Grand Haven Mens Golf Assoc.

Please congratulate Steve Samuel for being chosen “MGA Spotlight Golfer” for the months of May/June, 2015. Steve has been a loyal supporter of Grand Haven and the Men’s Golf Association for some time now. Steve is currently serving on the MGA Board of Directors and as our MGA Webmaster. Steve has done an incredible job with the new MGA Website and it continues to get better and better under his leadership. If you haven’t seen it lately, definitely take a minute and visit ghmga.com.

Now, take a minute to learn more about Steve as only he could tell it:

I am a short-term golfer as I really only took up golf when I lived in Texas before moving to Palm Coast.  I have found out that what appears to be an easy game is actually quite difficult, especially for someone who at the time was approaching sixty.  While my game has gotten better, I have aged, and with age comes less ability.  The good news however is I have gotten my handicap down and have even been lucky enough to get a hole in one on number eight about three years ago.   I even qualified for the shootout once but had to travel so I could not compete.  Maybe I will get lucky again.  As a poor golfer I have still been able to play some fine courses.  Turnberry in Scotland was probably the most different and perhaps the most difficult.  Likewise playing Number 2 at Pinehurst was a great experience and one all golfers should take the time to play.

I was born in Manhattan in the shadow of the George Washington Bridge.  When I was four years old we moved to Cambria Heights Queens where I basically grew up.  Both Bob Wolfe and Art Canino lived within block of me and Bob and I were actually in many classes together through grade school.  Small world.  I graduated from City College of New York (CCNY) with a degree in Civil Engineering.  I have worked for many companies in the Power Industry; Foster Wheeler, Riley Stoker, and currently (still) Doosan Babcock, always on the Construction and Project Management side of the business.  I am fortunate that I am able to still work and can fit the work in around my golf schedule.  My current work involves the handling of commercial issues on a project which is finishing up in Western Ontario.  The project involves the conversion of a lignite fired plant to a wooded fired plant.  I also provide support to various legal firms on projects that revolve around construction.   I have also worked in the pipeline construction business and the industrial gas business.  I was quite fortunate and rose quickly within the various organizations and therefore have held many senior management positions.  I have been President twice and Vice President three times during my career.  Work caused my wife and two sons to move around quite a bit over the years.  We have lived in NY, NJ, MA, CT, KY, WV, TX, GA and now Florida.  Each time building a new house.  I also spent about a year in the UK when we first arrived in Palm Coast. Both our sons lived in Orlando and Palm Coast seem a good location, not to close yet not too far from the kids.  This worked well until our younger son and his family moved to South Carolina!

Now living in Palm Coast full time I enjoy playing Golf regularly and have really enjoyed the MGA because of all the new people I have been able to meet.  My wife lived here when I was in the UK and Atlanta and therefore we are fortunate to have a second set of none golf circle friends.  Grand Haven could not have been a better choice for us.  Acting as webmaster has also given me better insight into the MGA and therefore I better understand the work it takes to make it the fun organization it is.  In addition to golf, my wife (who does not play) and I enjoy traveling and almost every year take a cruise to some nice warm beaches.  In addition, each year in February, we meet our Texas friends for a week of sun, fun, golf, good food and drink.  We also do other trips as the spirit moves us.  The four grandkids also take a good part of our time as we always have a soccer games, swim meets or cheer leading competitions to go to.

As you can see, Steve is a very busy man and we are ever so fortunate to have him serve on our MGA Board of Directors. Thanks Steve ………… and we hope you enjoy Grand Haven for many, many years to come!