If you live in our gorgeous state, you know about the changing seasons. A warm spring is always welcomed with open arms, followed by long summer days where the sun beats down so strongly you have to don your favorite hat. Evenings stretch on for hours, casting long shadows. Then, we embrace the vibrant colors of fall. It’s glorious weather for any outdoor enthusiast.
This is especially true for Jake Laplume, Account Manager for Commercial Lines, who has loved the game of golf since he was 3 years old. That is when he and his twin sister got their first set of clubs; clunky and made of plastic, only about 2 feet long, yet the excitement they wielded was beyond measure.
They honed their skills at that very young age, which was easy to do since they lived on a golf course in North Carolina. There, they practiced putting in the backyard with their beloved dad whenever possible.
Their family later moved to Maine and, naturally, bought another house on a local golf course, where they’ve lived for the past 20 years. During those years, Jake loved golfing with many people, but nothing compared to playing with his beloved grandfathers.
Sadly, he lost his Pepere George in 2018, but he still plays with his grandfather Richard, whom he calls Poppy, who is now 87 years old. In this photo, he's with another favorite teammate—his dad. Jake also enjoys hitting the greens with his friends, his girlfriend, and his mother, who he says is, “getting into it.”
When asked about his favorite memories, Jake recalled hitting a hole-in- one at Dunegrass with a good friend. He described it as, “the coolest thing ever!”
When not playing at his home course, Jake enjoys golfing at Sugarloaf, especially at this time of the year. He loves the mountains and their symphony of hues and scents, spectacular views and sweeping vistas—not to mention Sugarloaf’s great course.
If he could play anywhere though, Jake would choose the Master’s Tournament in Savannah, Georgia, one of four major golf championships in professional golf.
We hope that Jake gets there someday. As the days grow shorter and the nights get colder, some golfers abandon their golf bag to the back of the closet till early spring arrives, but not Jake.
We have no doubt that he will be out there until the snow flies, and he won’t be alone. In fact, the course stays open until there is no green left as far as the eye can see, just for diehards like Jake!
