is being done, New Meadows will continue to provide a comfortable, quaint environment for any golfer.
“The course is what it is,” says Wogan, 90, of the course he designed and about which he still consults with Williamson and Iovanella.
“It’s a simple course for the average golfer and that’s just great. It’s a simple concept, really. You build the courses so that they’re playable. The average Joe goes and it’s a perfect experience for him.”
“He goes out and plays and probably does pretty well and then he goes to the bar and talks with his buddies about all the pars he made. The essence and purpose is to challenge and test the skill, sure. But it’s also for having a good time doing it. For people who play golf, it’s the perfect course to play.”
