Mark Vinchesi has worked at some of the finest resorts in the country.

He enjoyed a 20-year career in the hotel industry and also managed some golf courses. His stops included La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif., and Doral locations in Miami and Telluride, Colo.

Trouble was his demanding job left him little time left to play golf.

That's one driving reason why he eventually turned down a slightly different path. He's been co-owner, along with his sister Holly Cox, for nine years of Great Brook Sports in Groton.

"Once I semi-retired, I had time on my hands and I started golfing a lot," Vinchesi said of his journey to Great Brook. "I was actually looking for a place that had heaters so I could hit balls in the winter time."

In the spring, Vinchesi added another business, purchasing Birch Plain Golf Course in Groton. He plans to gradually make some significant improvements to the par 3 course.

"I'm all about golf," Vinchesi said. "My kids are all about golf. The people I hang with are all about golf. We need a place where we can go and improve our game. That doesn't mean that we have to have the driver out. Ninety percent of the game is 100 yards and in and that's what we've got in spades over at the Pines."

Vinchesi has already picked out a new name — The Pines Golf Course and Short Game Center – but yet to put up new signs.

Prior to taking over Birch Plain, there was already a connection between the course and Great Brook Sports, which ran its leagues there.

Vinchesi, who lives in Old Lyme, wants The Pines to become "a course for everybody," especially catering to beginners, families, seniors and ladies.

"Full-size regulation courses are intimidating for the beginner golfer," Vinchesi said, "and they're too difficult for the older golfer and a lot of lady golfers. ... A par 3 course doesn't take a lot of time to play. It's not going to cause as much anxiety for the beginner golfer but fits the needs of the lady and senior golfer."

Vinchesi is basically starting on the ground floor. The now former Birch Plain was in rough shape when he bought the course.

He has an ambitious plan for the property.

This fall, grass will be planted to fill in around the greens and tee boxes. Eventually, work will be done on the range. New mats and range golf balls already have been purchased. The existing building will be turned into a pro shop.

A putting green will be installed. Some chipping greens and sand traps will be added.

"My goal is to get it to such a condition that a good player will want to go out there and practice," Vinchesi said. "That may be a long time coming, but ultimately that's the goal. We have our leagues there and I want them to have the best conditions.

"The final thing is to actually create a nine-hole league course, which would be regulation so people can take a driver out on several holes. We've already started the process. We have three holes outlined so you'll be able to hit a driver."

The local golf community has been very supportive. Phil Neaton, the Black Hall Club superintendent, is a family friend and has offered advice. Shennecossett superintendent Eric Morrison also has been helpful.

Vinchesi's son, Conor, is the head golf professional at both Great Brook and The Pines.

To help attract golfers, green fees have been lowered. A junior can play for free with a paid adult. The military and senior rate is $15 – all the time. Adults pay $20 during the week and $25 on weekends for 18 holes. Only $15 after 3 p.m.

"The whole idea is we're trying to get people to go there and see the facility," Vinchesi said.

Short putts

• Lake of Isles in North Stonington recently held its club championship weekend. Jason Guyot won the men's gross division and Will Orkney earned net honors. In the women's event, Ellie Mullenix was the gross division winner and Nancy Gordon was the net champ.

Mason Stewart had a birdie on the final hole to capture the club's junior club championship.

• A pair of Stonington High School golf teammates battled it out for the Stonington Country Club junior club championship in an 18-hole stroke play match on Aug. 13. Jack Ognisty finished first with a 78 and Jack Glenn was second with an 84. Grant Hamilton placed third at 88.

In the nine-hole competition, Justin Holland won with a 49 and Quinn Hamilton took second with a 51. Alec Hamilton shot a 66 to place third.

• Norwich Golf Course crowned its men's club champion on Aug. 14. Steve Gambeski defended his title, holding off Todd Lavoie in the championship flight. He trailed Lavoie by a stroke after the first of four rounds of stroke play before seizing the lead for good with a 1-under 70 in round two. He extended his advantage to five strokes in the third round.

Bob Eldridge won the First Flight and Paul DeLucia placed second while Speros Velles captured first in the Second Flight and Jon Hominski was the runner-up. Ted Richard was the Third Flight champion and Larry Carver was second.

Late last month, Noah Straub rolled to the junior club championship title, winning by a comfortable 13 strokes. Straub had a two-round total of 154 (74-80).

• This is a busy month for Black Hall assistant pro Adam Rainaud.

He'll compete in the 2016 Connecticut PGA Championship that runs next Tuesday and Wednesday at Keney Park Golf Course in Hartford. He won the title in 2014 and finished second last year. He recently played in the Travelers Championship, missing the cut after shooting 8-over 148 in two rounds. It was his third PGA Tour event of his career.

Then he'll attempt to capture his fourth straight and sixth overall Connecticut PGA Assistants Championship on Aug. 30 at H. Smith Richardson Golf Course in Fairfield.

 • The Mohegan Sun Country Club ladies won the Thames Valley Cup, beating teams from Black Hall, Fox Hopyard, Stonington Country Club, Great Neck and Clinton. Team members include captain Judy Miles, Ann Deshefy, Jane Barry, Robin Smith, Jan Pacific, Phyllis Palmer, Darlene Guillot and Peg Ververis.

Thames Valley matches run from May until August, with each club hosting an event.

Upcoming events

• The Second Annual John Boyle Jr. Memorial Golf Tournament tees off at 10 a.m. Saturday at Pequot Golf Club. Proceeds will benefit a scholarship named in his honor. Cost is $100 per person, $75 for Pequot members, and includes a cart and steak dinner. For more information, contact Tod Evers at 860-235-0850.

• Great Neck Country Club in Waterford is hosting the Connecticut State Golf Association's 35th Senior Four-Ball Tournament on Monday. Local golfers in the field include: Jim O'Neill, Sam Rio, Tom Hurd of Great Neck; James Hominski, Doug Smith of Norwich GC; Richard Wilczewski, Ken Wetmore, Bill Ernst, Tim Sisk of Shennecossett; Mitchell Etess, Old Lyme CC; Bill Hermanson, Black Hall Club

• Please send results or any golf news to g.keefe@theday.com