It seems Abby Spector has packed a lifetime of golf-related accomplishments into her 27 years, but the Waterville native has lots more to do.

This season, the seven-time Maine women's amateur champ is Director of Golf Instruction at the Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in New Hampshire's White Mountains. For the past couple of years, Spector has worked as an assistant pro at Val Halla Golf Course in Cumberland.

During her time at Val Halla, she specialized in clinics, lessons and started a successful junior program for young girls.

"I knew her by reputation and I have a lot of friends in the business who speak very highly of her," Balsams Director of Golf Doug Ruttle said. "It's rare to find somebody who can be a player and an instructor at the same time."

Although Spector still plays occasionally, her competitive career effectively ended with a life-threatening heart condition following surgery four years ago. Spector, who also has a New England Amateur title and two tournament victories as a member of the University of North Carolina golf team to her credit, became the youngest person inducted into the Maine Golf Hall of Fame last year.

Spector was hired in part to resurrect the Balsams golf school.

"They used to have a golf school here and it kind of tapered off," she said. "One of my goals is to bring that back."

Spector's husband, Josh Kerschner, was also hired by the resort course as a golf assistant.

"The job is really a step up in our careers," Spector said. "We're both really excited."

Last winter, the pair worked at Gasparilla Golf Course in Boca Grand, Fla., where Spector served as an assistant pro and gave lessons.

"The more lessons I give, the more problems I solve in people's swings," she said.

Although there is a small membership at The Balsams, most of the business and instruction is driven by hotel guests. There are two courses, an 18-hole course higher on the mountain and a nine-hole course near the hotel where much of the instruction takes place.

"It's beautiful," Spector said of the course, which opened last week. "You can see the mountains from every hole."

While in Florida, Spector also continued work in the PGA's professional golf management program.

"I'm almost done with Level I," said Spector, who has eight years in all to complete the three levels necessary to become a full-fledged member of the PGA.

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Toby Spector, who is Abby's younger brother, recently turned pro after graduating from Skidmore College. He plans to compete in Maine and on the New England circuit this summer, in addition to attempting to qualify for the U.S. Open.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com