Busy Start to 2009!

Val Halla opened Friday, April 17^th, with a boom!  Val Halla recorded 144 rounds of golf on opening day…the most in recent memory.  A combination of dry and relatively warm weather brought golfers from all over greater Portland out to Val Halla.  Hopefully a sign of things to come…    

Jack Welch Makes Generous Donation

Hats off to Jack Welch for donating his winning share of the Scholarship Fund 50/50 back the Scholarship Fund.  The total pot equaled $650 with $325 going to Jack.  Without even the slightest hesitation, Jack gave his share back to the Fund and received a standing ovation from all of those present at the conclusion of the Open House.  

Membership Book – Timing & Advertising

Historically, we have printed the Membership Book in time for Open House and every year we exclude all the members who join during Open House.  This year we are going to wait until after Open House to hit the presses and include everyone who joins at Open House.  We will also hold a phone number verification process at Open House during sign-up so we have the number you want posted in the membership book and on our website.  Following Open House, we will send the book to press and it should be ready in time for your first round at Val Halla! We are currently looking for advertisers who support the printing of our membership book.  The membership book has evolved over time as the 'go to publication' for the golf course and the membership.  As the website plays a more vital role, much of the same information will be available on our website.  Thus, if you are interested in advertising, we will include you or your company in both the membership book as well as a prominent place on our website.  We will include a link on the Val Halla website to your website as well.  

The VHGA's Mud Scramble is the Season's First Tourney; Association Meeting to Follow!

The season's first event is shaping up to be a big event with nearly 80 people signed up at press time.  The entry fee is $20; $10 goes to the Scholarship Fund; and $10 goes to prizes.  There will be an optional $5 closest-to-the-pin pool as well.  This is a shotgun start at 9:00 am.Before the Mud Scramble, the Sparrow's Nest at the Viking Grill will be serving a breakfast buffet, starting at 7:30.  The buffet, which will be $6 per person, tax included, will be:     Scrambled Eggs    Home Fries    Sausage Patties    Bacon    Assorted Muffins    Juice    Coffee Additionally, there will be a luncheon buffet following the tournament for $8.00 per person, tax included. Lunch will include:     Meat Lasagna    Vegetable Lasagna    Caesar Salad    Rolls    Assorted Desserts Interested patrons can purchase a plate for breakfast or lunch or both.

Val Halla to Offer Cart Membership Beginning in 2009

Val Halla Board of Trustees recently passed a new seasonal membership for riding carts of $400.  This is an unlimited use pass for the 2009 season.  The breakeven is based on the average number of rounds a member plays which is 33 rounds.  Please inquire in the Pro Shop if interested.  

WMSGA News

Chris Jackson, Val Halla's WMSGA representative, encourages ladies to join the WMSGA this season.  Dues are only $30 and the tournaments only $23 in most cases. Even if you belong to SMWGA, there might be times you'd like more options for your Tuesday golf. There are always 2 choices, many within range of Val Halla.  The complete list is on the ladies bulletin board at the club. Any questions, call Chris (846-5472) or email 9ccj642@myfairpoint.net. Consult the WMSGA website or your handbook (Paid members) for applications. HIghlights of some Upcoming Tournaments: May 19th Nonesuch River  or Palmyra (entries May 1-May5) May 26th Brunswick or Western View (Entries May 8-May 12) June 2nd Prospect Hill or Lakewood (Entries May 15th-May 19th) June 9th Sunday River or Springbrook (Entries May 22nd-May 26th) Incidentally, Val Halla was complimented at the WMSGA meeting by the MSGA for having the most members in the junior program -60 or so. We should be proud.

Tom Kimball Dies at 57

Thomas "TK" Kimball, who served as the Maine State Golf Association, Inc.'s Junior Golf Coordinator, and former Val Halla member, passed away this past weekend at his home in Gray. A massive coronary is suspected as the cause of death. TK joined the MSGA in 2000 after having given up his golf coaching position at Edward Little High School in Auburn. He quickly pulled together what was going to become one of the preeminent association-run golf programs in the country, making modifications to a program that originally had offered a mere six tournaments a summer for less than 100 junior golfers. Under his guidance, the program grew to as many as 17 events, and more than 300 participants. The focus on the MSGA Junior Golf Tour, under TK's watch, was not winning, but more participating in a respectful manner. TK focused on the values that the game of golf teaches our young, and never lost an opportunity to help his young golfers learn. Although TK retired from teaching after 25 years at Edward Little, he didn't give up his love for the kids – indeed, he simply moved his classroom outside, imparting his wisdom and knowledge through the golf program, rather than in his English classroom. With TK at the helm, Maine won its first ever New England Junior Golf Championship in 2001, led by the play of Jesse Spiers and Shawn Warren, and for the past two years, virtually every high school student on the Maine Sunday Telegram Golf All-Star team has been a participant in the MSGA Junior golf program. The height of the program came this past summer when 2007 Junior Champions Ryan Gay and Alexa Rancourt won the 2008 Men's and Women's Amateur Championships, respectively, and then turned around and repeated as the 2008 Junior champions. This is a feat that has never been accomplished in any state in the country. Both of these fine young golfers will be attending college on golf scholarships next fall. TK is survived by his mother, Rosemary, who lives in Yarmouth, by his brother and sister-in-law, Jefferson and Jennifer, and by his sister Courtney, as well as by a niece, a nephew and a grand-niece. Funeral arrangements are upcoming and will be posted on the MSGA's web site as soon as they are known. The MSGA will greatly miss TK and his colorful personality. A fund will be set up in his memory to benefit the Maine Junior Golf program, and more details on that will be forthcoming. Please join us in sending our condolences to TK's family and many friends. He will be sadly missed by all.