The Subaru dealership Charlie Shuman acquired 25 years ago on Western Avenue in Augusta has grown into eight separate franchises, all under the umbrella of Charlie’s Motor Mall. Beginning with 17 employees, Charlie’s now has 240 people working for the company, which sells more than 6,000 vehicles a year, making it the state’s largest dealership in one location.

Shuman is semi-retired now, spending winters in Florida while ceding day-to-day operations to his son Steve and daughter Elissa. Years ago, he found relief for the stress that comes with any large business when he took up golf.

“No. 1, I’m a businessman,” he said. “When I’m on that golf course everything goes out of my mind except the golf. And you meet so many wonderful people playing golf.”

Shuman has been as good for golf as the game has for him. Eleven years ago he agreed to be the major sponsor of the Maine Open, which today is known as Charlie’s Maine Open. For the first time since 1960, the tournament will be held at the Augusta Country Club, Shuman’s home course.

“He fought hard to have it in Augusta,” Steve Shuman said.

Charlie Shuman said its a happy coincidence that the tournament will be held at his home course on the 25th anniversary of business, and although he’s lobbied to have the tournament at Augusta in the past, the decision belonged to the Maine State Golf Association.

“He did not push for it this time,” MSGA executive director Nancy Storey said. “He’s really in the background.”

That’s not to say Shuman won’t push for the tournament in the future.

“We’re hoping to continue to have it here for a few years,” he said. “It’s good publicity for the club.”

In addition to showcasing a number of good pros from New England and beyond, as well as the state’s top amateurs, the Pro-Am at the Maine Open is the largest fundraiser for the MSGA’s scholarship fund. Each year, the MSGA awards $1,500 scholarships to high school graduates attending college and pursuing careers in golf. They are renewable for up to four years, which means the organization committed $78,000 this year to the 13 recipients.

Also going into the scholarship pot is Shuman’s $20,000 sponsorship of the tournament each year.

“He really believes in our scholarship fund,” Storey said. “We’ve given out over half a million dollars since he started.”

Shuman didn’t take up golf until he was an adult and his son was old enough to play.

“It was a good way for him to get away and spend some time with me,” Steve said.

The two still play at least once a week. Shuman took lessons from Augusta Country Club pro Pete Hatfield.

“He was definitely a beginner type player,” Hatfield said. “I think he got down to a 14 handicap at one point in time. He’s great to play with, he’s fun. He’s a giver. He enters all those charity tournaments and sponsors a lot of cars.”

Steve Shuman said Charlie’s sponsors 18-20 hole-in-one automobile giveaways a year. And that the company has paid enough in insurance money over the past 10 years to buy five cars. Charlie Shuman scored a hole-in-one in a charity tournament at the Augusta Country Club a few years ago and won a car. Although he sponsored two cars in the tournament, this one belonged to O’Connor Motors and he donated it to the animal shelter in Augusta.

“We needed about $20,000 more to reach our goal,” Shuman said.

Charlie and his wife Nancy are both animal lovers and each year host a charity auction at the Augusta Country Club that raises thousands of dollars for their favorite cause. They also raised money for humane shelters in Waterville and Lewiston.

“We just love animals,” said Shuman, who has five cats and two dogs. “They relax you, they stand by you.”

This week and each summer the Maine Open is held, Shuman’s focus is on golf.

“He’s awesome,” Storey said. “He doesn’t do a lot of talking, he does a lot of doing. The best way to describe Charlie is just genuine.”

Gary Hawkins — 621-5638

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