Course Story
A Bit of Early History
In early 1998, the four Pollard brothers—Gary, David, Jeff, and Brad—met with their father, James, to discuss transforming their family dairy farm into an 18-hole championship golf course. Over the years, they had been approached by Fred Stone, a renowned golf course shaper, with the idea of building a course on their land. Fred, who had learned the craft from his father—a shaper who worked with Robert Trent Jones Sr.—brought invaluable expertise to the project. The idea was exciting, and with the growing popularity of golf, the timing felt perfect. The brothers hired Fred as their course shaper, who then introduced them to an emerging golf architect, Bradley Booth. Superintendent Steve Hoisington joined the team, overseeing construction and later maintaining the course for over 15 years.
From Vision to Reality
With detailed planning and numerous meetings with Stone and Booth, the project took shape. David left his 28-year career in education to manage the course, while Brad balanced overseeing construction with running the family restaurant. Jeff and Gary continued their careers but supported the project as it progressed. On May 4, 1998, construction officially began. Spring Meadows opened for a trial run in October 1999 with a 9-hole layout, expanding to a full 18 holes by 2001. The family’s 1922 barn was later transformed into an elegant event center for weddings and social gatherings. Today, Spring Meadows stands as one of Maine’s premier golf courses, renowned for its pristine conditions and recognized by Golf Digest as “a venue worth the drive.”
Fred Stone – The Master Golf Course Shaper
Spring Meadows was fortunate to have Fred Stone as its golf course shaper. While architect Brad Booth crafted an excellent design, bringing that vision to life required the expertise of a skilled shaper. Fred, an extraordinary talent, had learned the trade from his father, who worked alongside the world-renowned Robert Trent Jones Sr. As he shaped and transformed the land, Fred skillfully integrated his own design nuances while staying true to Booth’s vision.
A Legacy of Craftsmanship
The Stone family had deep roots in the Gray-New Gloucester community. Fred’s father, Lewis, was a gifted equipment operator, contributing to major projects like the Brunswick Naval Air Station. After moving to New Jersey in the early 1950s, Lewis joined Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s team, eventually becoming head shaper for his company and working on projects worldwide—including a putting green at the White House and a golf hole at Camp David for President Eisenhower. Following in his father’s footsteps, Fred began his career at 18, with his first shaping job at Crag Burn. He later worked extensively with Reese Jones, Robert Trent Jones Sr.'s son, shaping courses along the East Coast.
The Pollard family takes great pride in assembling a top-tier team for Spring Meadows. With the combined talents of architect Bradley Booth, shaper Fred Stone, and superintendent Steve Hoisington, they successfully built one of the finest golf courses in Maine and New England.
