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History of the Senior Men’s Golf Association

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Patuxent Greens Country Club

Patuxent Greens is located in Laurel, MD on Route 197 about 4/10 of a mile south of Route 198.

The middle (white) tees course rating is 70.6, with a slope of 128. Total yardage is 6155. The course is relatively flat and easy to walk. Green-to-next-tee distances are short on all but two holes. There are no houses lining the fairways, only trees and water. In fact, water is a consideration on 16 holes.

Hole #18, the signature hole, is probably the prettiest hole on the course. The green is on a doglegged peninsula, surrounded by the clubhouse lake, which has a geyser in the center. It’s not a long hole (344 yards), but the second shot is across water because of the dogleg. Of course, a lay up will preclude having to hit over water on the third shot.

Many other holes are imbued with what we like to call "character." Ball placement, rather than raw distance, is critical to low scoring. For example, none of the three par 5s are reachable in two, except for the very strongest hitters. Trees, doglegs, and water all conspire to turn the par 5s into lay up holes, even though they are relatively short for par 5s.

MISGA at Patuxent Greens

Several overtures from MISGA in 1990 and 1991 were unsuccessful primarily due to the negative reaction of the Club Pro at the time, However, in 1992, Merle Shumaker and several members of the MISGA Board met with a group of Patuxent Greens Seniors, the Club Pro, and Management of Patuxent Greens. As a result of this meeting, Patuxent Greens Country Club applied for membership in MISGA. The seniors organized the Patuxent Greens Senior Men’s Golf Association, electing Dick Purkiser President and Paul Barritt Treasurer. After the application was accepted by MISGA at the Board Meeting of 14 July 1992, Jim Bell was named MISGA Representative.

During 1992 and 1993, the number of MISGA Associates was extremely small (about 20). However, in the fall of 1993, Brooke Manor Country Club closed and many of its seniors joined Patuxent Greens. The membership for 1994 immediately increased to 56 and approximately five more joined over the course of the 1994 season. The Brooke Manor seniors had always been an enthusiastic group in supporting MISGA and they brought this enthusiasm with them to Patuxent Greens. The Roster in 2003 was 71 members. Jim Bell served as MISGA Representative from 1992 through 1997. He was elected to Assistant Director for Division III for 1997-2000. Byron Keadle became MISGA Representative in 1998 and served until 2001. Earl Gentry took over in 2001.

Jim Bell served as Chairman and host of the Seabrook Safari since its inception in 1993. Jim continued to run the Seabrook Safari, except in 1999 when Crooked Oaks course was being renovated. Prior to moving to Patuxent Greens, he was a MISGA Representative at Hobbits Glen for several years and Treasurer and Chairman of the Jekyll Junket from its beginning in 1986 until he left Hobbits Glen in 1990. Jim has since moved to Pennsylvania and has dropped his membership in MISGA and Patuxent Greens.

In 2000, Patuxent Greens hosted the Division III Qualifier for the MISGA Two-man Tournament. In 2003, Patuxent Greens hosted the Division III Qualifier for the MISGA ABCD ("Past Presidents") Tournament. In 2004, Patuxent Greens hosted the Division VI (nee Division III) Pro-Am. We schedule six to eight home Mixers each year and participate in six to eight away Mixers.

Byron Keadle, February 2004

History of SMGA Officers & Other Key Positions