Plans to replace the 15th hole at Samoset Resort Golf Club in Rockport with houses have been shelved, according to Samoset Director of Golf Chris Christie.

“I think, with the way the economy has gone, that they [resort owners] have decided to leave things as is,” said Christie. He said that those plans may be revisited when the economy turns better.

“All I know is that we’ll be playing the existing 15th as is,” said Christie.

While the 375-yard, par-4 hole wasn’t one of the more challenging ones at the club, the setting is outstanding. It runs along the water with open views out over the Atlantic Ocean.

Last year, as plans for replacing the hole were running full ahead, the club was building a replacement 15th hole that would come down the hillside above the current hole and swing to the right, finishing near the 16th tee.

That hole will be used for other purposes now.

“When that grows in, we’ll use it for the Target Zone Golf Schools,” said Christie. “Now that the driving range is full-length, we’re going to open the schools again.”

Getting the driving range stretched to its current 250 yards required remodeling the 12th hole. That work, including a 20- to 30-foot-high catch fence at the end of the range, is nearing completion.

“They were sodding the tees [Tuesday], they’ll be hydroseeding the rough tomorrow, and sodding the fairway on Thursday,” said Christie. “It should be ready in 2-21/2 weeks.”

The third piece of work on the course is also nearing completion.

“The new 16th green should be ready the end of this week,” said Christie.

The work has gone on later into the season than the club had planned.

“We’re about six weeks late, and that’s only due to Mother Nature,” said Christie, referring to the wet, cold spring weather.

“It’s still kind of wet out there,” he said, “but we had to bite the bullet.”

With the completions in sight, Christie has been able to schedule some of his schools.

“We have two Target Zone Swing Golf Schools set for July and two for August,” said Christie. “We limited them this year because we weren’t sure when the facilities would be available.”

Christie said it will feel good to finally have all the work done.

“We’ve had 3-4 years of constant renovation and improvements,” he said. “Now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Greater Portland Open begins today

A greatly increased first prize and enlarged purse have yielded a much larger field for this year’s Greater Portland Open at Riverside Municipal Golf Course in Portland.

The seventh Greater Portland Open runs today through Friday, and the winner will take home $10,500 out of a total purse of $37,800, according to event chairman Blaine Davis.

The jump up from last year’s $6,000 first-place check had a lot to do with the field growing from 90 pros to 140, said Davis.

“Absolutely,” said Davis. “We made a huge mailing to New England pros and the [New England] PGA included it on their Web site. Once that went up, we started getting calls from all over the country.”

“We anticipate a very strong field,” said Davis. “According to Bill May [head pro at the host course], there should be some real low scores.”

Players scheduled to tee it up include 2001 New England Open winner Michael Sims of Mclean, Bermuda; 1999 Maine Open champion Kyle Gallo of Kensington, Conn.; 1999 Greater Bangor Open victor John Connelly of Perrysburg, Ohio;

Also, 1986 GBO winner and 1999 New England Open runner-up Mike Baker of Bradley; 2000 GBO and New England Open winner Billy Downes of Hampden, Mass.; 2001 GBO winner Jim Salinetti of Lee, Mass.; and Windham’s Eric Crouse, who has been competing on the Canadian PGA Tour this spring.

The number of amateurs is down this year compared to last, and Davis believes that is due to the large number of pros competing this year.

Among the top amateurs is Adam Williamson of Peru, who recently won the U.S. Public Links qualifier at Bangor Municipal Golf Course.

PGA Juniors set for Samoset

Today is the last day for registration for the PGA Junior Series event set for Aug. 5-6 at Samoset Resort Golf Club in Rockport.

The series, for boys and girls ages 13-17, includes 11 tournaments around the country. Samoset is the 10th stop.

Fields are made up of approximately half local section players and half national players. The fee is $60 for the two-day event. Competitors from 18 states are already entered.

For more information, visit the Professional Golfers’ Association Web site at www.PGA.com or call the national headquarters at 561-624-8400.

Dave Barber can be reached at 990-8170, 1-800-310-8600, or by e-mail at dbarber@bangordailynews.net.