Good morning and happy Friday!

Well, old man winter reared his ugly head again this week with a bit of wind, rain, and generally yucky temperatures. Here’s hoping you still found a way to get to the course and that next week offers us some better days.

Despite the weather, though, I’ll be thinking golf this weekend with the Connecticut Golf Show taking place in Hartford. I’m planning to attend Saturday with my budding junior star. Let me know if you’ll be in attendance. I hope to see you there!

In this weekend primer, we’ve got:

• A look at the tournaments and outings you should get on your calendar ASAP

• A dive into Crumpin-Fox, one of the 413’s most impressive layouts

• Spotlight on Marissa Kulig Crow, a local instructor and one of the LPGA’s top teachers

• Longmeadow’s Ryan Downes at the prestigious Sage Valley Junior Invitational, World No. 1 committing to the 2024 Travelers Championship, and more news and notes!

Hit ‘em long. Hit ‘em straight.

Tournaments & Outings

A look at the tournaments important to the 413 Golf community this week.

With the golf season still waiting to kick into full gear, here’s a look at the tournament schedules currently available along with a few key events open to registration. As we get deeper into the golf season, we’ll be highlighting the upcoming weekend’s events and outings across the region.

Registrations are opening for some of the year’s best Mass. Golf Association events. Here’s what you need to know:

• Ledges GC in South Hadley will host the Amateur Public Links Championship July 20-31. Registration opened yesterday. With only one qualifier taking place in the region (Chicopee CC), get your registration in ASAP as this is sure to fill up fast. I hope to see you there! 😃 Registration Here.

• Registration is also now open for the 2024 Ouimet Memorial. Last year, Longmeadow’s Ryan Downes (Greathorse) won his second straight title while Todd Ezold (Twin Hills), Jim Patterson (Orchards), and Jack Kearney (Westover) all played well in the Lowery Division. Learn more.

  • Many other MGA events are open to registration, including:

    • Mass. Four-Ball at New Seabury

    • Senior Four-Ball

    • 2024 Mass. Open at Willowbend (June 10-12)

    • MGA Member Day lotteries

    • Young Golfers' Amateur Championship

    • Mass. Junior Amateur

Featured 413 Golf Course

Western Massachusetts is home to so many highly-rated private clubs, popular public courses, and countless hidden gems. In each edition of the newsletter, we’ll feature one of the many courses across the region. This week, get to know:

Crumpin-Fox

Crumpin-Fox Golf Club, located in Bernardston, is widely regarded as one of the premier golf destinations in New England.

Designed by renowned golf course architect Roger Rulewich, Crumpin-Fox features a challenging 18-hole championship course. Rulewich, who worked alongside Robert Trent Jones Sr. for many years, crafted the course to blend seamlessly with the natural landscape, incorporating rolling hills, meandering streams, and mature forests, living up to the goal of creating a Pine Valley-like experience.

The course is set amidst the quintessential scenery of the Pioneer Valley, offering gorgeous views of the surrounding countryside. Players not only enjoy the challenge of the course but also the opportunity to immerse themselves in the beauty of the New England landscape.

Crumpin-Fox Golf Club offers a diverse array of holes that cater to players of all skill levels. From strategic par-3s to demanding par-5s, each hole presents its own unique challenges and rewards. The course requires golfers to showcase a wide range of shots, including precision iron play, accurate drives, and deft touch around the greens. Manicured fairways, fast and true greens, and well-maintained bunkers ensure that players enjoy a premium golfing experience every time they step onto the course.

In addition to the championship course, Crumpin-Fox Golf Club boasts top-notch practice facilities, including a driving range, putting green, and chipping area. Golfers have ample opportunities to hone their skills and improve their game before or after their rounds.

Undoubtedly a must-play course and among the shining stars of golf courses in the 413, Crumpin-Fox has also garnered seemingly countless accolades. Check out this resume:

• Golfweek’s No. 1 public access course in Massachusetts ‘02, ‘06, 10

• Rolex World Top 1000 course in the world

• Golf Magazine’s Top 100 course you can play ‘97, ‘02, ‘06, ‘07

• Top 50 course in the U.S. by Golf Advisor ‘16

• 33rd toughest public course in the U.S. ‘20 from Golf Advisor

Visit crumpinfox.com to learn more about the course and be sure to have a day there at least once this season.

413 Golf Community Member Spotlight

In each edition of the 413 Golf Newsletter, we’ll feature a member of the 413 Golf community making news or waves in the game. Today, get to know:

Marissa Kulig Crow

Originally from Granby and now a Westfield resident, Marissa began her career in the golf industry at Chicopee Country Club as a junior in high school and became an LPGA Professional in 2001 while working at the Country Club of Wilbraham.  

She spent time as a greenskeeper at Orchards Golf Club, head professional at Shaker Farms Country Club and at Ledges in South Hadley where she was General Manager. She then took her talents to Lyman Orchards in Middlefield, Conn. where she spent 11 seasons and grew one of the largest women’s programs, winning consecutive national awards.

Last year, Marissa was named as one the Top 50 LPGA Teachers, which recognizes the best LPGA instructors from more than 1,900 LPGA certified professionals worldwide. In 2022, she was the LPGA’s Professional of the Year!

Now back in the 413, Marissa is now instructing at Northampton Country Club, teaching yoga to golfers and offering private lessons utilizing the club’s simulators. This season, she’ll also teach at Ledges.

Following last night’s Spring Kickoff Par-Tee event at Northampton Country Club, Marissa will be at the Connecticut Golf Show Saturday, presenting on the main stage at 10:30 a.m.

Learn more about Marissa’s clinics and instruction by visiting: marissasgolfmovement.com.

News & Notes

• Longmeadow’s Ryan Downes, one of the nation’s top-ranked juniors, is repping the 413 at Sage Valley (!) this week for its annual Junior Invitational. This is perhaps the top junior event of the year. We’ll be keeping a close eye on Ryan’s scores throughout the weekend and sharing them on the 413 Golf Instagram.

• Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 player in the world, has officially committed to play in the 2024 Travelers Championship!

• Country Club of Greenfield shared its official opening date: March 27

• Waubeeka Golf Links in Williamstown is closed this weekend due to the impending (horrible) weather; if you’re planning to play this weekend, be sure to check your local course to ensure it’s open

• The Amherst College mens and womens golf teams are heading to Savannah, Ga. this weekend to compete in the Jekyll Island Collegiate. We’ll follow up with scores in Tuesday’s weekend recap.

Thanks so much for joining. If you like what you see, please consider giving this a share. Send it to all your golfing buddies and help grow the 413 Golf community!