Some of the top amateur public golfers in the state will gather at Gannon Golf Club starting Monday to take part in the 39th Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship, and Gannon course superintendent Patrick Manning is excited to show off his course’s character.
“It really is a great layout with a lot of character,” said Manning, who is now in his fourth year as course superintendent at Gannon. “It’s a classic course that is very natural and hilly, so even though it can be considered short, it’s still a challenge.”
The Massachusetts Amateur Public Links Championship is open to amateur golfers who are bona fide public course players at a public Mass Golf member club (a course/club that provides playing opportunities for the general public seven days a week) and maintain an up-to-date Mass Golf/GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 12.0.
Gannon Golf Club is a Wayne Stiles design from 1931, playing at 6,110 yards from the back tees to a par of 70. The course rating is 70.2 with a slope rating of 123.
Manning, who previously worked as the senior assistant superintendent at the famed Essex County Club, thinks that Gannon will provide a stern test due to the small, quick greens and the local knowledge that one needs to get around the course efficiently.
“The course is ready for a tournament, that’s for sure,” said Manning. “We’re going to dial it up as much as we can while still keeping it fair, but the greens are going to be challenging and we have some good pin locations we can use.”
Manning also noted that the course caught the eye of Mass Golf officials over the past few years when Gannon hosted a number of Public Links qualifiers.
“I think Mass Golf really saw the potential of the course and liked how things went during the qualifiers,” said Manning. “I think last year’s qualifier in particular impressed them and that’s what really got the ball rolling.”
Once the course was awarded the championship late last year, preparations began immediately as the new season was about to begin in March.
“We’ve been working since March, not only to get the course in shape for the membership and the public but also with this tournament in August always in the back of our minds,” said Manning. “We obviously knew that we’d be working with a limited crew for some time early in the season due to COVID, but we always wanted to make sure that we did things right.”
A number of potential hiccups — including battling a nearly 60-year-old irrigation system and dealing with a dearth of rain this summer — have threatened to get in the way, but Manning and his team have battled through every issue.
“I think the last time I checked, we were behind about six inches in rainfall to date this year, so we’ve had to deal with that,” said Manning. “The old irrigation system will always give you some issues as well, but you just have to make the best of it. The key for me has always been managing moisture, and I think we’ve been able to do a good job of that this year. The course is in great shape as we get ready to host this tournament.”
The 39th Massachusetts Public Links Championship will begin Monday, August 10 at 7:30 a.m. at Gannon Golf Club. Golfers will be playing off of the first and 10th tees, with Gannon member Alex Fiste a part of the first group off of the 10th tee at 7:30.
