Maine Seniors Golf Association: A Legacy of Senior Golf Since 1932

Founding and Early Years

The Maine Seniors Golf Association began on October 6, 1932, when Charles S. Erswell invited 50 senior golfers statewide to form the first senior golf group in Maine. The inaugural tournament took place in 1933 at Brunswick Golf Club, crowning Erswell as the first champion.

Tournament Expansion and Venues

From 1934 to 1937, tournaments expanded to include Portland and Augusta Country Clubs. By the 1960s, Portland Country Club hosted most championships, with Augusta, Martindale CC, Falmouth CC, Purpoodock CC, and the York Golf and Tennis Club joining as regular host clubs over the decades.

Membership Growth and Honorary Members

Membership steadily increased from 24 in 1933 to over 250 by the 1970s, alongside 38 honorary members. Today, the association maintains around 335 regular members and 15 honorary members, reflecting its sustained appeal among senior golfers.

Social Traditions and Notable Events

Beyond competition, the MSGA has a rich tradition of social gatherings featuring guest speakers, and camaraderie. Highlights include performances, guest appearances by golf legends, and community celebrations that have enriched the association’s history.

Maine Seniors Golf Association Tournament History

Early Tournaments

First tournament held in 1932 at Brunswick Golf Club with 24 members competing.

Charles S. 'Pop' Erswell won the inaugural championship with a round of 85.
Annual fall tournaments held at Brunswick from 1934 to 1936, expanding competition.

Expansion and Venues

Mid-summer tournament introduced in 1937 at Portland Country Club alongside fall events.

From 1938 to 1960, championships primarily hosted at Portland Country Club as it is today.

Augusta Country Club joined as a permanent host in 1962, followed by other clubs over decades.

Modern Tournament Circuit

Seven host clubs now hold annual tournaments, including Martindale CC York Golf and Tennis, Purpoodock CC and Webhannet CC.

Additional events have been held at various Maine clubs such as Belgrade, Brunswick and Boothbay.

Tournaments feature competitive play alongside social gatherings and guest speakers.
Growing Tradition, Lasting Impact

Membership Expansion and Honorary Contributions in MSGA History

Since its founding in 1932, the Maine Seniors Golf Association has steadily increased its membership, reflecting a vibrant community of senior golfers across Maine. Honorary members have played a key role in shaping the association’s legacy and fostering its growth.
24
Original members in 1933 representing diverse Maine towns

335

Peak regular membership reached by 1971, alongside 38 honorary members

329

Current regular members supported by over 15 honorary members statewide

Camaraderie Beyond the Course

The Maine Seniors Golf Association fosters strong social bonds through gatherings that complement each golf outing, emphasizing friendship alongside competition.

Social Events That Unite

Regular luncheons and dinners provide members opportunities to connect, share stories, and celebrate achievements in a relaxed atmosphere.

Entertainment and Tradition

Historic tournaments often featured live music, guest speakers, and performances, enriching the experience and strengthening community ties.

A Welcoming Community

MSGA’s focus on sociability ensures that every event balances competitive play with enjoyable social interaction, creating lasting memories for all members.

 Charles "Pop" Erswell. Founder or Maine Seniors Golf Association.

Charles S. "Pop" Erswell had a remarkable amateur career in Maine that extended into the 1940s and beyond. Erswell is one of the early legends of Maine golf, a successful and innovative player and a hearty character. He apparently stumbled onto golf in Wyoming while working as a train dispatcher and whiffed on his first few swings with a club. He didn’t struggle long. After several lessons from a Scottish pro in Denver, Erswell won the Wyoming state championship in 1899 at age 35. After moving to Brunswick, Erswell won five PCC club championships (1905, 1907, 1911, 1912, 1913) and finished runner-up many times. Favoring a stooping wide-open stance and a roundhouse swing, Erswell won six Maine Amateur titles between 1905 and 1917. He also won many club championships at Brunswick. He beat Poland Spring pro Arthur Fenn in a nine-hole match in 1916 for what was said to be the first Maine Open championship. He and fellow PCC member Ernest A. “Di” Randall, frequent competitors in early club finals, led the organization of state golf clubs in 1903 that become the Maine State Golf Association in 1917. He is also credited with starting the Maine Seniors Golf Association [in 1932] and developing an early model of pull cart. A relentless tinkerer, Erswell created quirky homemade clubs and putters and also advocated enlarging [in the 1920s] the putting cup. As if that weren’t enough, Erswell lived to be 104. He died in 1968.”

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