There's a new face behind the pro shop counter and in charge of the golf at Pequot Golf Club in Stonington.

Justin Scott took over as head golf professional in March, replacing Joe Brucas.

"It's been great," Scott said. "It's been good to get to know the established membership. ... It's been a smooth transition."

He only moved from a short distance, leaving his head professional job at Exeter Country Club in Rhode Island.

His journey started in the southwest.

He grew up in Oklahoma and graduated from Oklahoma State University. He spent 15 years working in Wyoming and Colorado, enjoying two of his favorite activities — golf and skiing — before moving east to be closer to his wife's family in Rhode Island. His family is living in Charlestown.

"There's no beach out west," Scott said. "We live a mile from the bench. That makes it nice."

He picked a good summer to be at Pequot. Weather has cooperated and the course is in great shape. People have been flocking to play there.

"Our numbers are good," Scott said. "Our rounds are up. ... People say the course is in its best condition in years."

Scott is attempting to build the junior program. He started a junior clinic that runs on Saturdays at 2 p.m. Drop-ins are welcome.

"We'll run it until school starts," Scott said.

Short putts

• Chris Hedden, the teaching pro at Elmridge Golf Course, competed in his first Connecticut Senior Open earlier this month at Shennecossett Golf Course. He just became eligible this year.

Considering he hadn't played in a tournament in 10 years, he did pretty well. He advanced to the second round and finished with a two-round total of 157 (77-80).

"I couldn't wait until I turned 50 years old," Hedden said. "I was pretty excited to be playing.  I was happy to make the cut. I'll be more prepared next year."

During his Waterford High School days, Hedden won four state championships — two as a team and two as an individual. Two of his 1980 state champion teammates — Dave Jones and Dan Hendrickson — played in the Norwich Invitational final. Jones came away with his second title.

The fourth member of that high school championship team was Hedden's brother, Jeff, who went on to become one of the best amateur golfers in the state before moving south. Jeff no longer plays tournament golf, focusing on his family and job in the insurance industry.

In other Elmridge news, the men's club championship final four is set. Anthony Kargul, who's won multiple titles, plays Dave Award in one semifinal match while Pete Stefanski faces George Luzzi in the other on Saturday. The winners play 36 holes for the title Sunday.

Mike Pendelton beat Ron Allen last weekend to win the First Flight championship.

• Old Lyme Country Club pro Rob Barbeau is happy to report that membership is on the rise. Old Lyme has reaped the benefits of a marketing campaign.

"We got about 55 new members," Barbeau said Thursday. "We marketed our club for the first time in 99 years. We had never advertised the club at all."

Old Lyme is more than just a private nine-hole golf course. It also has tennis, paddle tennis, a pool and fine dining for members. Plus, it has a friendly and professional staff, including Barbeau's pro shop crew.

"We have a lot to offer here," Barbeau said.

Now that word is getting out, Old Lyme hopes to continue to grow. Membership numbers are at about 350.

• Several scholarships were handed out at the recent 17th Annual Caddy Reunion Golf Tournament at Shennecossett, according to tournament organizer Tom Edwards.

Award winners and their college destinations and majors are as follows: Stonington's Sam Ognisty, Cornell University, engineering and architecture; Waterford's Matt Shea, Mitchell College, law enforcement; Norwich Free Academy's Brendan Sullivan, University of California at Berkeley, political science; Fitch's Luke Teixeira, UConn-Avery Point, finance.

• Cedar Ridge Golf Course, a popular par 3 course in East Lyme, is running another successful junior program this summer. Evan Kluge won the week one individual stroke play competition, shooting a 34, and Ben Bombach (36) placed second. Jake Skelkly shot a 38 to capture the week two event and Bombach was second with a 39.

• The date of the Travelers Championship, which is usually held at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell in late June, has changed for 2016 in order to accommodate the Olympic year PGA Tour schedule.

Travelers announced last week that it will run from Aug. 1-7 next year.

"Golf's return to the Olympics for the first time since 1904 will affect the majority of the PGA Tour events taking place from June through August," said Travelers Championship tournament director Nathan Grube in a released statement. "By working closely with the PGA Tour, we identified the best timing for recruiting a strong player field and finishing the planned modifications to TPC River Highlands."

Upcoming events

• The 81st Connecticut Open Championship begins Monday and runs through Wednesday at The Patterson Club in Fairfield. One hundred and fifty golfers qualified to compete in the 54-hole event. The field will be cut after two rounds to the low 40 players plus ties. Frank Bensel is the defending champion.

• Michael and Peter Masso of Lake of Isles will be competing in the Connecticut State Golf Association's 17th Father & Son Net Tournament Aug. 3 at Simsbury Farms Golf Course.

• The Pequot Golf Club men's championship stroke play begins Sunday, Aug. 2, with first-round action. The second and third rounds will be Aug. 8 and 9, respectively.

• Shennecossett will crown its men's club champion on Aug. 16. Qualifying round play begins on Aug.  1. 

• The Cedar Ridge junior club championship will tee off Aug. 12.

g.keefe@theday.com

Twitter: @GavinKeefe