Maine Seniors' Golf Association
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On October 6,1932 Charles S. Erswell of Brunswick Golf Club sent out 50 personal invitations to golfers from all over the State of Maine, asking them to become Charter Members of the first senior golf group in Maine. Any member in good standing of any Maine Golf Club who had passed his 55th birthday was eligible for membership. A round of golf was played, followed by an organizational work session. A slate of offers and Board of Governors were selected. Harry A. Rounds of Portland Country Club was elected President. The geographic diversity of the group was evident as the Officers and Board members came from Bath, Biddeford, Brunswick, Camden, Houlton, Lewiston, Portland, and Sanford. Additionally at this time two of Maine’s outstanding golf enthusiasts, Herbert Payson of Portland Country Club and Charles H. Bartlett of Bangor, were elected as honorary members. They named this group the Maine Seniors’ Golf Association. The article reporting on these events can be found in the Brunswick Record of October 20, 1932. The first Maine Seniors’ tournament was held on September 30, 1933 at Brunswick Golf Club with trophies awarded for low gross and low net in four age classes. The player with the overall low gross for the 18 holes, Charles S. “Pop” Erswell was declared the Maine Seniors’ Champion for 1933. Pop, who was 69 years of age, played a round of 85. There were 24 regular members in 1933 coming from Alfred, Rumford, Saco, Skowhegan and Waterville in addition to the towns mentioned above. A single fall tournament was played at Brunswick Golf Club in 1934,1935,and 1936. In 1937 a mid-summer tournament was held at Portland Country Club and the fall championship was played at Augusta Country Club. From 1938 through 1960 we lack accurate records. However what we do have indicates that all tournaments, at least the championships were held at Portland Country Club. In 1962 Augusta Country Club permanently joined as a site for a regular annual tournament. Martindale Country Club in 1973 and York Golf and Tennis Club in 1974. Falmouth Country Club joined in 1990, Purpoodock Club in 2005, and The Woodlands in 2016. These 7 clubs have become known as the “Host” or “Sponsor” clubs and a Maine Seniors’ golf tournament is held at each annually. Over the years separate golf events were held at other golf clubs including Fairlawn, Webhannet, Purpoodock, Waterville, Riverside, and more recently Dunegrass, Belgrade Lakes, Boothbay Country Club, Spring Meadow, Nonesuch River and Brunswick.. Membership grew steadily from 24 in 1933 to 55 in 1940, 126 in 1949, to 252 in 1971 with an addition of 38 honorary members. More recently the regular membership has been kept at approximately 235 plus some 60 plus honorary members. We hope the Maine Seniors are proud of their origination and appreciate the hospitality of the seven sponsoring clubs. Article 2 of our By-laws states that one of the objectives of the Association is to “encourage friendly competition in golf among senior players…” and we believe that is just what we do. In addition to golf, of course, we try hard not to neglect sociability over lunch or dinner, which is a delightful part of each golf outing. In keeping with those objectives, the 1957 golf mailing read in part as follows “Its time again to gather…. and meet the Old Gang! According to Portland Press Herald articles the tournaments were accompanied with entertainment and seriousness depending on the occasion. Frankie Lovell and his accordion were featured in 1939 along with a parody entitled “ The Long, Long Trail” written by member William S. Nutter of Sanford and performed by Mr. Nutter and Dr. G.H. Rand of Livermore Falls. The Press Herald of September 22, 1939 said the parody “brought down the house.” In 1942 Admiral Oscar C. Badger spoke and a small Navy combo provided music over dinner. In 1943 singing took front seat and “Pop” Erswell won a 28lb. turkey for being “ace answerer in a golf rules quiz.” In 1947, Frances Ouimet, first American to win the National Open and National Amateur in 1930, was an honored guest and Admiral E. J. Deyo, Commander of the destroyer fleet in the Atlantic during W.W.ll , spoke. In1948 Lloyd W. Goeppert, commander of the Portland Harbor defenses was guest speaker. In 1949 a Movie of past Maine Senior Tournaments followed dinner. In 1953, George Dunn, Old Orchard Beach head pro and son of Scotland, described the origins of the game. In addition, Jimmie Osborn, blind professional pianist and impersonator was well received. Finally, we are trying to organize all the records of the Association into binders, and as well obtain historical data on all members past and present. Newspaper obituaries and other articles, including from the sports pages, have been our primary sources. Hopefully, some of this material will be made available to the membership in the near future. Maine Seniors Golf Association |
