Mielcarz Prepares to Bid State Amateur Farewell as Monday Marks the Start of His 43rd & Final NH Amateur Championship
Concord, NH – Nine-time New Hampshire Amateur Champion and New Hampshire Golf Hall of Famer, Bob Mielcarz is preparing to say goodbye to a tournament he’s been competing in since 1975. With the 121st New Hampshire Amateur Championship presented by Davis & Towle Insurance Group taking place at his home club of Concord Country Club, Mielcarz feels this is the right year to say farewell to the tournament where he has found the most success. Beginning Monday, July 8th and concluding on Saturday, July 13th, this six-day tournament is the marquee amateur championship in New Hampshire, now boasting a U.S. Amateur exemption for this year’s champion.
Mielcarz has been competing in the New Hampshire Amateur for over 40 years, with 2024 marking the 43rd time that Mielcarz is teeing it up. In just his third year playing in the championship, he captured his first win and from there, went on to win eight more titles, surpassing the number that Thomas J. Leonard Jr. had previously set for most State Amateur victories. Across his nearly five decades of competitive golf in the Granite State, Mielcarz has gained many fond memories, stating, “After 49 years starting at Waumbek in 1975, there are too many memories to enumerate.”
“Besides winning, I am most grateful to have had my Dad, my brother, David, and all of my children (Dan, Kara and Lauren) caddy for me at one time or another”, continued Mielcarz. “I have also had some great friends on the bag over the years—Don Mason, Tom Bazydlo, Chick Smith and Bill Krueger. And this year if I am lucky enough to play, I plan to have my two oldest grandsons (Wes and Henry) caddy for me on Monday and Tuesday. Having a fourth-generation caddying is going to be great!”
Accompanying his memories of having family and close friends by his side the entire way, Mielcarz has thoroughly enjoyed the opponents he has faced along the way that have become close friends. He said, “To me, I think of our small state as like a big fraternity in which everyone gets to know one another so well. That has been special.”
He will get to enjoy one last State Amateur with some of those close friends, along with the next generation of star amateur players that have made a name for themselves. This year’s field includes 11 past champions competing; together they make up an impressive 22 New Hampshire Amateur titles. Last year’s champion, Jack Pepin and runner-up, Rob Henley are also in the field this week, looking for another opportunity to take on the 36-hole final match. But it all begins with 156 players teeing it up for two days to determine the 64 that will advance to the match play rounds.
Concord Country Club will be on full display all week long. While it may not be the longest golf course, stretching out to just over 6,400 yards, it’s protected by its undulated greens and a few tight holes where keeping it in play will be key to success, especially for the longer hitters. Mielcarz is looking forward to the challenge of his home, stating, “Even though the course is very short, it seems to hold up well being a par-70 with one of the par 5's being 600 yards long and very tight. Plus, some of the shortest holes have the most challenging greens. Even par (140) was the medal score in 1993 and 2012. I know because I was the medalist both years.”
“That said, I do expect par to be broken but not by much—maybe 137 or 138 for the medalist and perhaps 151 for the cut to advance to match play”, Mielcarz predicts.
While Mielcarz continues to battle an injury as the State Amateur quickly approaches, he is truly looking forward to playing it one last time on his home course. He said, “When I saw that the State Amateur would be returning to North Conway, Nashua, Abenaqui and Concord over a five-year span (all courses where I had won), I decided to delay my retirement until this year so that I could go on a ‘farewell tour’ like some aging rock star.”
Over his previous 42 years competing in the New Hampshire Amateur, he has had quite a run, having played in 10 final matches, winning nine of them, along with three semifinal and three quarterfinal appearances, something no one else has been able to accomplish.
He stated, “This tournament will be bittersweet, I'm really going to miss playing after this year. I have been so blessed to have good health and a very understanding wife to have been able to pursue my amateur golf career over our entire 52 years of marriage. Elaine made many of the State Amateur weeks possible with her flexibility planning vacations in July.”
Mielcarz’s name will forever be a part of New Hampshire golf history and he knows the impact he has made on this sport in the Granite State, saying, “I sometimes tell people that my State Amateur success is my tiny piece of immortality.”
The tournament officially kicks off on Monday, July 8th at 7:30AM. The field will play 36 holes of stroke play across the first two days of competition before it is cut to 64 golfers that will advance to match play. The 36-hole final match will be contested on Saturday, July 13th. This year’s champion will also be awarded an exemption into the U.S. Amateur being played at Hazeltine National Golf Club in August.
NH Amateur | Round 1 Starting Times | Round 2 Starting Times
Mielcarz has been competing in the New Hampshire Amateur for over 40 years, with 2024 marking the 43rd time that Mielcarz is teeing it up. In just his third year playing in the championship, he captured his first win and from there, went on to win eight more titles, surpassing the number that Thomas J. Leonard Jr. had previously set for most State Amateur victories. Across his nearly five decades of competitive golf in the Granite State, Mielcarz has gained many fond memories, stating, “After 49 years starting at Waumbek in 1975, there are too many memories to enumerate.”
“Besides winning, I am most grateful to have had my Dad, my brother, David, and all of my children (Dan, Kara and Lauren) caddy for me at one time or another”, continued Mielcarz. “I have also had some great friends on the bag over the years—Don Mason, Tom Bazydlo, Chick Smith and Bill Krueger. And this year if I am lucky enough to play, I plan to have my two oldest grandsons (Wes and Henry) caddy for me on Monday and Tuesday. Having a fourth-generation caddying is going to be great!”
Accompanying his memories of having family and close friends by his side the entire way, Mielcarz has thoroughly enjoyed the opponents he has faced along the way that have become close friends. He said, “To me, I think of our small state as like a big fraternity in which everyone gets to know one another so well. That has been special.”
He will get to enjoy one last State Amateur with some of those close friends, along with the next generation of star amateur players that have made a name for themselves. This year’s field includes 11 past champions competing; together they make up an impressive 22 New Hampshire Amateur titles. Last year’s champion, Jack Pepin and runner-up, Rob Henley are also in the field this week, looking for another opportunity to take on the 36-hole final match. But it all begins with 156 players teeing it up for two days to determine the 64 that will advance to the match play rounds.
Concord Country Club will be on full display all week long. While it may not be the longest golf course, stretching out to just over 6,400 yards, it’s protected by its undulated greens and a few tight holes where keeping it in play will be key to success, especially for the longer hitters. Mielcarz is looking forward to the challenge of his home, stating, “Even though the course is very short, it seems to hold up well being a par-70 with one of the par 5's being 600 yards long and very tight. Plus, some of the shortest holes have the most challenging greens. Even par (140) was the medal score in 1993 and 2012. I know because I was the medalist both years.”
“That said, I do expect par to be broken but not by much—maybe 137 or 138 for the medalist and perhaps 151 for the cut to advance to match play”, Mielcarz predicts.
While Mielcarz continues to battle an injury as the State Amateur quickly approaches, he is truly looking forward to playing it one last time on his home course. He said, “When I saw that the State Amateur would be returning to North Conway, Nashua, Abenaqui and Concord over a five-year span (all courses where I had won), I decided to delay my retirement until this year so that I could go on a ‘farewell tour’ like some aging rock star.”
Over his previous 42 years competing in the New Hampshire Amateur, he has had quite a run, having played in 10 final matches, winning nine of them, along with three semifinal and three quarterfinal appearances, something no one else has been able to accomplish.
He stated, “This tournament will be bittersweet, I'm really going to miss playing after this year. I have been so blessed to have good health and a very understanding wife to have been able to pursue my amateur golf career over our entire 52 years of marriage. Elaine made many of the State Amateur weeks possible with her flexibility planning vacations in July.”
Mielcarz’s name will forever be a part of New Hampshire golf history and he knows the impact he has made on this sport in the Granite State, saying, “I sometimes tell people that my State Amateur success is my tiny piece of immortality.”
The tournament officially kicks off on Monday, July 8th at 7:30AM. The field will play 36 holes of stroke play across the first two days of competition before it is cut to 64 golfers that will advance to match play. The 36-hole final match will be contested on Saturday, July 13th. This year’s champion will also be awarded an exemption into the U.S. Amateur being played at Hazeltine National Golf Club in August.
NH Amateur | Round 1 Starting Times | Round 2 Starting Times