Oct. 23—When Maine Golf took over Freeport Country Club in 2022, it said it hoped to boost youth and junior play in the state.
On Wednesday, Maine Golf revealed the latest phase of that plan, announcing a $2.5 million capital campaign to convert the course into a brand new training and education facility.
Maine Golf Executive Director Brian Bickford said $1.3 million has already been raised — he plans donations to cover the remaining portion — and the new Maine Golf Center will include a new clubhouse, driving range covered with 20 bays and Toptracer technology, a redesigned layout. with a short 9-hole course and additional par 3 holes, indoor simulators and classrooms. Bickford said he expects the project to start in the spring.
Bickford added that he had the facility in mind when he took the job at Maine Golf (then Maine State Golf Association) in 2019, and when Freeport made its transition two years ago.
“From a state association standpoint, we thought that to really grow the game, it would be ideal to be able to have it at a facility that we actually run,” said Bickford, the former head pro from Val Halla Golf Club in Cumberland. . “You’re always pinching, tidying, borrowing, begging and stealing to make junior golf work. … But when you have your own facilities to run junior golf programs, it’s (ideal) .
“It launches the game of tomorrow. It fulfills our mission as an organization in a very big way.”
AJ Simokaitis, coach of the Falmouth High team and director of the Maine Golf Center, said the project will continue the growing interest in golf among young players. Maine has seen participation in Youth on Course reach more than 3,000 members, with 26 courses offering rates from $3 to $5 for rounds.
“It’s huge. It took us a long time,” he said. “There’s been a lot of work behind the scenes to get to this point where we can finally say, ‘Hello everyone, this is our plan, these are the opportunities we have here.'”
Maine Golf already owned the Freeport facility, which it leases from LL Bean, but Bickford and Simokaitis said it was clear that improvements were needed to improve the driving range, modernize the clubhouse and increase the center’s capacity to attracting players, as well as its opportunities to help. they improve their game.
“There’s the entertainment aspect of golf… (and) a space to provide a classroom space, a learning space, programming, whether it’s the first tee or kids on the course.” , Simokaitis said. “We now have the ability to adapt in a much more functional way.”
One of the biggest improvements will be the driving range, which will be covered and equipped with technology allowing players to see the data behind their shots, including distance, ball speed and launch angle.
“The setup looks cool. … A Toptracer lineup, that would be sick, I’d be there all the time if I could,” said Gardiner junior Jack Quinn, who won the Class B individual title earlier in the month. “Especially going to play nine, and if that didn’t go as planned, you can use the Toptracer to correct everything. That’s the best part of training, working on the things you don’t “You’re not the best.”
Quinn said he sees the new facility further increasing the popularity of the sport among children.
“I think it’s great, especially in the Freeport area where a lot of juniors are,” he said. “(They’re) just expanding the game, to the extent that it’s something fun to do.”
The sport’s growing popularity has led to a crisis where high school teams have more kids eager to play, but limited opportunities for them to access a class. This led to more and more teams cutting players and some teams having to share their players’ training time.
Bickford said the new facility, by giving children more space to play or at least swing a club and hit balls, would help alleviate the problem.
“It’s an opportunity to provide access to area schools that might have, for example, a JV program that doesn’t have access to that,” he said. “This could be a way to provide access to schools to allow their teams to continue to develop.”
Simokaitis said the new facility will provide more resources for current and future high school players to improve.
“Sometimes kids are in a hurry when you have green fees and the courses are as busy as they are,” he said. “Having a place where we can bring kids of any level, any exposure to the game, and give them a place that’s theirs and where you’re not worried about, ‘Hey, can I have an hour leaving today?’ or “Are there any programs in my area for junior development,” we have that space and the ability to do that now.
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