Skungamaug River Golf Club Named The Walter Lowell Distinguished Public Golf Course

The Connecticut Section of The PGA of America announced that Skungamaug River Golf Club of Coventry, Conn., has been named the 2006 recipient of the Walter Lowell Public Golf Course Distinguished Service Award, as the model public golf course serving the game of golf. Representatives from Skungamaug River, including club owners John and Susan Motycka, PGA Professional Rick Nelson, and others, will be honored on Tuesday, May 30, at Shuttle Meadow Country Club during the annual Walter Lowell PGA Tournament. PGA Professionals from the Connecticut Section will participate in the golf tournament and attend the awards ceremony that follows.

Since opening in1965, Skungamaug River has endured many changes, including an expansion from nine to 18 holes in 1978. But what impressed the selection committee the most was how committed the club has remained to preserving the traditions and integrity of the game.

“Skungamaug River Golf Club has demonstrated an unwavering effort to make golf enjoyable and accessible to all who want to learn and play,” announced Tom Gleeton, President of the Section. “We take great pride to recognize and pay tribute to those ideals that its golf course ownership and staff have put in place each and every year.”

Skungamaug River becomes the sixth public golf course named to receive the Walter Lowell Award since the recognition first began in 2001. Nelson says that one main focus of the club has been its youth golf and family golf programs, including a highly successful Parent Pays, Child Plays Free program that takes place every Saturday and Sunday afternoon during the season. “We are so honored to receive this award,” he said upon being notified of the selection. “Our owners are friends and admirers of Walter Lowell and what the Lowell family has meant to the game of golf in the Connecticut Section.”

The Walter Lowell Public Golf Course Distinguished Service Award was inaugurated in 2001 in honor of Canton Public Golf Course for the standards it has set towards a public course’s responsibility to its community and upon the founding principles to provide playing opportunities for all who want to play and learn. All public golf courses in the section are nominated for the award and requested to submit an application in order to be considered.

The Connecticut Section, PGA of America is a not-for-profit organization chartered by The PGA of America in 1933 to promote golf and enhance the livelihood of its members. The Section is comprised of more than 355 men and women PGA Professionals who are employed at over 150 golf facilities and are committed to growing the game of golf. More information about The Connecticut Section is available on the organization’s web site, located at www.ctpga.com.