2015 Course of the Year Nominations Due

It is that time of year to begin working on your nominations for the NGCOA New England Chapter Course of the Year Award for 2015.   Take this opportunity to gain significant promotions if your course earns the award-  Recognition within New England,  Recognition within the Northeast, and possible National Recognition.  That's is the kind of publicity everyone wants for their club.  Watch your social media explode as members brag about the award.  Note, your facility MUST be a member of the NEGCOA to apply (click here for an application form).

The award recognizes four key components of your operation including: 

• Exceptional Quality of the Course

• Exceptional Quality of Ownership and Management

Once all the nominations have been gathered, the Course of the Year Committee will meet and review the candidates. The committee will then make a selection based on the submitted information.  Note, a committee member may not be selected for the award. The New England winner goes on to compete for the National Course of the Year award.  Our 2014 COY -Miacomet Golf Club of Nantucket made it to the Final Four for National Consideration!

Our winner of the COY will be featured on the 2015 Golden Passport to New England Golf cover.  The course photo is also featured on our two Facebook pages -- New England Golf Course Ownersand Golden Passport to New England Golf.

Just see what Allyson McConnell (Director of Operations at Miacomet) has to say about the impact this award had at their facility:

"We got lots of great press, especially on the island, before and after the award winning announcement.  Certainly being the NE Course of the Year has peaked interest in local golfers and I think our shoulder season play will see the most benefit from that, as long as the weather holds out.  Our two physical awards are sitting in our Restaurant under a nice spotlight and people love to stop and look at them.

The island community has taken pride in the award almost as much as we have.  Our membership took to Twitter and Facebook to spread the news over the winter and I've even seen real estate listings for houses near the course mentioning that we are Award-Winning.

Alan Costa has been leading a campaign to reach out to more golf publications, which wouldn't have been an easy campaign to launch had we not been able to achieve all we had through the Course of the Year nominations.  It was certainly an experience worth the effort last year and will be going forward.  Being a part of such a great organization as the NGCOA/NEGCOA and being recognized for all our hard work did absolutely nothing but benefit us in many ways."  (photo of Al Costa, President of NGM,Inc. with Jack Nicklaus at the NGCOA National Awards Ceremony in Orlando in February 2014)

The Course of the Year submission form provides the outline for your application (word version,  .pdf version). Toot your own horn and include all the wonderful things happening at your facility. Send pictures too.  

Deadline for nominations is August 18, 2014. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Elaine Gebhardt, Executive Director,  at 774-430-9030 or [email protected].

Past Winners:

2014 - Miacomet Golf Club, Nantucket,  MA
2013 - Wachusett Country Club, West Boylston, MA
2012 - Shining Rock Golf Club, Northbridge MA
2011 - Meadow Creek Golf Club, Dracut, MA
2010 - Granite Links Golf Club,  Quincy, MA
2009 - The Oaks Golf Links, Somersworth, NH
2007 - Lake Winnipesaukee Golf Club,  New Durham, NH
2006 - Red Tail Golf Club, Devens, MA
2005 - Blue Fox Run Golf Club, Avon, CT
2004 - Blissful Meadows Golf Club, Uxbridge, MA
2003 - The Ranch Golf Club, Southwick, MA
2002 - Juniper Hill  Golf Club, Northboro, MA