To say that golf has been an important part of the life of Mark Plummer would be an understatement. To say that Mark Plummer has enjoyed playing golf for as long as he can remember, would be completely accurate.

At age 65, Plummer continues to have fun on the golf course, while adding to his huge legacy of championship play. He has won 13 Maine State Amateur titles, and added his fifth Senior Amateur crown on Aug. 23. He has been a member of numerous Maine teams in the Tri-State competition. Clearly, he is Maine’s amateur GOAT (greatest of all-time).

In addition to the Maine titles, Plummer, who has been a lifelong member at Augusta, where he has won 38 club championships (seven times the runner-up) plus one at his Summerfield, Florida, course, Eagle Ridge, was a Maine scholastic and junior titlist in 1970 while attending Hall-Dale High in Farmingdale. At the University of Maine, he was on a Yankee Conference championship team and was named honorable mention All-America in 1974. He won the New England Amateur crown in 1979 at Portsmouth (New Hampshire), and again in 1994 at Falmouth.

For all of his championship play, Plummer might be best known for tournaments he did not win.

In the 1976 North and South Championship at Pinehurst, he was defeated in the semifinal round by PGA Tour star Curtis Strange. Then in the semifinal of the 1995 U.S. Amateur at Newport (Rhode Island), he was defeated by future superstar, Tiger Woods, 2-up, in what Plummer believes is one of his finest golf hours.

“It definitely was a highlight. I wouldn’t be saying that if he beat me, 7 and 6. But I took him to 18 holes,” Plummer said with a smile, then adding, “I’m looking for a rematch.”

Naturally, winning has been fun, but there were some highly memorable golf experiences along the road to a fabled career.

“Golf has been good to me,” he said proudly. “It has enabled me to meet U.S. presidents.”

He was introduced to president George H.W. Bush, and that led to Plummer playing 20-25 rounds with No. 41. Through H.W., he met George W. Bush, with whom he has played four or five rounds. President Bush obviously likes Plummer, because he has gotten him on the course with PGA golf champions Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples, along with golf sportscaster Jim Nantz.

For all that he has received from golf during an illustrious half-century, Plummer has given back a lot to the sport. He has been a member of the Maine State Golf Association’s board of directors for approximately 40 years, and is chairman of its nomination committee.

“I help out when I can,” he said modestly.

Nancy Storey, MSGA executive director, often has counted on Plummer for advice throughout her 21 years in that position, which prompted her to say: “If I have an idea, I run it past Mark. If he likes it, I take it to the board.”

Around the state, Plummer has been equal to the test on virtually all courses, having won the state and senior amateurs on 15 courses (some events were played at two venues). He won twice at Martindale in 1989 and 1996, which Plummer claims is the product of frequency.

“I have a lot friends there, so I play there a lot,” he said. “Next to Augusta, I’ve played Martindale more than any course. That helped me, big time.”

So did 50 years of good swings and accurate putts, along with determination, focus and just being a good guy.

*****

John Hayes IV of Sable Oaks was the medalist Aug. 28 at the USGA Mid-Amateur Qualifier at the Framingham (Massachusetts) Country Club, shooting a 1-under-par 71. He earned a spot in the USHA Mid-Amateur Oct. 7-12 at the Capital City Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 2015 Maine State Amateur champion will be Hayes’ third USGA championship event, having qualified for the 2016 U.S. Amateur and the 2017 U.S. Four Ball with Joe Walp.

*****

The MSGA has its Weekly Tour scheduled Sept. 8-9 at Sable Oaks, and a Senior Tour competition Sept. 6 at Willowdale. The U.S. Kids has an event Sept. 9 at Rockland.

To say that golf has been an important part of the life of Mark Plummer would be an understatement. To say that Mark Plummer has enjoyed playing golf for as long as he can remember, would be completely accurate.

At age 65, Plummer continues to have fun on the golf course, while adding to his huge legacy of championship play. He has won 13 Maine State Amateur titles, and added his fifth Senior Amateur crown on Aug. 23. He has been a member of numerous Maine teams in the Tri-State competition. Clearly, he is Maine’s amateur GOAT (greatest of all-time).

In addition to the Maine titles, Plummer, who has been a lifelong member at Augusta, where he has won 38 club championships (seven times the runner-up) plus one at his Summerfield, Florida, course, Eagle Ridge, was a Maine scholastic and junior titlist in 1970 while attending Hall-Dale High in Farmingdale. At the University of Maine, he was on a Yankee Conference championship team and was named honorable mention All-America in 1974. He won the New England Amateur crown in 1979 at Portsmouth (New Hampshire), and again in 1994 at Falmouth.

For all of his championship play, Plummer might be best known for tournaments he did not win.

In the 1976 North and South Championship at Pinehurst, he was defeated in the semifinal round by PGA Tour star Curtis Strange. Then in the semifinal of the 1995 U.S. Amateur at Newport (Rhode Island), he was defeated by future superstar, Tiger Woods, 2-up, in what Plummer believes is one of his finest golf hours.

“It definitely was a highlight. I wouldn’t be saying that if he beat me, 7 and 6. But I took him to 18 holes,” Plummer said with a smile, then adding, “I’m looking for a rematch.”

Naturally, winning has been fun, but there were some highly memorable golf experiences along the road to a fabled career.

“Golf has been good to me,” he said proudly. “It has enabled me to meet U.S. presidents.”

He was introduced to president George H.W. Bush, and that led to Plummer playing 20-25 rounds with No. 41. Through H.W., he met George W. Bush, with whom he has played four or five rounds. President Bush obviously likes Plummer, because he has gotten him on the course with PGA golf champions Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples, along with golf sportscaster Jim Nantz.

For all that he has received from golf during an illustrious half-century, Plummer has given back a lot to the sport. He has been a member of the Maine State Golf Association’s board of directors for approximately 40 years, and is chairman of its nomination committee.

“I help out when I can,” he said modestly.

Nancy Storey, MSGA executive director, often has counted on Plummer for advice throughout her 21 years in that position, which prompted her to say: “If I have an idea, I run it past Mark. If he likes it, I take it to the board.”

Around the state, Plummer has been equal to the test on virtually all courses, having won the state and senior amateurs on 15 courses (some events were played at two venues). He won twice at Martindale in 1989 and 1996, which Plummer claims is the product of frequency.

“I have a lot friends there, so I play there a lot,” he said. “Next to Augusta, I’ve played Martindale more than any course. That helped me, big time.”

So did 50 years of good swings and accurate putts, along with determination, focus and just being a good guy.

*****

John Hayes IV of Sable Oaks was the medalist Aug. 28 at the USGA Mid-Amateur Qualifier at the Framingham (Massachusetts) Country Club, shooting a 1-under-par 71. He earned a spot in the USHA Mid-Amateur Oct. 7-12 at the Capital City Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 2015 Maine State Amateur champion will be Hayes’ third USGA championship event, having qualified for the 2016 U.S. Amateur and the 2017 U.S. Four Ball with Joe Walp.

*****

The MSGA has its Weekly Tour scheduled Sept. 8-9 at Sable Oaks, and a Senior Tour competition Sept. 6 at Willowdale. The U.S. Kids has an event Sept. 9 at Rockland.

To say that golf has been an important part of the life of Mark Plummer would be an understatement. To say that Mark Plummer has enjoyed playing golf for as long as he can remember, would be completely accurate.

At age 65, Plummer continues to have fun on the golf course, while adding to his huge legacy of championship play. He has won 13 Maine State Amateur titles, and added his fifth Senior Amateur crown on Aug. 23. He has been a member of numerous Maine teams in the Tri-State competition. Clearly, he is Maine’s amateur GOAT (greatest of all-time).

In addition to the Maine titles, Plummer, who has been a lifelong member at Augusta, where he has won 38 club championships (seven times the runner-up) plus one at his Summerfield, Florida, course, Eagle Ridge, was a Maine scholastic and junior titlist in 1970 while attending Hall-Dale High in Farmingdale. At the University of Maine, he was on a Yankee Conference championship team and was named honorable mention All-America in 1974. He won the New England Amateur crown in 1979 at Portsmouth (New Hampshire), and again in 1994 at Falmouth.

For all of his championship play, Plummer might be best known for tournaments he did not win.

In the 1976 North and South Championship at Pinehurst, he was defeated in the semifinal round by PGA Tour star Curtis Strange. Then in the semifinal of the 1995 U.S. Amateur at Newport (Rhode Island), he was defeated by future superstar, Tiger Woods, 2-up, in what Plummer believes is one of his finest golf hours.

“It definitely was a highlight. I wouldn’t be saying that if he beat me, 7 and 6. But I took him to 18 holes,” Plummer said with a smile, then adding, “I’m looking for a rematch.”

Naturally, winning has been fun, but there were some highly memorable golf experiences along the road to a fabled career.

“Golf has been good to me,” he said proudly. “It has enabled me to meet U.S. presidents.”

He was introduced to president George H.W. Bush, and that led to Plummer playing 20-25 rounds with No. 41. Through H.W., he met George W. Bush, with whom he has played four or five rounds. President Bush obviously likes Plummer, because he has gotten him on the course with PGA golf champions Phil Mickelson and Fred Couples, along with golf sportscaster Jim Nantz.

For all that he has received from golf during an illustrious half-century, Plummer has given back a lot to the sport. He has been a member of the Maine State Golf Association’s board of directors for approximately 40 years, and is chairman of its nomination committee.

“I help out when I can,” he said modestly.

Nancy Storey, MSGA executive director, often has counted on Plummer for advice throughout her 21 years in that position, which prompted her to say: “If I have an idea, I run it past Mark. If he likes it, I take it to the board.”

Around the state, Plummer has been equal to the test on virtually all courses, having won the state and senior amateurs on 15 courses (some events were played at two venues). He won twice at Martindale in 1989 and 1996, which Plummer claims is the product of frequency.

“I have a lot friends there, so I play there a lot,” he said. “Next to Augusta, I’ve played Martindale more than any course. That helped me, big time.”

So did 50 years of good swings and accurate putts, along with determination, focus and just being a good guy.

*****

John Hayes IV of Sable Oaks was the medalist Aug. 28 at the USGA Mid-Amateur Qualifier at the Framingham (Massachusetts) Country Club, shooting a 1-under-par 71. He earned a spot in the USHA Mid-Amateur Oct. 7-12 at the Capital City Club in Atlanta, Georgia.

The 2015 Maine State Amateur champion will be Hayes’ third USGA championship event, having qualified for the 2016 U.S. Amateur and the 2017 U.S. Four Ball with Joe Walp.

*****

The MSGA has its Weekly Tour scheduled Sept. 8-9 at Sable Oaks, and a Senior Tour competition Sept. 6 at Willowdale. The U.S. Kids has an event Sept. 9 at Rockland.

Bill Kennedy Copy the Story Link