Name: Jonas Peter Akins
[/size]Age: 45
[/size]Residence: Wallingford, CT
[/size]Occupation: Teacher
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[/size]I’ve been reading the site for about a decade and Ran blessed me with a login about two years ago. Before I start asking questions about HJ Whigham and three hole loops, it seems fair to tell all of you a little about myself.
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[/size]Growing up, I played at Dedham Country and Polo Club, back when it was still an “Alex. Findlay" and founded in either 1922 or 1910. I haven’t played it since the Silva work, but I’m planning to walk it this coming weekend. My parents were also part of the group that started Farm Neck on Martha’s Vineyard, where I’m now chair of the Grounds Committee. The front nine is a Geoffrey Cornish and Bill Robinson, while the back was designed by one Patrick Mulligan, who seems to have designed no other courses. We are just about at the midpoint of a renovation to bring the two nines closer together architecturally, to address some persistent issues with our bunkers, and improve the strategic value of most, if not all, of the holes. Mark Mungeam and MAS Construction have been wonderful partners, along with our phenomenal team, including GM Tim Sweet, head pro Don Costello, and superintendent Andrew Nisbet, in the project. It’s been a lot of fun and the membership, and our public players, seem to have enjoyed the improvements to the front nine. Hopeful for similar excitement about the back.
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[/size]The property itself has had golf played on it since at least 1897, when Alex. Findlay laid out the Cottage City Golf Club. Our current 14th, the old 2nd, has been in almost continuous use as a golf hole through that time. There is also a Pinehurst connection through the Tufts family, who originally spent time on Martha’s Vineyard, before decamping to North Carolina. More to come in an article I’ve prepared for the Martha’s Vineyard Museum Quarterly, formerly the Dukes County Intelligencer.
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[/size]When I’m not dreaming of life on the shores of Sengekontacket Pond, I teach history and government, coach football and golf, and run a dorm at Choate Rosemary Hall, a boarding school in Wallingford, CT. Our home courses are Wallingford CC and Lyman Orchards and we get to play Watertown CC, Keney Park, Hotchkiss, and Farmington Woods most regularly on the JV circuit. It’s a lot of fun and I like to think the boys are starting to pick up a few architectural details here and there.
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[/size]Thank you for all of the insights you’ve been willing to share through the years, including Mike Cirba and, especially, Bob Crosby, who has helped me with a little project on "the greatest golf course never built," a Joshua Crane story that I’m still trying to pull together. If you’re ever on Martha’s Vineyard in the summer and want to see Farm Neck, please don’t hesitate to be in touch!