Golf Summer 2018

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AFTER
THE STORM
MARCH MADNESS THROWS COURSE
SUPERINTENDENTS A CURVEBALL
By BILL BROTHERTON
The downright tropical weather of February had golfers and
North Shore course superintendents smiling widely.
And then the harsh snow, rain and wind storms of March
delivered an unexpected punch.
Nearly every area superintendent, including such veterans as
Salem CC’s Kip Tyler, now in his 37th year at the Peabody club,
Tedesco’s Peter Hasak, and Jeff Gudaitis, a 30-year vet and head
man at Black Swan in Georgetown since 2001, said they’ve never
had to deal with such damage.
It’s unlikely any course super faced challenges equal to those of
Anthony De Dominicis at Nahant Golf Club, which is mere steps
from the Atlantic Ocean.
up and running and really looking forward to year 2,” said Ahern.
Tyler, too, said he was “in great shape until that first
n’oreaster (March 2) with all that rain and high winds. We had
17 trees inplay come down. Debris was everywhere. It’s been
constant clean-up duty ever since. Every tree, it seems, dropped
something of substance. We’ve never been involved with this
much cleanup this late.”
Players at Wenham Golf Club will notice that that menacing
red cedar tree lurking in front of Wenham's fourth green is
no more. But its demise had nothing to do with the March
weather. A windstorm a few days before Halloween felled the
40-footer. Wenham general manager Norm Tarr snapped a photo
of a group of golfers standing in front of the tree the day before it
fell. “The next day, it was down.”
Tarr said the tree was at least 80 years old. “Years ago,
we moved the green to where it is now. It used to be right near the
tree and the rock wall. We’re not quite sure what we’ll do there. If
we plant another tree, it’ll be at least 30 years before it grows tall.
There is ledge there; a trap is a possibility but it’s a distance from
the green and might prove to be a difficult up-and-down for many
players,” said Tarr. “We’re looking at options now.”
By the way, Wenham is in great shape, thanks to Eric Still and
his hardworking grounds crew.
Indeed, most courses have dried out and the storm damage
debris has been cleared away.
Time to tee it up! l
Gary Larrabee contributed to this article.
Tedesco Country Club Director of Grounds Peter Hasak walks up to two large
black locust trees that were felled by strong wins in the March nor'easters.
Toby Ahern, head PGA pro at Nahant Golf Club, who along with
managing partners John Moore and De Dominicis are excited
about year 2 at the former Kelley Greens, said “That first night in
March, we survived pretty good. I learned about tides very quickly.
It was the third day, when the effects of the storm hit us pretty
hard. Ninety percent of the putting green was covered with rocks.
Seventy percent of the ninth fairway had rocks. There was water
in the pro shop, and five feet of water covered the patio. It was
devastation.”
But all is well now, thanks to the efforts of Nahant staff and an
assist from seven men from the state’s Community Service
Program. “Those guys did a great job,” said Ahern. “They worked
hard and helped us with the cleanup and to get going again.”
All of Nahant’s nine holes officially opened on March 29. Its
well-regarded restaurant Seasons has been busy as well. “We’re
Rocks and dirt littered the turf surrounding the ninth green at
Nahant Golf Club after the March storms.
PHOTOS: Spenser Hasak
12 >>> summer 2018