Course conditions on March 1

Update March 8 – Expected Opening Day is March 25.

The question on everyone’s mind is “when do you think you’ll open the golf course?”

We can’t say for sure obviously because the weather will be unpredictable, but at this point we need melting, thawing, and drying.  Then it takes a some time for us to get everything lined up so the course is cleaned up and playable.

After 20 years, there have been some early March openings, a few more mid-March, and the last weekend of March is the most likely.  Since 2014, there have been 4 times we weren’t able to open until April, including 2015 when April 11 was opening day.  (We had to shovel the snow off the 9th and 13th green, which was pretty aggressive.)

If I had to guess, I’d say last weekend of March this year.  As always please check our Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook for the most up to the minute information, or this website of course.

Thank you everyone!  We hope to see you at the course sooner rather than later!

It’s that time of year again sports fans!  Feeling down that your team isn’t playing in the Super Bowl this year?  Let us give you something to look forward to – the annual unveiling of the Southers Marsh Super Bowl Ad!

Conveniently we won an award from Toptracer last week for Best Picture – the best original video highlighting Toptracer Range.   Last year’s ad, Save Our Berries, allows us to say (honestly) that we have “Award Winning Ads.”

It is with full confidence that I can say that the ad coming out on Sunday is definitely one of the 10 best we’ve ever produced.  If you can’t wait until Sunday to check out our new ad, take a walk down memory lane and see all our past glory.  I don’t know if these ad campaigns help our business, but they are a lot of fun to make.

As always, a huge thank you to our producers Glenn and Jenn Anderson of Viamark Video and Lou Leta of Digital Video and Consulting.  It’s like Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Martin Scorsese – you know there’s going to be magic.

Golf Course Closing Date

The golf course will be closed for the season on Monday, December 6 based on the limited play this week and the forecast for next week.

We are usually able to reopen the course in mid-March when things dry out.

Thank you to everyone for another great season!

Pro Shop Hours

If you are looking to purchase gift cards or 10 round passes, the pro shop will be open Monday-Friday from 10 AM-3 PM or you can make purchases online or swing by the Barn when it is open.  Please allow 48 for us to process your online orders.  Dollar value gift cards can be emailed, but 10 round passes must be sent by mail.  We have very limited stock of golf balls and apparel but we are still well stocked on hats.

December 23 is the last day the pro shop will be open, we will be closed completely from December 24-26.

Barn Hours

Monday-Thursday – 3 PM-8 PM
Friday/Saturday – Noon-8 PM
Sunday – Noon-7 PM

The Barn will be closed December 13-17 and December 20-26

December 13-17Closed
December 18-19 – Saturday-Sunday – Noon-6 PM
December 20-26Closed
December 27-30 – Noon-8 PM
December 31 – New Year’s Eve – Noon-5 PM
January 1 – Noon-8 PM
January 2 – Noon-7 PM

The Barn Winter League will start on Tuesday, January 4

Outdoor Range

The outdoor range will be open as usual until Sunday, December 5.  It will then be open 10 AM-dark until Friday, December 17 and open Noon-dark December 18-19.  On December 20 it will close until the golf course reopens in the Spring.

Memberships

Rates are increasing for the 2022 season, and new memberships are not currently available.  We sold too many memberships in 2021, and we have a waiting list.  Since our last membership price increase, our weekend greens fees with cart have increased from $47 to $57.  With the price of labor and other inputs on a steep rise, the price will be $995 for a weekday pass or $1,295 for a seven day pass if you pay by January 7, 2022.  (These prices are $55 less than originally advertised.  The Mass Golf Association recently changed their handicap management system and SMGC memberships no longer include a handicap.   You will need to purchase a separate handicap card through the MGA for $55.  We will provide the link starting January 4 when they become available.)

If existing members don’t pay by January 7, you will risk losing your membership to someone on the waiting list.  Outside range balls will be an additional charge.  We will not be offering memberships in the Barn.  Our season passes are not priced to be a private or semi-private golf course, we are a daily fee facility and our rates are reflective of that.  We appreciate everyone’s support, and we want to give enough notice in case you want to explore membership options elsewhere.

Everyone please have a safe and fun holiday season!  We really appreciate your continued support!

Sincerely,
Willie, JD, Tanya, Scotty, Mike, and the rest of the Southers Marsh Team

Saturday, December 4, 9 AM Shotgun
If you would like to be added to the waitlist, please call 508-830-3535

Hole
1AEric FernandezAndy RosenSteve BuffingtonPaul Rodrigues
1BJason RowlesBrian CondonCraig DonnellyEd Thayer
2Tom AudetteMarc PanasukRich BracchiShawn Howarth
3Johnny Andrews
4AJim MillikenPaul LapsleyTim McCulloughDave LaRose
4BDavid WellsTim RossPaul Varney
5Paul CrimminsTom LaxtonDarren Gurry
6AReed Bacchiocchi
6BTom MillsWalter HartleyPeteAJ
7Cam MacFarlaneJoe DwyerLuke MulkernNick DaPrato
8Nat TaylorNick Burchard
9Scott Desantis
10Don WelinskyRobin FranceschiniSteve O’BrienJohn O’Brien
11Gordon CassJim VinciStephen CassZack Perron
12Roger JuholaLaury JuholaGlenna GoodnowBarbara Kelly
13ARicky Duddy
13BTommy Duddy
14Jim DiAngeloEric EllsworthBobby McCormickScott Gustafson
15AAndy ParaskevasTubby LindnerDave WilliamsJake Williams
15BAndy Young
17Bob Middendorf
18ATravis DupriusTommy LaymanMatt LandryJoe Mariano
18BGeoff WeeksPaul HayesDave MarathasBrandon Lemanski

Format: Bramble – All 4 players hit off the tee, select the best shot of the 4, and each of you play your own ball from there.  Only the best score of the 4 of counts.

Tees: Men – Black, Blue if you are 65+ with a handicap above 10
Women – Yellow, Green if you are 65+ with a handicap above 10

On 3 holes of your choice, your entire team may move forward one set of tees
On 1 hole of your choice, your entire team may move forward 2 sets of tees (for example, from black to yellow)

Birdie Pool: All skins will be awarded by team – because of the Bramble format, you cannot cancel a birdie made by one of your own teammates

Entry Fees: Season Pass Holders – $20, Associate Members, Weekday Pass Holders – $45, League Members and Guests – $50
Includes greens fees, cart, and dinner after golf

Prizes: $10 per player for prizes and skins

Last Wednesday, Willie was lucky enough to be interviewed on Sirius XM PGA Radio on Katrek and Maginnes On Tap.  Talking about the origins of Southers Marsh Golf Club and cranberries just in time for Thanksgiving!

Listen here!

Thank you to the boys and to the GCSAA!

Updated November 17

Upcoming Schedule 

Thursday, November 25 – Thanksgiving – Course Completely Closed
Friday, November 26 – Black Friday – Typically very busy day at the course, make sure to make a tee time!  Weekend/Holiday rates will be in effect.  Black Friday Sale starts online and in person.

We plan on keeping the course open until the weather stops cooperating.  Usually that is sometime in early-mid December

No greens aeration until the December 8-10 range.  We are going to have them deep tined then.

Our winter rates will go into effect on Monday, November 29.

December Barn Hours

Until December 12 – Regular Hours – Monday-Thursday 3-8 PM, Friday-Saturday Noon-8 PM, Sunday Noon-7 PM  (Closed on Thanksgiving)
December 13-17 – Barn is closed
December 18-19, Saturday-Sunday – Barn Open Noon-6 PM
December 20-26 – Barn is closed
December 27-30 – Barn Open Noon-8 PM
December 31 – New Year’s Eve – Barn Open Noon-5 PM
January 1-2 – Barn Open Noon-8 PM

Black Friday/Cyber Monday/Holiday Sale
Online or in Person

If you are looking for 10 round passes or gift certificates, your best deals will be on Black Friday, followed by Cyber Monday.   The Holiday Sale will then continue through December 23.  If you are ordering online, please give us 48 hours to process any orders.  Dollar amount gift cards will be emailed to you with a code, but 10 round passes need to be mailed or picked up so please keep that in mind.  We will be closed completely December 24-26.

Memberships 

Rates are increasing for the 2022 season, and new memberships are not currently available.  We sold too many memberships in 2021, and we have a waiting list.  Since our last membership price increase, our weekend greens fees with cart have increased from $47 to $57.  With the price of labor and other inputs on a steep rise, the price will be $1,050 for a weekday pass or $1,350 for a seven day pass if you pay by January 7, 2022.  If you don’t pay by that date, you will risk losing your membership to someone on the waiting list.  Outside range balls will be an additional charge.  We will not be offering memberships in the Barn.  Realistically, we need to lose 15 weekday members before we go to the waiting list.  We are not priced to be a private or semi-private golf course, we are a daily fee facility and our membership rates are reflective of that.  We appreciate everyone’s support, and we want to give enough notice in case you want to explore membership options elsewhere.

Barn Golf League

The popular Barn golf league will begin the week of January 2.  Stay tuned for winter hours.
Format – Each week we will play a different 9 holes. Individual stroke play with 100% handicaps
Price – $20 per player for 2 hours of time
Prizes – $5 cash for low net score (new players will need to establish a handicap)  Number of places paid will depend on number of entries
$5 Birdie Pool – (new players can be in the birdie pool) if you are the only player in the league to birdie or eagle a hole, you will win a share of the pot  (if 3 players have a birdie that holds, the pot is split 3 ways)

Sunday, November 7, 8 AM Shotgun

If your name doesn’t appear on this list, we have your team incorrectly listed, or you’re on the list but need to cancel, please call us at 508-830-3535. or email us at golf@southersmarsh.com.   We have a waiting list of people who would love to play.

Updated 11/5 11:00 AM

 

Starting
HoleTeam 1Team 2
Player 1Player 2Player 1Player 2
1AEric FernandezAndy RosenSteve BuffingtonPaul Rodrigues
1BAnn DillonSam DillonColin DillonNick Baker
2Tom AudetteMarc PanasukMark CluffDick Johnson
3Frank MazzarellaSteve MaroneySteve AlixMike Riccardi
4ARich StarsiakJim MillikenDavid WellsPaul Varney
4BPaul LapsleySteve LapsleyJohn LapsleyTim McCullough
5Brian AndersonDon AndersonBrian GagnonJeff Haglund
6AMark GrahamKen MichaelsBilly BacchiocchiStan Magner
6BWalter HartleyTom MillsReed BacchiocchiMary Bacchiocchi
7George KirkJack MonahanMark DunnGordon Cass
8ANat TaylorNick BurchardDerek DesantisScott Desantis
8BJoe DwyerDan WhiteCam McFarlaneLuke Mulkern
9Roger JuholaLaurie JuholaGlenna GoodnowBarbara Kelley
10Don WelinskyRobin FranceschiniSteve O’BrienJohn O’Brien
11Steve HatchJerry DigravioShawn GriffinDavid McIntire
12Matt GiordaniMark RobertsonTom HawesJohn Gray
13ASean MacDonaldMatt FratolilloRob KaneSean Burke
13BSteve MillerMike BarthelDennis JoyceJohn Chev
14AJim GoldieAndy HolmanJohn PatroliaKevin Bossy
14BTim McLaughlinMike McDonaldBob SullivanJack Dwyer
15AJason RowlesBrian CondonCraig DonnellyEd Thayer
15BAndy ParaskevasTubby LindnerDave WilliamsMark Horan
16Cindy MooreNancy EatonTrina OttMargaret Conaty
17Bob MorlanDave HarlowCareyRob Sheehan
18APaul CrimminsTom LaxtonGabe KingCraig Henderson
18BGeoff WeeksPaul HayesDave MarathasBrandon Lemanski

Format: Two Player Scramble. Handicaps will be calculated by using 35% of the lower handicap player and 15% of the higher handicap player.  There will be prizes for closest to the pins on every par 3, including rounds of golf, Southers Marsh merchandise, golf balls, and a bunch of flavored vodkas we can’t sell.
Tees: Men – Black, or Blue if you are over the age of 65 with a handicap over 10
Women – Yellow, or Green if you are over the age of 65 with a handicap over 10
If you are playing a forward tee, your handicap will be adjusted accordingly

Sign-up Deadline: Registration is Closed – Sold Out
Entry Fees: Season Pass Holders – $10, Associate Members, Weekday Pass Holders – $35, League Members and Guests – $40, includes greens fees and lunch after golf (free cranberry sauce!)
Carts: $15 per rider
Prizes: $5 per player prizes, $5 skins pool

Fall Greens Fees are in effect starting October 12

Greens are not aerated and won’t be in the month of October.  It’s still a great time to play golf, why screw it up?

Our leagues are over, but we are still running the birdie pools for all of them and you can still take advantage of the league rates.  (Actually $5 cheaper, but they no longer include a $5 lunch credit or an evening meal.)

Cranberry harvest will continue for the next 3 weeks or so at the golf course.  There are a lot of moving parts so I can’t say what we’ll be doing on any given day, but if you come out you may be lucky enough to see us in action.   The golf course will always remain open during harvest, but there may be a tee closed so we don’t put our workers in danger from errant golf balls.

Membership rates will be increasing for the 2022 season.  We sold too many memberships in 2021, and we have a waiting list.  Since our last membership price increase, our weekend greens fees with cart have increased from $47 to $57.  With the price of labor and other inputs on a steep rise, the price will be $1,050 for a weekday pass or $1,350 for a seven day pass if you pay by January 7, 2022.  If you don’t pay by that date, you will risk losing your membership to someone on the waiting list.  Outside range balls will be an additional charge.  We will not be offering memberships in the Barn.  Realistically, we need to lose 15 weekday members before we go to the waiting list.  We are not priced to be a private or semi-private golf course, we are a daily fee facility and our membership rates are reflective of that.  We appreciate everyone’s support, and we want to give enough notice in case you want to explore membership options elsewhere.

Thank you for your support,
Willie, JD, Tanya, Scotty, Mike, and the rest of the Southers Marsh Team

End of Summer, Fall, and Winter Job Opportunities

We are looking to fill several positions in the very near future.  Southers Marsh is a family run establishment that places a high value on having quality employees, so being a team player is the number one quality we are looking for in an applicant.  We are interested even if you can only work 1 or 2 shifts per week.

Positions Available with brief descriptions
Pro Shop Staff
Answer the phone and check golfers in for their tee times.  We are looking for adults to fill day shifts (potentially around a school bus schedule) and after school shifts for high school students who are not playing fall sports.  For high school students, this is a great way to get your foot in the door for next summer.
Bartenders/Beverage Cart Attendants
Must be at least 18 years old.  Day shifts and afternoon shifts after school
Waitstaff
Must be at least 16 years old.  Shorter afternoon shifts
Mowing Equipment Operators and Cranberry Harvesters
Must have valid drivers license.  Early mornings

Qualifications
– Team Player
– No Experience is Necessary
– Hourly pay commensurate with experience, and potential tips
– Ability to be self-motivated and work alone

If interested, please call 508-830-3535 between 10 and 3 and ask to speak with Tanya or Willie, or email golf@southersmarsh.com

Cranberry farmer and golf course owner William Bramhall Stearns III of Plymouth passed away on April 27, 2021 at the age of 71 following a several year battle with heart issues, diabetes, skin cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, bladder cancer, and golfers who would not bring their carts in when it got dark. If there would be one thing that “Big Will” would insist on, it would be that people remember him with smiles and laughter, not sadness.

His generous heart had an impact on so many. We will miss the smiles, laughter, and stories.

Many thanks to Glenn and Jenn Anderson of Viamark Advertising for producing this video.

If you are looking for the highlights….
Maddie Stearns (granddaughter) 1:30
Joe Markarian (friend from the college years) 6:00
Jeff Utt (friend) 11:45
Jack Heywood (cousin)  17:45
Willie Stearns (son) 26:10

Obituary
Photos 
Jim McCabe’s story
Chris Garrett’s story

Thank you to everyone for the love and support!