Chips 'n' Divots

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Crystal-clear vision in Haverhill

Unlike some developers who delve into the golf course business and talk big but never deliver, Mike Maroney has put his money where his mouth is — and delivered.

Since purchasing Crystal Springs Golf Club and 50 buildable adjacent lots in golf course-happy Haverhill in February 2010 for $3.7 million, the 59-year-old Maroney has impressed the region’s golfers and real estate agents with the progress he has made in his grand plan remake of what is now Crystal Lake Golf Club. In tough economic times no less.

“We’re ecstatic with what we’ve accomplished in a short period of time,” Maroney says. “We made major strides in improving the golf course. We’re on schedule to build a new clubhouse for 2012, and we’ve sold 12 of the 16 Cape Cod-style homes available in the first phase of our residential project.”

Maroney has a new head golf professional in Peter Vlahos, formerly of Bradford, and a new course superintendent in Jerome O’Donnell, who moved across town from nearby Renaissance. O’Donnell has directed, with Maroney’s input, the relocation of No. 12 tee and the reconstruction of No. 12 green; the rebuilding, with new drainage, of all 19 bunkers on the back nine; the rebuilding of six tee boxes; the removal of one fairway bunker on that side; the current rebuilding of all front nine bunkers; the rebuilding of the fourth and fifth holes, one at a time, with the new par-5 fifth becoming the course’s signature hole along Crystal Lake.

The club’s water supply is favorable – a major factor these days in the successful operation of the golf course. Maroney has an irrigation pond with two artesian wells as backup. That and Mother Nature should keep the course in fine condition.

“This work will make the course better defined and more playable in every respect,” Maroney says. Tied in with the construction of a new $1.4 million clubhouse/pro shop/office area, featuring a tavern that can accommodate 100 and a function room that can handle 200, Maroney wants to make the club’s 50th anniversary in 2012 special. The late, great George Gelt founded Crystal Springs as a nine-hole enterprise in 1962. The current clubhouse has a full liquor license and sells sandwiches and snacks. The new clubhouse will have a full menu, as well as sandwiches.

“There’s no better time than now with the milestone year coming,” Maroney said.

Maroney has additionally acquired 60 new gas-powered golf cars.

The element that’s making this venture work for Maroney, who has been in the construction business for 34 years, is the home building. He has sold the aforementioned 12 homes and lots, located adjacent to the 13th and 14th holes, accessible via North Broadway, for between $460,000 and $580,000, somewhat under his original prices, but necessitated by the struggling economy of the past three years.

“I’m fortunate we have found buyers who like the concept of housing near the fairways,” Maroney said. “They also like that we are not ‘over-55’ restricted and that we provide snow removal and lawn care for a $150 monthly fee.”

The homes, with two or three bedrooms and lofts, average 2,200 square feet of living space, the lots 8,000 square feet. Once he sells the remaining four homes, Maroney will move on to Phase II, which will consist of 14 homes located on the old driving range, followed by 18 parcels in Phase III in the same general area. He hopes to build a new practice area after that.

Maroney is grateful for the loyalty that past Crystal Springs members and the enthusiasm that public golfers have shown to the new management of the semi-private facility. “We had 120 members in 2010. We’re approaching 200 at this point in 2011,” Maroney said. “We had 20,000 rounds last year. We’re up maybe

5 percent this year. We’re encouraged.”

Crystal Lake is a family affair and then some. Mike’s wife, Michelle Watts, administrates the business side of the operation. Their two daughters are currently involved, too. Nicole, 23, a graduate of Johnson & Wales, is the club’s business and marketing manager and looks forward to managing the new clubhouse function activity. Colleen, 21, works the food and beverage division.

“We hope the girls stay with us,” Mike says, “but if opportunity takes them elsewhere, we’ll certainly understand.”

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Gilmartin cops his 2nd Ouimet Memorial

No one can love the 16th hole at Woodland Golf Club more than Indian Ridge’s John Gilmartin. When the 40-year-old won his first Francis Ouimet Memorial in 2004, he settled matters the final round by holing his wedge second shot on 16 for eagle.

After he allowed three of his pursuers the final day last month in the same tournament to climb their way into the first four-way playoff in the event’s 44-year history, the 16th embraced Gilmartin again. Gilmartin birdied the first playoff hole, No. 1, then birdied No. 16, the second playoff hole, to turn back New Hampshire junior sensation Chelso Barrett and capture the title.

Gilmartin; Barrett, who days earlier had lost the USGA Junior Championship final to Jordan Spieth; Norton’s Ryan Riley (the reigning Massachusetts Amateur champ); and Hanover’s Peter Williamson had finished the 54-event tied at 212. Gilmartin would have won outright had not his putter, which had been red-hot most of the week, let him down with a three-putt on the 53rd hole.

But his wand made it up to him in the playoff as he sank putts of 15 and 12 feet for birdie. Gilmartin becomes only the fourth multiple champion in Ouimet Memorial history. Frank Vana Jr. has won four times, Robert Bradley and Jim Renner twice each, along with Gilmartin.

“I’ve been struggling a little this season and wasn’t all that optimistic I’d be around after the second round cut was made,” said Gilmartin, who runs the Valley Hockey League and the Junior Warriors developmental youth hockey organization at his Haverhill rink. “I was thinking more about a long weekend in Maine with my family than three rounds of golf. But I putted my best in probably six years and got the job done – barely. Turns out this is the most satisfying win I’ve had, even though beating Jim Renner (currently on the PGA Tour) and Jon Curran was sweet.”

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Brennan heats up at Healey Memorial

Colin Brennan was 18 when he won the Massachusetts Fourball championship with Evan Harmeling. Now, four years later, the Johnson & Wales senior seems to be breaking through as a solo act on the amateur tournament circuit.

The Indian Ridge junior member in the last several weeks has:

Captured medalist honors at the 103rd Massachusetts Amateur at Wyantenuck, shooting a six-under 134;

Won two matches before falling to Dan Falcucci of Cyprien Keyes, 1 down, in the quarterfinals;

Won the inaugural Joseph Healey Memorial with a stunning 12-under-par, 202 aggregate for 54 holes, based on scores of 65-69-68 at Indian Ridge, Bradford and Atkinson, respectively

“I drove it well, stayed out of trouble and putted better than usual,” said Brennan, a sports management major at the Florida school that has seen graduates Michael Welch and the PGA Tour’s Jim Renner advance their games.

Brennan topped the field with mixed emotions. His dad, Peter, is friends with the late Joe Healey’s brother Paul, who was among the 77-player field. Peter also caddies for his son when time permits. “I’m glad the tournament has gotten off to a good start, whether I was the winner or not. But I have to admit it was a good boost after what happened at the state amateur.”

Brennan appeared to be the man to beat at Wyantenuck, but Falcucci upended him when Colin failed to convert a birdie putt – it burned the edge of the cup — on 18 that would have forced the match into extra holes. “It was a tough pill to swallow,” Brennan admitted. “But you’ve got to move on to the next opportunity, shake it off.”

Which he seems to have done nicely, especially after finishing T-22 at the New England Amateur a week before the Healey, which is replacing the discontinued Rogers Memorial now that the Rogers family has sold the sponsoring Lawrence Eagle-Tribune.

Brennan, who successfully reached his goal of getting to 10 under the final day, is playing at a higher level of confidence than last year. “I believe this year that if I fire my best stuff and get a little luck I can win every week,” Colin explained.