Meet our Head Golf Professional, Bill Connally, PGA

After graduating from Georgia Southern University in 1992 Bill started his 30-year career in the Golf Industry. Bill earned his PGA Membership in 1995 while working at the Jack Nicklaus Great Waters Course at Reynolds Plantation for the previous three years. This opened the door for him to move to Ansley Golf Club in Atlanta where he would become known for his ability to teach, merchandise and manage a high-end private club. After leaving Ansley he would spend two years as Head Golf Professional at Forest Heights Country Club in Statesboro Georgia before becoming Director of Golf in 2000 at Glen Arven Country Club in Thomasville Georgia. During his tenure at Glen Arven Bill was awarded the Junior Golf Leader award for the East Chapter PGA and Georgia Section PGA in 2004, Merchandiser of the Year for the Georgia Section PGA in 2006 and Golf Professional of the Year for the Georgia Section PGA in 2012. Ping Golf awarded Bill the Club Fitter of the year in award in 2005, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2019 and 2021. Bill has always been a proponent of junior Golf and teaches players of all ages and skill levels. Many of his students current and past have gone on to be Division One collegian golfers, compete in Major Championships as well as win and play on the PGA Tour. In 2009 US Kids named Bill a Master Instructor after being named to their top 50 for four consecutive years.

Meet our Pro Shop Manager, Chris Lincoln

Hello, I am excited to introduce myself as the new Pro-Shop Manager at Wawenock. I have been a member of this club for approximately 25 years, and I look forward to serving all the members this coming season. I was born and raised in the Camden area, where I played several sports, including basketball, but my talent was cross-country running. My interest in golf started when my grandfather gifted me a set of golf clubs with a wooden driver when I was young. I became a member at Rockland Golf Course, and after high school, I briefly attended King’s College in New York before realizing college wasn’t for me. I then worked at the Samoset Resort, moved to Las Vegas for a year, and eventually returned to settle in the Midcoast area of Maine. I married my wife, Kerri, and we started our family in our home in Nobleboro. Our children, Kassie, Jalen, and Kobe, attended Lincoln Academy, and the two boys played on the LA golf team. Coaching has been a significant part of my life. I started coaching before our children were born, allowing me to coach them in multiple sports throughout their childhood. During that time, I also found a golf group that worked well with my coaching schedule, and I still play with the same group today, which many here at Wawenock call the “mafia.” The friendships I have made here at Wawenock and the members I have interacted with throughout my years have motivated me to apply for this position. This great club has so much potential to grow, and I am eager to contribute to the success of an excellent golfing community.