Thanks to support from the golf community at area golf courses and across the state, Greenfield Community College will be able to offer an Introduction to Golf class with up-to-date equipment.  When Steve Roy planned to teach Golf at GCC this spring and summer, he found that the College's golf equipment needed to be replaced. An avid golfer, Roy thought he could stretch his equipment budget by asking area golf professionals if they could help him purchase equipment at wholesale rates.

Kevin Piecuch, head golf professional at The Country Club of Greenfield, was eager to support the College's program but told Roy that even wholesale prices were out of reach for the College's budget.  Piecuch had a creative solution for the College's equipment needs and recommended that Roy contact Joe McCabe at the Massachusetts Golf Association (MGA). When Roy contacted McCabe, he hit the equipment jackpot.  McCabe was thrilled to hear of the revitalization of GCC's Golf class and was happy to help out.  Not only does the MGA have a whole warehouse full of donated equipment they can pass along, McCabe was happy to deliver it. He drove a large vehicle full of equipment – clubs, balls, bags to carry clubs, practice mats, and more – to Greenfield to deliver them to Roy at the College. 

Commenting on the MGA donation to GCC, McCabe said, "For those of us passionate about the game of golf, it ties us all together. We're a tight-knit community and we like to share our passion with others.  Donating equipment to a program like GCC's helps the MGA to give back and get more people involved with golf, building our community."

Michael Zaranek, head PGA professional at the Crumpin-Fox Club in Bernardston, was also glad to pass along surplus equipment from Crumpin-Fox. He said, "All of what we do as PGA Professionals is focused on developing players and the growth of the game. We're always happy to support programs that bring new players to golf."

Kevin Piecuch agrees with Zaranek. He said, "Within the local, state, and national golf community, we're all working toward the same goal – building our community and getting more people involved in golf. Helping out GCC is something we can do on a very grassroots level to encourage more people to play golf."

Roy has played golf for 20 years, but golf isn't the only class he teaches at GCC. When not playing or teaching golf, he also teaches GCC's strength training classes, and works as a Personal Trainer and Massage Therapist at the Greenfield YMCA.  With all of his classes, he meets his students where they are and helps them move along in developing their skills.  His goal with the Golf class is to help students with skills as well as to understand the rules and etiquette of golf. Roy said, "Golf can be fun for anyone and is a great way to build community among people.  The generous support of the golf community for GCC's Golf class is a perfect example of the strong community among those of us who are passionate about golf. This is community helping community."

The Golf Class will meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 3 p.m. beginning May 24 through July 7 and will run again July 24 through August 25.  To register contact 413-775-1801 or download a registration form at https://www.gcc.mass.edu/academics/.

To contact the GCC Instructor, Steve Roy, 413-834-8899, ;  or Joe McCabe, Massachusetts Golf Association, (781) 789-8763, ; or Michael Zaranek, Crump & Fox, (800) 943-1901, .

Mary McClintock, '82