There has been a mid-season changing of the guard in the Myopia Hunt Club golf shop.
Michael Bemis, the head professional at the “World Top 100” golf course since 2017, has been replaced during the busiest part of the Myopia golf season by Alex Buckley on an interim basis, presumably for the remainder of the MHC golf season.
Requests for comments from Bemis and Nick Cutler, president of the South Hamilton club, have not been acknowledged.
Bemis enjoyed a long history at Myopia. He was former head professional Bill Safrin’s No. 1 assistant for many years before Bemis departed to become head golf professional at the Renaissance Club in Haverhill. But after the fledgling Renaissance Club experienced financial problems and construction delays before becoming a reality, Bemis left that post and eventually returned to Myopia as a top-level assistant along with Dan Venezio.
Venezio departed Myopia in 2015, became head golf pro at Portland, Maine, Country Club in 2016 and currently is thriving in his 10th season as leader of the PCC golf program.
Bemis stepped in as head professional at Myopia in 2017 after Safrin completed a 37-year tenure.
It will not surprise this agent if Myopia seeks to enlist Venezio’s services, or at least inquire of Venezio’s interest, if any, for 2026. Venezio displayed extraordinary patience as a top Myopia assistant for many years, but when opportunity knocked for the Portland position, one of the best jobs in the New England PGA Section, Venezio grabbed it.
One big plus in Myopia’s favor if the prestigious North Shore club, also known for its polo program and long-time Sunday afternoon polo matches, should approach Venezio, is the fact Dan’s wife hails from Danvers.
On the other hand, Myopia members have connections at many of the five-star clubs in America. Moreover, the club, famous, too, for its fox-and-horn logo, will have a countless number of excellent candidates to choose from, simply because it’s Myopia.
Exhibit A: Jonathan Wilber, Myopia’s highly rated course superintendent, was hired away from The National on Long Island, a “Top Ten” U.S. course.
As for Bemis, an acclaimed teacher, he should not have any difficulty catching on for his next position. Bill Safrin, his boss for more than 20 of the 37 years Safrin was in charge at Myopia, is convinced of it.
“Mike became a fine golf professional, first and foremost, because of his talents as a teacher,” Safrin declared. “In turn, Mike developed a substantial following of students both at Myopia and on the North Shore.
“At the same time, Mike was popular with the Myopia membership overall. He also helped develop Dan (Venezio) into a fine player, which certainly aided in his being hired at Portland. I’m sure many of his friends at Myopia are dismayed Mike has left the club, and that they wish him, as do I, the best where his career path takes him next.”