Conference 7.286::golf

    Looking for info on Eastman Golf Course.  Does anyone have directions
    and a telephone number to call for tee times?  Also, what town/city
    is it in?
    
    
    Thanks,
    Maureen

    Re:< Note 645.1 by BOOKIE::BARBER >

    Maureen,
    
    As I  mentioned  in  other replies, Eastman is in Grantham, N.H.  off
    route 10.   I  don't have the phone number but a quick (603) 555-1212
    will provide it.
    
    Tavo

    Indian Ridge - good pro shop, great food, weak range, pretty good
    condition, fairly hard layout (too many blind holes/short doglegs).
    Reputed to be a "Mafia" stronghold, and owned by DeMoula's. I don't
    know what the bucks are, or about the waiting list. You might want
    to look at Andover C.C.
    
    --The Skoal Bandit

re: -.1

	I like the Andover CC course.  In fact, I played there in a
tournament on Monday.  I almost joined Andover last year, but wife pointed
out it lacks the family atmosphere (e.g. no pool facilities) we need with a
2 1/2 year old and second on the way.  Consequently, I kept my tee time at
Trull Brook last summer and again this year.  

	The public course dilemma.  I guess that some of this has been
discussed under the Manchester CC note, but this is my shot at it. I play
at 6:20 AM at Trull each Sunday.  While I like the course for the most
part, and I like being able to play each weekend, guaranteed, there is no
club atmosphere at Trull Brook.  And unless someone can change my opinion,
that seems to be the case for most public courses that require guaranteed
foursomes for tee times.  At Trull, they don't have MGA handicaps.  They
don't have club-sponsored tournaments.  If you ask to set up a 4-5 group
tournament on a weekend, forget it.  Last year I read about the club
championship in the paper, well after it happened, when another tournament
(the Globe Club Champions Championship or whatever it is called) discussed
the credentials of each club champion.  I play Trull each week and didn't
hear or see anything about club championship qualifying.  Hmmm. You pay
your money, play, and leave.  This is not a knock against Trull Brook or
Dave Trull; I think the course is a fine public course.  In my opinion,
Trull Brook just seems to be the norm for most public courses -- with the
demand of playing time increasing they are turning into golf factories.

	Next year, I would like to join a club that has a pool and tennis
courts, in addition to a golf course.  I would like to have a more flexible
playing period than just 6:20 AM on Sundays.  I would like to be able to
take a shower and put on fresh clothes after a round.  I would like to meet
more people interested in golf.  I would like my son to have an opportunity
to play golf regularly at a fairly young age (I was 26).  I would like all
of these things... and, of course, I'd like to win the Megabucks game, too.
 But seriously, does anyone have a comment about tee time availability at
Indian Ridge for members?  How about locker availability, and activities
for kids?  Oh, and do they have a lot of club tournaments?  It sounds from
the MCC note that a private course is the way to go.  If anyone has info on
Indian Ridge, I'd appreciate. 

Jeff 

    
    Jeff, don't count on becoming a member to a private club next year.
    From what I've heard there are currently 3-5 year waiting lists
    for most private courses in the Boston area. Some clubs require
    a 1 year "socializing" period, which means you have to show your
    face every week or so at the 19th hole and get acquainted with the
    current members.  And I won't even talk about the expense.  I too,
    would love to become a member somewhere, but realistically, I
    couldn't swing it.
    
    -rick

	  I have just gotten off the phone with a friend of mine who
	is on the Indian Ridge waiting list.  This is his 2nd year on
	the list and recently received a letter stating that this year
	he would not be admitted and that next year is still a "maybe."

		  Evidently, the problem with the list is that last 
	year the owner (DeMoulas) let in 100-150 people who jumped a-
	head of those on the list.  Of these and other members, only
	about 40 have resigned to date.

	  Many years ago, when the club was owned by the president of
	Standex Corp from NH, I was a member for 3 years.  At the time,
	the club would sell separate memberships for golf or pool/ten-
	nis.  Whether they still do I cannot say.  If they do, it might
	make sense to at least start at that end of the group as this
	might make your stay on the list shorter.

	  With regard to the difficulty of the course, as I remember it,
	it is definitely no pushover/pitch & putt.  However, playing a
	course of this type a lot forces people to improve; as you know,
	if you play badly on a tough track, it can be agony.

	  Insofar as tournaments, etc., go, the weekends always were
	busy with different events for the membership, some 1-day and
	others 2-day affairs.

	  Wish you luck, but remember, BRING MONEY.

	/jd 

re: .6

Thanks for the info.  Do you know the cost?

Jeff

    Jeff:	I don't know but a simple call to the club should provide
    		the answer, along with a list of people to call for
    		a second mortgage.
    
    	Regards,  /jd