The end of an era is one way to describe the retirement of Maine State Golf Association executive director Nancy Storey.

But for her, it also is the beginning of an era, because she and her husband, Charlie, are going to run a produce stand from their home at 333 Main St., in Cumberland. Growing produce has been a longtime hobby for them, and it will become income and a job later this year.

Nancy Storey. (Maine State Golf Association photo)

Storey has been employed in golf positions since 1983 — first as a sportswriter/golf columnist for the Journal Tribune in Saco from 1983-86, then as club manager at ValHalla in Cumberland 1986-91, and then as club manager of Biddeford-Saco 1991-97. Storey was hired in 1997 as the MSGA’s executive director, and she will be first person to tell you that those 20 years have flown by. And they are a significant two decades in MSGA history

She was a part of the movement to make GHIN the primary scoring organization in golf throughout the United States. Modem problems were what challenged her in her early days at executive director. She had to become a techie, and she became very good at it.

Then she was instrumental in the purchase of MSGA headquarters at the ValHalla Golf Course in 2009. That was a vital move for the MSGA, because golf had evolved as a business. It was a $220,00-a-year operation when she came on board with the MSGA and it has grown to a $1.37 million annually operation.

Then there is the merger, which is the crowning accomplishment of the Nancy Storey MSGA era. Bringing the two Maine state women’s organizations under the roof of the MSGA had been a goal that Storey wanted to achieve throughout her tenure as executive director, and in 2018 that was implemented.

Lots of Maine golfers point to Nancy Storey as an important person in their life. Curtis Jordan, current president of the MSGA Board of Directors, is one of them. Jordan was first involved in the MSGA as junior golfer when he was in eighth grade. The junior program is yet another MSGA program which has thrived under Storey.

“I remember her making me feel like I was special,” Jordan said.

Mark Plummer, arguably the best amateur golfer in Maine history, has been a member of the MSGA Board of Directors, throughout the Storey years.

“She has done a wonderful job,” Plummer said. “She has been one of the best things that has happened to the MSGA.”

For the most part, the Storey accomplishments for the MSGA have taken place very quietly, but recognition has surfaced. In 2017 she was inducted into the Maine State Golf Hall of Fame and it was recently announced that later this year she will be inducted into the Maine Sports Hall of Fame.

Golf, however, has not been Storey’s entire sports life. She could be described as a basketball junkie. Storey has coached and officiated girls games in Maine for many years.

And now she is about to become a Maine farmer. Figure that.