By Joe Morelli, Register Staff
jmorelli@newhavenregister.com

WALLINGFORD — Jim Hanlon said it has been “a blur” working as the head professional for 13 years at The Farms Country Club. He has plenty of good reasons why.

“I’m one of those lucky ones who comes to work and works with his friends all day long,” Hanlon said. “The membership has been so good to me over the years. I’ve been fortunate to have had several other job offers over the past 13 years and didn’t even consider them because I feel I have found a home here. It is close to my home (in Wolcott) and the members have embraced me and my family.”

That membership is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Hanlon said there are 258 golfing members, but the Farms CC is more than just golf for men.

There are tennis courts and a pool available for the entire family. In addition, there is a full slate of junior golf club events to pair kids against one another with similar “ability level and desire,” according to Hanlon.

“We try to not just make it for the male golfer so to speak, which a lot of country clubs are geared toward,” Hanlon said. “This is a great family experience. A lot of our members say, ‘We don’t go on vacation because we have this here. What do we want to go away for?’”

There are events going on throughout this month, capped by a dinner-dance July 24-25 that will coincide with the club’s Ryder Cup golf event, which is already full at 144 players.

There are shirts and balls with the half-century logo on them being sold at the club as well. The celebration will continue on for the rest of the calendar year.

“We are enhancing a series of events throughout the month,” said The Farms CC general manager Sean McLaughlin, who held the same position at New Haven CC.

What’s been as special as anything else to the long-standing members at The Farms CC is the golf course. It measures 6,810 yards from the back tees, maintained by superintendent Paul Sabino and his crew. Continued...

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“We’ve put a lot of money in our course and made some changes that puts it up there with I think some of the best golf courses in the state,” Hanlon said. “The conditions are tremendous. We’ve drawn raves about the golf course. People can’t wait to come back.”

CONNECTICUT JUNIORS

Nearly 100 golfers will attempt to win the 69th Connecticut Junior Amateur Championship beginning Monday at Watertown GC.

Among the players in the field are Brian Engstrom of Branford (7:50 a.m., first tee), T.J. Fitzgerald of Madison (11:40 a.m., first tee), Alex Marieb of Orange (first tee, 12:40 p.m.), Greg Palmer of Cheshire (10:10 a.m., first tee) and Geoff Vartelas of Cromwell, who plays for Xavier (8:20 a.m., first tee).

The low 32 players from Monday’s qualifying round will continue on in the match-play format beginning Tuesday. Two rounds of matches will reduce the field to eight for Wednesday’s quarterfinals. The semifinals will also be held Wednesday and the 18-hole final will be July 15.

SENIOR OPEN

The 28th Connecticut Senior Open returns to Shennecossett GC in Groton Monday and Tuesday. It is a 36-hole event.

Among the more than 10 golfers competing include: Gene Cufone of New Haven (7:45 a.m.); Glenn Dobieski, the head pro at Grassy Hill CC in Orange, (8:12 a.m.); Bill Lee from the Course at Yale (8:21 a.m.); former tennis pro Ivan Lendl (9:06); and Jerry Courville Jr., formerly of Milford, (10:45). All times are off the first tee.

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