Golf course damaged by Friday storm
Staff photo/Kevin Sjoberg
STORM RAVAGES GOLF COURSE — Friday’s thunderstorm resulted in some heavy destruction at Aroostook Valley Country Club in Fort Fairfield. The maintenance crew and several club members were on hand Saturday and Sunday to help clean up the course, including this tree which fell on the ninth fairway. Course manager Steve Leitch said more than 150 trees were leveled due to the freak weather event.
FORT FAIRFIELD – Friday night’s thunderstorm inflicted some heavy damage to Aroostook Valley Country Club.
The golf course had to be closed Saturday and Sunday after more than 150 trees were leveled, according to AVCC manager Steve Leitch.
“We had closed the course at around 6:45 due to the obvious threat of a thunderstorm,” he said. “We thought it had moved north, but then it changed direction. It was a localized event that cut a clean swath and did a lot of damage to whatever was in its way.”
The results was some massive destruction. In addition to the numerous fallen trees, damage was done to the roof of the clubhouse as well as the deck’s awning.
However, due to what Leitch called the tireless efforts of 40-plus members of the club, the course reopened Monday morning.
“The volunteer work was amazing,” he said. “They put in well over 500 man-hours Saturday and Sunday.
“It’s times like this when you see the membership come together. It proves it is a true golf club and not necessarily just a place to play golf,” Leitch added.
Leitch said that the combination of Friday’s storm and the heavy rainfall earlier in the week has made for a tough stretch at AVCC.
“The economy on both sides of the border is not the strongest, so doubled with the poor weather it has made for some trying times,” he said.
He said in his 19 years on the job he has never before experienced the type of weather that has come through during the past 13 months. A huge storm in early June of 2011 also affected the course.
“We’re in a valley so there is always the threat of thunderstorms, but you don’t expect anything as violent as what we’ve received,” Leitch added.
Despite the recent weather events, he said it will be business as usual at AVCC.
“We’ll have clean-up throughout the rest of the summer, but the condition of the course is still fantastic, from the tee boxes to the fairway to the greens. We’ll be open and still provide an excellent product.”
