Matt Murphy is no stranger to Gorham Country Club, having spent one summer of his PGA apprenticeship there. The Club welcomes him back; this time as its golf professional. Murphy lived in Belfast, Maine until high school, when he relocated to Gardiner. As an eight-year-old, his father introduced him to golf. Murphy began spending his summers at Northport Golf Club, where, he recalled, “playing and practicing with my friends and the members who invited us to join them for a round.” He attributes his passion and pursuit of a golf career to the support and encouragement he received from his parents, and the Northport staff and members.
Murphy attended the Professional Golf Management program at Ferris State College (now “University”) in Michigan. Completion of the PGM is a PGA (Professional Golf Association, the primary governing body) requirement in the apprenticeship program. He moved to Florida for the next step in his PGA Apprenticeship.
He spent 16 years at the Augusta Country Club, and joked, “…the one in Maine.” (For non-fans, the Augusta Country Club in Georgia is the renowned home of The Masters, one of the four major golf championships annually. The winner is awarded “the green jacket.”) For the first half of that tenure, Murphy was the Assistant Golf Professional, with the last eight years spent as Head Golf Professional.
With over twenty years of experience as an instructor, Matt has supplemented his knowledge of golf from the big retail side of the industry. He was employed by Dick’s Sporting Goods as a Golf Professional, and was also in management with Dick’s. He shared, “During my tenure with Dick’s Sporting Goods in Florida, I became a volunteer instructor for the ‘Fairway for Warriors’ program. This organization was developed to provide camaraderie for combat wounded veterans and their families through golf.” He added, “The relationships I made during those lessons and tournaments was truly one of the most enriching programs I have been a part of.”
Murphy enthusiastically ruminated on the reception he received since he joined the GCC staff in April. A good number of members have dropped by. His philosophy and GCC’s mesh well, stressing inclusiveness and affirmation for all ages and levels of play. Murphy has seen the evidence of Gorham’s commitment to golf for everyone as evidenced by the partnership with Gorham Rec., and the popularity of the Junior Open and the Junior Camps. He looks forward to meeting folks and instructing kids about what a tee is and teeing off, some of whom will likely remind him of his summer days as an eight-year-old.
Murphy lives in Gardiner with his wife, Paula, and they have an adult child, Libby.