Happy New Year !??!

I really thought I would get this Blog Post out before February 2nd, but a lot has been going on.

January has been a much busier month than I had anticipated. In the past 30 days, I turned 65, enrolled in Medicare and Social Security, and retired. 

Each had its own unique challenges, and I just hope I completed the paperwork correctly.  Either way, I now have more time for Broken Joe Golf... maybe

Thank You for the Feedback

First, thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback and submit comments by January 3, 2026.

We received a 73% response rate from our membership. While that number is a little disappointing, it’s understandable given that the deadline fell during the end-of-year holiday season. That said, the feedback we did receive was thoughtful, helpful, and appreciated.

Golf Courses for the 2026 Season

We received several requests for new golf courses for the 2026 BROKEN JOE GOLF season. The two newest requests were:

• Crestview Country Club (Agawam)

• Wycoff Country Club (Holyoke)

  
  

Both Crestview and Wycoff were formerly private courses that struggled in recent years but have since reopened as public courses. From everything I’ve seen and heard, each has invested significant time and money to restore the course and improve the overall experience.

Cedar Knob also made the requested list again this year. I would also like to get us out to Tekoa and Westover, but securing a quality tee time for 16 golfers at these locations continues to be a challenge. I have not given up hope, but I am planning for the worst.

Not surprisingly, Iron Mike and James requested courses closer to their homes. The challenge there is that it would mean a two-hour drive across the state for each of them. Naturally, this sent me down the rabbit hole of time-and-distance calculations — a very deep rabbit hole — until EJ finally pulled me out of it.

With Adam moving down near the CT Casinos, that leaves Adam with a drive time of 1:18 to Springfield, with Iron Mike with a 1:05 drive to Springfield, and James with a 1:11 drive to Springfield. With all things considered, it makes sense to keep the golf courses in Pioneer Valley and Northern Ct.

Staying within BROKEN JOE GOLF Roots

BROKEN JOE GOLF has always been marketed as a Pioneer Valley–area golf club, and that region alone offers 18 golf courses. Add in four courses from Northern Connecticut (North of Hartford), and we have 22 courses that are:

• Within 30 miles of BROKEN JOE GOLF Headquarters

• At an average cost of $56 per round

Below, I’ve compiled a complete list of area golf courses — including those requested by the membership — showing:

• Course rating and slope

• Yardage

• 2025 cost

• Drive time from BJG HQ

• Distance in miles

Building the Schedule

When creating the BROKEN JOE GOLF schedule, I try to balance things out:

• 5 easy, 5 medium, and 5 hard courses

• 5 inexpensive, 5 mid-priced, and 5 higher-priced courses

• A general goal of staying under $75 per round

  
  

Once the schedule is finalized, Joe T will also have a list of alternative courses, providing us with flexibility if our primary golf course must change.

Requested Rule Changes

1. All Penalties as One-Stroke Penalties

This rule change was proposed last year and rejected by the membership. Yes, it simplifies scorekeeping — but when was golf ever meant to be easy?

2. Playing the Ball "Up" on Your Own Fairway

BROKEN JOE GOLF already allows “Lift, Clean, and Place” on your fairway when conditions are wet or muddy. Plus, we already allow a ball to be moved if it is in a divot, in standing water, or plugged. Besides, fluffing the ball during normal course conditions just feels wrong.

Championship of the World (COTW)

There were concerns about the number of points awarded at last year's Championship of the World. A few critical factors played into that decision:

1. In 2025, I moved the COTW to the Saturday before Father’s Day, allowing us to play every other Sunday. This schedule was sent in February and discussed at the Winter Meeting; no objections were raised at the time.

2. As with all BROKEN JOE GOLF events, total points are divided among the players who participate.

3. The Championship of the World is a BROKEN JOE GOLF Core Value Event — Commitment, Competition, and Camaraderie — which is why it carries a high value.

4. The points were significant because only 7 of 16 golfers showed up to play.

   
   

The event is meant to be quick, fun, and competitive, with time afterward for a couple of drinks and some chips before heading back to the real world. In past years, when the event was worth only one point, participation suffered. That’s why it is worth three points.

2026 BJG Schedule: I expect to have the draft schedule out in a week or so.

After some miscommunication with EJ (my fault), I think we have our 16th Golfer for the 2026 season. If that doesn't work out, Magic Mike has identified a couple of golfers.

Welcome to February.

Right this minute, I have the Broken Joe Golf Winter Meeting scheduled for Sunday, March 22nd, 2026. That gives us 53 days for the snow to melt and the freezing temperatures to head farther north. Unfortunately, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means six more weeks of winter.

We are discussing playing at the Golf Simulators again, but they book up quickly, and prices continue to rise. Let me know if you are interested.

Ending on a more Positive Note - I know who the People’s Choice winner is. 🏆

Respectfully,

Broken Joe

Commissioner