Golf & Ski Profile:
Ron Brown, Scarborough Sales
and Golf Repair Shop Manager
When Golf & Ski opened a fourth store in Scarborough, Maine, in the fall of 2008, the first person store manager Bill Novicki hired was Ron Brown, whose name was synonymous with golf in Maine. A two-time Maine state amateur champion (and seven-time runner-up), Ron had been operating his own golf repair business, Golf Connection, in Falmouth for 17 years. “I was at a turning point with my business,” Ron says. “My lease was up, some of my repair equipment needed to be updated, and I heard Golf & Ski needed a good repair person.” So instead of fighting us, Ron joined us. And it’s been a good fit for both parties ever since.
“It’s worked out very well,” Ron says of his role at Golf & Ski. “There’s a certain pressure and anxiety when you run your own business that’s there 24/7. And at this stage of my life, I don’t miss that.”
Ron brought most of his former customers from Golf Connection with him to Golf & Ski, which has been a great asset for the Scarborough store.
“Ron gave us instant credibility with the local golf market,” says Scott Peters, Golf & Ski’s founder. “He’s highly respected in the Maine golf community and has been a tremendous ambassador for us from day one.”
Ron is also a tremendous golfer, who has competed in every USGA event for amateurs, starting with the US Junior Amateur when he was a teenager and including three U.S. Amateurs, the U.S. Mid-Amateur, the U.S. Public Links Amateur and four USGA State Team Championships.
He also played in the 1989 U.S. Senior Open, where he had the pleasure of playing a practice round with Arnold Palmer.
“They give you a locker and the locker room is open only to players,” Ron recalls. “And they post sign up sheets in the locker room for the practice rounds on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. You want to play your practice round at about the same time as your competitive rounds, so I looked at the sheet on Tuesday and saw Arnold Palmer’s name up there at 11 o’clock, which was about when I was scheduled to play on Thursday. I signed up and got to play with him.”
Ron shared the thrill of playing with The King with his wife, Debbie, who always serves as his caddy in big events.
“Debbie does not play golf at all, but she’s a good caddy,” Ron says. “The only thing she struggles with is holding the pin on long putts. She’s only 5’1” and can’t reach the flag. But she’s so cute, the other caddies just smile and help her out.”
Ron grew up in Portland and graduated from Deering High School, where he was on two state championship golf teams and served as a captain. He earned a B.A. in Liberal Arts at the University of Maine (which had no golf team at the time), and then went on to get an M.B.A. from Husson College.
“I did the corporate thing for 17 years,” Ron says, “working for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maine and becoming V.P. of Finance. When the last bad recession hit in 1990-92, I was downsized. I was working 60-70 hours a week and making a lot of money, but health care finance is very frustrating and it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.”
That’s when he started his own golf repair business, which he ran for another 17 years.
Today, Ron divides his time between the repair shop and sales floor in our Scarborough store.
“In April, I’m mainly in the shop, doing a lot of re-gripping. But once the season gets rolling, it’s about a 50/50 split. It’s a nice break in the routine, having the variety.”
Ron also likes seeing how the Golf & Ski business has developed in Maine.
“I was always aware of Golf & Ski when I had my business,” he says. “They had an incredibly good reputation and were clearly very successful. It’s been interesting to observe first-hand how things are done here and see why they are successful.”
“There are a lot of things the owners and management do that are good.”
One of them was hiring Ron Brown.
“It’s fun,” he says. “A lot of people come in and ask for me specifically, so I am constantly seeing old customers and old friends.”
And he’s constantly helping to grow the Golf & Ski business in Maine.
“Just as Ron was always aware of Golf & Ski, I’ve always been aware of Ron as a legend in Maine golf and one of the greatest Maine amateur golfers ever,” says Scott Peters. “He is such a good guy and has been a very good fit for Golf & Ski with his love of the game and his expertise. He is a key part of a really good staff that has allowed us to succeed in the Portland market, and we love having him on our team.”
Years at Golf & Ski:
3 ½ years
Hometown:
Cumberland, Maine. “We’ve lived in Cumberland since 1986. It’s a nice quiet, small town with very few businesses.”
Career/Jobs:
Worked for Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Maine for 17 years, ultimately serving as Vice President of Finance…then operated his own business, Golf Connection, for 17 years in Falmouth, Maine, providing club repair for individuals and golf courses…joined Golf & Ski in Scarborough as the first staffer, three weeks before the store opened in the fall of 2008.
Favorite Golf Course:
Portland Country Club in Portland, Maine
“It’s a classic 100 year old Donald Ross golf course that has been completely restored. If you ask anyone what the best course is in Maine, most will tell you Portland Country Club.”
Hobbies:
“For the next six months, it’s golf and family. During the golf off-season, I do a lot of homebuilding restoration. I enjoy everything—carpentry, plumbing, electrical. I also built a one car garage for my 1980 Corvette.”
Most Famous Person He’s Met:
Arnold Palmer. “I have met Arnold Palmer a few times. I played with him in a practice round in the 1989 U.S. Senior Open. And I also played with him at his course, Bay Hill, in 2007. Both were unforgettable experiences.”
Favorite Food:
Maine lobster and steamed clams. “We have a few family gatherings each year, and that’s what we serve. There’s a place just up the road where we get the lobsters fresh off the boat.”
Favorite Sports Teams:
“I’m a big football fan and love the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots.”
Best Concert:
The Grateful Dead at Arizona State University in Tempe, Arizona.
“One of our daughters went to ASU and took me to see The Dead when I visited her one winter. There were 17,000 people inside the ASU basketball arena. I had never been a big Dead fan, but the concert was absolutely awesome. They played for almost three hours straight and I was hooked.”
Dream Foursome:
Arnold Palmer, Larry Nelson and Jerry Heard.
“I actually played in this dream foursome at Bay Hill in 2007, so I’m a pretty lucky guy!”
In His Bag:
Callaway RAZR Fit Driver 10.5º w/ Fujikura Rombax 61 Shaft (Stiff)
Taylor Made RBZ #3 HL 17º Fairway Wood
Callaway RAZR X Hybrid bent to 19º w/VS Proto Graphite 85S
Callaway RAZR X Tour Irons 4 - AW w/VS Proto Graphite 85S (1º upright)
Ping Eye2 Copper Wedges 53º & 60º
Titleist Scotty Cameron Studio Select 2.6 Center Shaft Putter
Callaway HEX Black Tour Ball
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