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Thanks
to a Portland sportswriter who shared a passion for golf with a doctor, the Maine Golf Hall of Fame was off to a rousing beginning
on September 8, 1993 with more than 200 at a tournament and induction at Poland Spring.
Backing up Hall of Fame founder
Vern Putney, an excellent golfer and sportswriter for the Portland Press Herald, was Dr. Carman Pettapiece of Falmouth, and
rounding out the founding group another sportswriter, Dick Doyle and accountant Joe Stillman.*
Banquet guests witnessed
the induction of 17 of the most recognizable names in Maine golf history. They are listed on this website (see "Roll of Honor")
along with the others inducted in years since. What stands out with the names is the rationale for their inductions. While
players like Mark Plummer, Dr. Ray Lebel, Martha Page White and others were shoo-ins based upon their playing records, the
Hall of Fame reached out to honor those who left an imprint on the game in other ways, for example: Charlie Emery of Penobscot
CC (inducted in 1993) for teaching and in 2004 Gary Rees for high school golf coaching. Then there is golf writer Shirley
Povich (1994) of The Washington Post and greenskeeper Roger Lowell (2000) of Webhannet GC. In recent years P.G.A. Tour Caddy
Mike "Fluff" Cowan (2005) and network television analyst Peter Kostis (2003).
*Each brought something unique to the
Hall of Fame concept, with Dick Doyle having an uncanny memory of golf history. Dr. Pettapiece, whose hobby was club-making
and repair, was well connected through membership in the private Portland Country Club. Joe Stillman was the money man, or
at least he knew where the money rested. And of course, Vern Putney, inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997, brought leadership
and a ton of energy.
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