He’s seen high school football players streak across a busy range and had a fingernail whacked off by a rogue golf ball. But it’s all part of the job for Jonathan Nekoroski, 40, co-owner of Golf Country in Saugus (also in Middleton and South Easton). The legendary driving range, located on the northbound side of Rte. 1, was formerly known as Golf Town and was purchased by Nekoroski’s company in 2007. For a guy who grew up hitting golf balls on this fabled stretch of land in Saugus, nothing surprises him anymore. Just don’t ask him to cut the grass.
What was the deal with the fire truck on the side of the range?
The previous owners had a fire truck and used it to fix the netting. When the truck died, they just left it down the right side of the driving range. People would aim for it. The first thing we did [when we bought it] was call a salvage company.
If someone’s never golfed before, should they come to a driving range first?
Absolutely. They can learn how to hold a club correctly and learn how to hit the ball. We have golf pros that teach all that stuff. People come in and say, ‘I’ve got to play with my boss in a charity thing. I’ve never played before; what do I have to do?’
What do you think is the worst job at the driving range?
The worst job is probably cutting the grass. We open at 7am. So you have to get here at five in the morning and pick up the balls. You pick up a 50-yard-by-50-yard section and try to cut it before people come and start hitting balls. Believe me, I’ve been hit a couple of times.
Do people aim for you?
Well, they aim for the cart, yeah. They’ll aim for whatever’s out there.
You must see a lot of wild stuff.
One time, a high school football team showed up, and about six of the kids who just made the team ran buck naked across the field about a hundred yards out while people were hitting. So, that was a very interesting night. Last year, I had a guy come in who broke the head of his club. It flew out into the range, and he demanded that he needed it. I pleaded with this guy to come back in the morning, but he needed it that instant. So I go out, I reach out of the cart to pick it up, and get hit right on the finger by a golf ball. It takes my fingernail clean off. I come back, with blood all over my finger, all over his club as I hand it to him, and say, ‘Here you go. You satisfied?’ -Alexandra Pecci, Photograph By Joel Laino