Soggy Start to Par 3 Golf Season

Soggy Start to Par 3 Golf Season

By Mike Lauterborn

(for Fairfield Citizen News)

3/3/12

Fairfield, CT – The rain tipped down Saturday morning making the opening day of the season at the Carl Dickman Par 3 Golf Course on Old Dam Road a soggy one. Only the hardiest golfers made an appearance, like Doug Politi, a mason from Easton who really just stopped in to say hello to Cashier/Starter Bob McMahon.

Politi has played the course for the past seven years, typically appearing on Fridays with about 15 other guys to play a round. Despite the rain, he thought the course looked good. “I’m going to call the guys and see if they want to play today,” he said. “I played Short Beach in Stratford last week, and the conditions were good there, too.”

McMahon said the groundskeeper, John Johnson, had inspected the course at daybreak but hadn’t reported to him yet. “If there’s no significant standing water on the greens or in the cups, I’m free to open it,” McMahon said.

“This is the earliest we’ve opened up in probably three or four years,” McMahon added. “We usually open mid-March or April 1. The decision to open was made by the Golf Commission, Golf Pro Jim Alexander and the head of the Parks and Rec Gerry Lombardo.”

McMahon expected the day’s turnout to be light, because of the weather but also because there wasn’t a lot of word given about the opening. “It’s takes a little while for the buzz to get around,” he said.

Politi shared that the course is a great one for beginners, and not as long a walk as other courses in town. McMahon said that pros from other courses often send beginners to the Par 3 once they have some driving range experience and a few lessons.

The course was a salt marsh before being converted in 1969. A NIKE missile site, erected post WWII, had once stood nearby.

The Par 3 is currently not taking tee time reservations, but will after Daylight Savings Time, in about a week. For more information, call 203-256-3173.