In the wake of a devastation arises a brighter recovery for a GAP Member Club.
Berwick Golf Club lost a total of 320 trees during a severe June 26 storm. For the next six days, 40 to 60 members hauled fallen timber and debris. The golf course reopened in a week, but Berwick is still picking up the agronomic pieces.
On the road to recovery is a new GAP member benefit: the USGA Course Consulting Service. The USGA Course Consulting Service includes a site visit from an expert agronomist. Brian Gietka serves as consulting agronomist for the USGA Mid-Atlantic Region, which includes GAP. Gietka works in concert with Jeff Kinney, Senior Director of Sales & Operations for the USGA Green Section.
“When Brian does that visit at Berwick, he will be looking at trees from an agronomic perspective, so looking at turf health and playability of trees and the impact it has on playability of the golf course,” Kinney, 44, of Milford, Mass., said. “While he’s out there, he can also provide additional consulting for the agronomic leadership there beyond just looking at the trees. We’re there to grow golfer satisfaction.”
“For GAP to pull the strings to make this happen at no cost to the club … it’s an incredible opportunity.”
Berwick President Tom Cicini
Through GAP, the upcoming Berwick visit comes at zero cost to the club.
“We’re fortunate in GAP to have so many facilities with courses in pristine conditions with skilled superintendents. The USGA Course Consulting visits allow these superintendents to work with an agronomist (Brian) with a wealth of knowledge that can be used to collaborate on solutions to take conditioning, water usage, and maintenance costs to an improved level,” Steve Latos, GAP Director of Member Services, said.
During a site visit, Gietka examines components such as infrastructure, putting greens and tees. “Where can we grow from here?” is the resounding query. The club receives a detailed report that provides answers.
The timing for a USGA Course Consulting visit is divine intervention for Berwick.
Following the June 26 storm, Berwick member Scott Scheirer connected with GAP Executive Committee member Larry McClure. A conversation set the course consulting wheels in motion.
“For GAP to pull the strings to make this happen at no cost to the club … it’s an incredible opportunity. We’re humbled and gracious for it,” Berwick President Tom Cicini, 40, of Berwick, Pa., said. “Our course was decimated. Our course needed something like this. For us to get [a USGA Course Consulting visit] with the assistance of GAP is incredible. It’s something we won’t soon forget. We’re very thrilled at the opportunity.”
“Tragic events happen. In terms of disaster relief, this could be used as a blueprint,” Latos, 34, of Conshohocken, Pa., added.
If your club is interested a USGA Course Consulting visit, contact Jackson Beers, GAP Director of Membership Growth, at 610-687-2340 ext. 0038 or via email at jbeers@gapgolf.org.
GAP
Celebrating Amateur Golf since 1897, GAP, also known as the Golf Association of Philadelphia, is the oldest regional or state golf association in the United States. It serves as the principal ruling body of amateur golf in its region. The organization’s 345 Member Clubs and 110,000 individual members are spread across Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and Maryland. The GAP’s mission is to promote, preserve and protect the game of golf.
