Maine Golf is pleased to announce Todd Brackett as the recipient of the 2022 Dave Child Volunteer of the Year award. This accolade is named in honor of the late Dave Child, a longtime volunteer for Maine Golf. Through the years, Child served as a volunteer in numerous capacities for the association, including on the Board of Directors, as a rules official at championship events, a Course Rating assistant, tournament scorer, and junior golf volunteer.
Brackett is the Sherriff of Lincoln County and has been in law enforcement for 35 years. He grew up in Maine and has been around the game of golf his whole life, dating back to his early years where he played golf for Gardiner High School. He developed an interest in the Rules of Golf from another official at the Maine high school championships in the early 2010s, and was later steered in the direction of Randy Hodsdon, Maine Golf’s Director of Rules and Competitions. Brackett later attended his first USGA rules seminar in 2015, and has been every year since to pursue his love of the rules.
Brackett serves in whatever role is needed at Maine Golf tournaments, and he’s often seen at championship sites as the starter on the first tee. “I enjoy the interaction with the players, which is one reason I like the starter position,” says Brackett. “Of course, I am fascinated by the rules of golf and their nuances and truly enjoy sharing that with players as a rules official.”
Outside of Maine Golf events and his job as Sheriff, Brackett also serves as the head coach of the Lincoln Academy high school golf team, a position he’s held since 2008. He has his own great memories of junior golf from his earlier days, which “solidified the lifelong commitment to the game” that he still has today. “For me coaching is just another way to hopefully pass that along to the next generation of golfers,” he admits.
Brackett has a lot of great memories of Maine Golf events over the years, where he’s volunteered at numerous men’s and women’s events. “I truly enjoy watching competitive golf unfold,” he says. “I enjoy the players and the camaraderie with other volunteers and Maine Golf staff. Perhaps it’s the stories from the players and volunteers I love the most, from folks who have witnessed or been part of it.”
Congratulations to Todd Brackett on being named the 2022 Dave Child Volunteer of the Year award winner. And thanks to all of our volunteers who help us on and off the course throughout the season!