By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Sagamore Golf Center is a 2023 Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) Top 50 Stand Alone Facility. A unique and popular facility for golfers in North Hampton, New Hampshire, the Sagamore Golf Center has actually earned this GRAA recognition five times, dating back to 2012, and was voted Best Driving Range on the New Hampshire seacoast by New Hampshire Magazine.
Laura Shanahan Rowe is an LPGA Teaching Professional at Sagamore Golf Center and has been at it since 2009. Shanahan Rowe plays in LPGA Legends events and enjoys the competition, while also helping her many students hone their own skills for increased enjoyment in the game.
“I’ve seen a lot of newer golfers come into the game, a lot of younger golfers, 20- and 30-year-olds who might not have had time before the pandemic,” she explains. “And it’s great to see they’re sticking with it several years later.”
She says the range at Sagamore Golf Center is constantly filled with golfers, whether on the grass or on the mats utilizing the Power Tee automated teeing system. With many new golfers and junior players, Shanahan Rowe says she is excited for the future of the game. “We are the founding partner of First Tee – New Hampshire and have been the program’s host facility since its founding in 2003,” she boasts.
Sagamore Golf Center is open 364 days a year and has 50,000 sq. ft. of grass for use when the golf season is in full swing. There are 16 covered and heated bays which are always available on bad-weather days. There are also two putting and chipping greens that help golfers work on these vital aspects of their game.
However, when golfers working on their own aren’t getting the desired results, Shanahan Rowe and colleague Ryan Maguire, a PGA of America Associate Professional who also serves as the facility’s General Manager, have programming in place that serves all demographics and skill levels. Their new golfer development area includes a 150-yard Par 3 hole that Shanahan Rowe and Maguire use for short game and bunker instruction.
The facility even has a mini golf course with rock features and a waterfall that is always a good time for families and friends. With that concept in mind, Shanahan Rowe says there have been discussions of future development, facility expansion or technology implementation that will change the way their customers practice and enjoy the driving range. We will certainly keep up with these efforts and will highlight them in Golf Range Magazine as they happen.
Finally, the team at Sagamore Golf Center is very community-minded. They offer several discount opportunities for golfers to save a few bucks on range balls, including the Shot-Maker, which allows customers to replenish their Sagamore account with any dollar amount ($30 minimum) and use those funds to purchase discounted range buckets; the Rewards Club which enables golfers to earn a free medium range bucket for every $300 spent; and an app deal that offers a free medium bucket of range balls with the download of the Sagamore Golf Inc. app.
In addition, the facility opens its doors to local golf teams, including the Philips Exeter Academy golf team and the Winnacunnet High School golf team. They also help support local causes by issuing many donations each year.
For more information on the Sagamore Golf Inc. family of golf facilities, log on to their website today.
