Stamford Valley Golf drives toward expansion

By John HitchcockPrint Story | Email Story
STAMFORD, Vt. — Stamford Valley Golf Club will celebrate its 40th year of operations as a nine-hole course this fall and it is likely that work will be underway by then on a second nine. The course officially opened Sept. 5, 1964, when Leroy Lawrence decided to switch from farming to the rapidly growing golf course business. Located on The Lane, just off Route 8, and bordered to the south by the Massachusetts state line in Clarksburg, Stamford Valley Golf Club soon became the choice of hundreds of golfing newcomers as well as veterans of the game. The founder, a former speaker of the Vermont House of Representatives, turned the course over to his son, Stanley Lawrence Sr., nearly 25 years ago. And Stanley Sr., now 73, told The Advocate last week that he would turn operations over to his two sons, Mark, 36, and Stanley II, 45, later this year. But first they will work together on building the new nine, after purchasing more than 100 acres of adjacent farm and forest land from Dewey Whitney a couple of years ago. And while the late Leroy Lawrence was the principal designer and builder of the original nine, the Lawrences have engaged one of the most experienced course builders in Vermont for the new job. Steve Durkee’s work includes the highly acclaimed Okemo Valley 18-hole heathland course and the expansion and renovation of the historic Dorset Field Club and Brattleboro Country Club courses. He was also highly involved in the opening of the new Vermont National Course in the town of Killington. Durkee will also rework the original nine to provide continuity with the new holes, which will stretch from the valley floor up to East Road. The Lawrence farm has been in the family for well over 250 years, and Mark’s three young sons are already performing various jobs at the course. Mother Melissa is on the job daily as clubhouse manager. Food and drinks are available at the clubhouse and there is a fleet of rental carts. Relatively short, at 2,700 yards from the white tees, Stamford Valley opens with three flat holes on the same wide and smooth field. With the fourth, hills, dales, streams and fantastic views rule. There are no sand traps or bunkers, but they will be added by Durkee. Newcomers are amazed by the steady trickle of golfers from early morning ’til dusk, yet there are seldom pile-ups. There are numerous participants in both the Deerfield Valley and Stamford Ladies Golf League and new members are welcome. In the fall, the leagues celebrate with a tourney and banquet at Waubeeka Golf Links in Williamstown, which opened two years after Stamford. Green fees are $10 for nine holes and $10 for carts. Call 1-802-694-9144 for information. When the 18 holes are ready, Stamford Valley will provide an alternate choice to southern Vermont’s Mount Snow Golf Club, as well as the nine-hole North Adams Country Club just over the line in Clarksburg. The elder Lawrence said that Durkee had indicated that the complete project could be completed in six months, but the start of work has yet to be determined. Sully’s Driving Range, just as one enters Stamford from Clarksburg, is open for its second year for golfers wishing to warm up before teeing off, or just to improve their swings. Down in the Berkshires, the Jack Kelley Memorial tournament Sunday at Waubeeka was won by the foursome of Ron Goss, Don Bourdon, Tom Gederina and Jim Kelly with a gross 61. Twenty-two teams were involved in the testimonial to the former Waubeeka manager, who died several years ago while inspecting the course. Jim Kelly, the founder of the former Brodie Mountain Ski Resort, returned last Friday after spending the winter at his home in Florida with wife, Dorothy. Kelly is now working daily on his latest project, the Donneybrook Golf Club just south of the Brodie ski center, which is slated to become a condo complex. Kelly has completed work on five of his proposed 18 holes on both sides of the road, Route 7, in Lanesboro, and is optimistic about meeting environmental standards on the remaining holes. The Berkshire Allied Association tournament schedule for May includes the Allied Two-Ball Championship at Taconic, Friday; the Egremont Classic, May 14-15; the Open Two Ball at GEAA, May 15-16; the Stockbridge Singles Championship, May 28; the John Fraser Memorial Scramble at Skyline, May 29-30; and the Foursome Best Ball Open at Worthington, May 29-31. Joey Pohle, son of Taconic pro Rudy Goff and Kathy Goff, pro shop manager, has accepted the position of first assistant golf professional at the PGA Country Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The Skidmore star golfer won many titles in his relatively brief amateur career, including the New England Amateur. John Hitchcock of Williamstown writes frequently about the area sports scene.
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Lanesborough Fifth-Graders Win Snowplow Name Contest

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — One of the snowplows for Highway District 1 has a new name: "The Blizzard Boss."
 
The name comes from teacher Gina Wagner's fifth-grade class at Lanesborough Elementary School. 
 
The state Department of Transportation announced the winners of the fourth annual "Name A Snowplow" contest on Monday. 
 
The department received entries from public elementary and middle school classrooms across the commonwealth to name the 12 MassDOT snowplows that will be in service during the 2025/2026 winter season. 
 
The purpose of the contest is to celebrate the snow and ice season and to recognize the hard work and dedication shown by public works employees and contractors during winter operations. 
 
"Thank you to all of the students who participated. Your creativity allows us to highlight to all, the importance of the work performed by our workforce," said  interim MassDOT Secretary Phil Eng.  
 
"Our workforce takes pride as they clear snow and ice, keeping our roads safe during adverse weather events for all that need to travel. ?To our contest winners and participants, know that you have added some fun to the serious take of operating plows. ?I'm proud of the skill and dedication from our crews and thank the public of the shared responsibility to slow down, give plows space and put safety first every time there is a winter weather event."
 
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