Date: Thu 13-Jul-1995

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Full Text:

Paul Miller, NCC Pro

BY KIM J. HARMON

Back when he was a kid, Paul Miller, Newtown Country Club's new PGA

professional, had an idea that there was some money to be made in golf . . .

only not by swinging a club.

"We lived right on the golf course and we used to go down and get balls out of

the creek and sell them," said Paul, 31. "We used to sit there and try and

sell balls and after a while, we wanted to try playing. Junior memberships,

then, were only $30 a year, so we got involved that way."

And it seems he had a knack. Despite being the only golfer in his family, Paul

graduated from York High School in York, Nebraska, with a golf scholarship to

the University of Nebraska.

Four years later, it was time to make a decision.

"I never really had aspirations of being a pro," he said. "I think I got into

the golfing business because I played so much, I didn't know what else to do."

After attending the PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) classes and

passing the written, oral, and performance tests, Paul took a job for two

years at a golf club in Madison, Wisconsin.

Soon after, Paul, now living in Branford with his wife, Kathleen, and their

four-year-old daughter, Morgan, became the assistant pro at Bronson Country

Club in Huntington before becoming the assistant professional at Racebrook

Country Club in Orange for the last five years.

When the job at NCC, previously held by Steve Pemberton, opened up, it gave

Paul the chance to meet his goal.

"My goal was to be a head professional when I was 30," he explained, "and I

just turned 31 June 12, so I just got in under that. I like it here. The

members are really nice. I grew up at a nine-hole course with about 200

members, so there are a lot of similarities."

PGA touring professional Ken Green once said that the first hole at NCC - a

par three with a green the size of a throw rug - was one of the toughest

opening holes there is, and Paul has discovered that, despite it's short

length, the NCC layout is a challenging one.

"This course is the great equalizer," he said. "I can go out with members who

are a 12 handicap and we'll shoot the same. It's different, sporty. There

doesn't seem to be a big premium on hitting a lot of good golf shots."

Paul hit some good golf shots last weekend, though, carding a 71 at Ridgewood

Country Club in Danbury in a Connecticut Open qualifying round, despite not

having played in almost a month.

"I didn't have any high expectations, because I hadn't played in a while,"

said Paul. "About three years ago I played in the State Open (at Ridgewood),

so I knew where I was going. I didn't expect a lot, and I kind of had the

attitude that it wasn't the end of the world, whether I made it or not. Life

goes on."

Next will come the State Open at Woodway Country Club in Darien, July 31 and

August 1.

Once again, he has no expectations.

"I'll just go and see what happens. I'll probably practice this time," he

laughed, "since there's money involved."