The head golf professional at The Blandford Club will be honored on May 3 at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield.
Francis Kringle of West Springfield has quietly gone about his business for more than 40 years.
And now the longtime are club professional is being recognized for his commitment to golf and service to that community in Western Massachusetts.
Kringle will be the guest of honor at the 66th Western Mass. Tee party, set for May 3 at Tekoa Country Club in Westfield.
“This (attention) is not my bag,” said Kringle, the head golf professional at The Blandford Club. “I really don’t think I deserve this. I have just been fortunate that I enjoy what I do, helping people find enjoyment playing the great game of golf.”
That alone has set Kringle apart, who began as a caddie at Springfield Country Club and turned pro at age 19.
The Blandford Club head pro Francis Kringle will be the guest of honor at the 66th Western Mass. Tee Party in May.Kringle, 62, worked under his father, the late Frank Kringle, at Crestview CC in Agawam, and took over for him there as head pro from 1978 to 1996.
“He was a glaring omission to the list of past honorees. Fran is a very knowledgeable, loyal, and kind professional who loves the game,” Tee Party committee chairman Tim Quirk said. “He is the type of golf pro that has never been in the business for recognition, but for the love of helping golfers of all level play better and make their golf experience more enjoyable. He is the consummate PGA professional.”
Kringle will start his ninth season at The Blandford Club this spring.
He has worked as an assistant pro at Wyckoff CC, has been active in custom club-fitting and spent a brief period in golf course design/construction. The late Frank Kringle, was a Western Mass. Tee Party honoree in 1965.
The Tee Party, which includes golf and an evening banquet, has long been considered the unofficial kickoff to the local golf season.
For more information, visit http://www.wmassteeparty.com/
OPEN COURSES: Nearly a half dozen golf courses are currently open to the public throughout Western Massachusetts and that short list has pretty much remained open all winter.
Open courses that are fully operational include: East Mountain Country Club (568-1539) in Westfield; Mill Valley Golf Links (323-4079) in Belchertown; Oak Ridge GC (789-7307) in Feeding Hills; Shaker Farms CC (562-2770) in Westfield; and St. Anne CC (786-2088) in Feeding Hills.
Southwick CC (569-0126) is open, but carts are not available.
East Mountain CC, which still runs open tournaments each Sunday, had close to 150 golfers last Monday.
Mill Valley, which is offering a five-day (Monday-Friday), season membership for $159, St. Anne’s and Shaker Farms are offering daily specials of golf and cart for $20.
GREENFIELD UPDATE: Country Club of Greenfield PGA golf professional Kevin Piecuch said the club’s 2012 opening date will not be impacted by the October fire that destroyed its clubhouse.
“When we are ready for golf, we will be open,” Piecuch said. “The plans to build a new clubhouse are moving along, so we are encouraged.
“When the season opens, we will operate out of a trailer. All of our golf tournaments are still planned, so we won’t miss anything that way.”
Piecuch said the club still plans to co-host the Massachusetts Senior Four-Ball Championship with nearby Crumpin-Fox Club in May.
GOLF NEWS: The Western New England Golf Expo is set for Feb. 25-26 at the Holyoke Mall. Check out www.snegolfer.com for more info . . . The Western Mass. Golf Show returns to the radio airwaves on March 17. The show every Saturday, from 7-8 a.m., on WEEI 105.5. Join co-hosts Jay Nomakeo, Steve Magargal and Russ Held for the latest in local, regional and national golf conversation . . . . “In The Bunker” with Daril Pacinella plans for an April 13 start on Springfield’s ESPN affiliate WHLL 1450 AM. The show runs Fridays from 4-5 p.m.
Russ Held can be reached at rheld@repub.com