When Joe Perdue was working in northern Michigan, the Upper Peninsula Golf Association used to have a program that allowed golf course members to play unlimited free golf at any number of courses in the Upper Peninsula through an arrangement between the courses.
So Perdue, who is now co-owner and the golf pro at the Hidden Meadows Golf Course in Old Town, thought it might work in Maine and bounced the idea off a number of golf course owners in the state.
It was met with a positive response, so Perdue forged ahead.
“I threw some parameters together, ran it past my attorney to make sure everything looked good, sent letters out to all the golf courses in the state of Maine and waited to get the response back,” said Perdue.
The result is the North Atlantic Golf Course Association, which allows members at 16 golf courses, 15 in Maine and and one in Wisconsin, to play two 18-hole rounds of golf at each of the other courses for free each season. They do have to pay the golf cart rental fee.
The courses involved are Bar Harbor Country Club, Barnes Brook Golf Course in West Enfield, Dexter Municipal Golf Course, Hampden CC, Hermon Meadow GC, JW Parks Golf Course in Pittsfield, Kenduskeag GC, Limestone Country Club, Paris Hill CC, Piscataquis CC in Guilford, Rivermeadow Golf Club in Westbrook, Rocky Knoll CC in Orrington, Traditions Golf Club in Holden, Whitetail GC in Charleston and Little River Country Club in Marinette, Wisconsin.
Perdue used to work near the Little River Country Club.
“It is a great idea Joe had,” said Dexter Muni general manager Jim Costedio. “People get to play different courses they don’t normally see. It’s great. It’s an added benefit for members.
“As a golfer myself, I like to play other courses and this is an affordable opportunity to do that. It’s a win-win for the golf courses and for the members,” he added.
“It gives golfers an [extra] incentive to become a member and gives them an opportunity to play other courses. It works really well,” said Tom Bryant, the operations manager at Rocky Knoll.
Ken Martin, who co-owns the Whitetail GC with wife Sharon, said they have had 20-30 golfers from other courses taking advantage of it so far.
“It has been well-received,” Perdue said. “Several of our members have played at the other courses. Our membership has increased and a few people joined specifically because of the association. And we’ve had additional traffic [from other courses] come through our door.
“It’s great for the golf courses but, more importantly, it’s great for the golfers,” Perdue added. “It has also helped create a camaraderie between the courses [and the golfers].”
Perdue is still seeking more golf courses to join the association. It doesn’t cost anything.
“We don’t have enough yet. When we get 60 or 70, we’ll have enough,” he said.
Perdue would like to eventually expand the association to include golf courses in Canada, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.
He pointed out that another advantage would be that golfers from areas whose courses aren’t open yet in the spring could venture to areas where courses are open.
He also noted that golfers could make a trip to a specific area where there are several association courses and play a different one each day for two or three days.
His long-term goals include having a weekly NAGCA Tournament at different courses, with another possibility being a different format for each tourney and holding a 36-hole NAGCA championship tournament at two courses.
Players can’t use the free rounds for premium events like tournaments and can’t combine them with any other promotions, discounts or coupons. They are required to call ahead to make arrangements to play.
Golf course owners or club pros interested in joining the North Atlantic Golf Course Association may contact Joe Perdue at 827-4779.