Linda Kelley is undeterred by the fact that she is one of approximately 75 women worldwide in her profession.

“I know I’m in a non-traditional job for women,” said Kelley, who is a unique combination of owner and course superintendent at Apple Valley Golf Course in Lewiston.

Kelley and her husband, George Daddona, purchased Apple Valley earlier this year, so they are in their first season running the course.

The reception to the new ownership at the nine-hole course which opened in 1963 has been encouraging, as the membership has grown since last year.

“Apple Valley could be a very good community place,” said Kelley. “That’s what we want it to be.”

With that in mind, Kelley said changes have been made. Apple Valley has a seven-week junior program for introduction to golf and 45 youngsters are participating in it, including a dozen from as far away as the Oxford Hills school district.

An evening ladies league has been started. There is a Friday night three-man scramble with formats such as red, white and blue tees, three clubs per player and irons-only.

On Sept. 15, Apple Valley will host Pars for Patriots, with proceeds going to the Wounded Warriors program.

“We’ve changed menus per members’ requests,” Kelley added. “Also we have opened areas on the course.”

Kelley is no stranger to golf in the area. As a youngster, she caddied for her father, Victor, and was the only member of her family of 11 children to begin playing golf.

Then she worked in the kitchen at Fairlawn at age 15, while she was a student at Livermore Falls High School (class of 1976), where she played basketball, softball and field hockey.Kelley also was on the boys’ golf team, hitting from their tees to a match record of .500.

She has been an assistant superintendent at Penobscot Valley (1979-86) and worked at Sable Oaks (1988-90). Prior to purchasing Apple Valley, she was service manager at Watermatic Irrigation in Scarborough 2008-12.

“I’ve left golf three times and returned,” she said. “It’s my passion.”

Golf also has led her to the men in her life. She met her first husband Cost Davis, at Wilson Lake and went to work for him at Penobscot Valley. While she was working at the Bedrock Golf Club in Rutland, Mass., she came to know her second husband, the late Doug Riopel. Kelley and Daddona were introduced at Lee’s Hill Golfers Club in Fredericksburg, Va.

“I’m my mother’s wandering child,” Kelley said of the fact that she has had jobs in Vermont, Massachusetts, Virginia and Florida, in addition to Maine, which she calls home. She and Daddona reside in Mechanic Falls.

Apple Valley opened April 17. Kelley has been on the job every day prior to 6 a.m., and she does not leave the course before 8 p.m., sometimes even later.

“The first thing I do daily is to mow the greens,” she said about her seven-day work weeks. “You can burn out on this job, but traditionally superintendents have no off days until after the Fourth of July.”

As the owner of a golf course, it would seem logical that she gets to play golf a lot.

“I’ve played golf three times this year,” she said, noting that it was just nine holes each time. “George has played five rounds here and three in MSGA tournaments.”

For Kelley and Daddona that is double proof of one thing. Owning a golf course is not all it is cracked up to be — from a playing standpoint.

Noteworthy

Four area golfers participated in the inaugural Maine State Golf Association County Tour over the final weekend of June, driving 4 1/2 hours north to play on three Aroostook County courses — Aroostook Valley, Mars Hill and Presque Isle.

“The terrain was terrific,” said Vic Gaudreau, a retired Lewiston fire department captain who plays out of Poland Spring. “It was a lot of elevated tees and greens. We never considered walking.”

“We saw a different side of the world,” he said. “Lots of windmills.”

The foursome, which also included Tom Rowe of Oakdale, Jack Milo of Fox Ridge and Ron Begin of Poland Spring, was in that part of the state for golf for the first time. “We never had played there before, but we definitely are going back,” Gaudreau said.

The MSGA reported that 38 golfers played Aroostook, 26 were at Mars Hill, and 35 competed at Presque Isle. The plan for 2014 is that these three days will count toward MSGA player points, which should increase the overall turnout.

The MSGA is conducting its weekly senior and junior tournament combination tomorrow at Naples. Then the Maine State Amateur will be played Tuesday through Thursday at Augusta, with the weekly Friday-Saturday tournaments being held at Sable Oaks.