Forest Hills Golf Club makes a welcome return
Join the Club by John Patrick
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Forest Hills Golf Club closed at the beginning of June.
The greens, then more than 20 years old, had been suffering for about 18 months and a hard freeze in December 2022 was the final blow.
It was time for them to be replaced and it was decided that there was no time like the present. The club would be able to take advantage of the warm summertime weather and the peak grass growing season.
A team that had also consulted with Augusta National came in to do the work. The plan – there’s always a plan – was that the course would be closed until at least early October. As the process progressed, the plan became more fluid. Early October became October and then Helene came calling.
If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.
The destruction was, as it was for the entire community, unbelievable. Massive. Close to 2000 trees fell. Just last week, a group of maintenance folks from Augusta National stopped by the course and proclaimed that Forest Hills had suffered more damage than any other course in the area.
But last Saturday morning, five months after closing, Forest Hills opened up for play. Early Saturday saw the familiar groups of members and their usual Saturday foursomes. I had the pleasure of hitting the first tee shot. Play opened at noon on Saturday and they’re open right now.
There is still an enormous amount of debris just off the fairways and into what’s left of the woods. It will be there for a while. But I have to say this – and yes, I’m biased – what is left is wonderful and will get even better. Some of the new sight lines and vistas created by the downed trees are wonderful. The lack of trees will undoubtedly help when it comes to the future turf conditions.
Oh, about that turf. The greens, the reason the club closed in the first place, are spectacular. I will admit, I had my doubts. But the greens I played on Saturday morning rival any greens in the region.
There’s a long way to go before things go back to whatever passes for normal, but this is a big step in the right direction.