What’s old is new at Spring Valley
The renaissance that has occurred at Spring Valley Country Club in Sharon, Massachusetts has been nothing short of spectacular. On August 6th of 2006, club president Alan Antokal had returned from a golf trip in Canada only to find his home course in dire straits. The heavy rain coupled with the heat and humidity had made for a dangerous combination. The majority of the greens were lost. As Alan looked at the smelly rotting greens a quick decision was in order. Thankfully for Spring Valley, the right man was in charge. Over the next thirty days the club hired an architect and were playing on temporary greens as large earth movers began the recreation of one of greater Boston’s finer private courses. This is nothing short of miraculous when you consider the inter club politics that can often slow down or stop any club project.
Antokal immediately called Craig Schreiner of Schreiner golf. Schreiner had recently completed the green renovations at Belmont Country Club, a Donald Ross course in Belmont, Massachusetts. Schreiner recommended to the membership, as he had done so some 18 years earlier, the replacement of all the greens. The design of the greens did not allow for proper drainage and that was the culprit in the greens demise. They had lasted for some 35 years, but this drastic approach was necessary. The first shovel went into the ground nearly one month from the day that Antokal saw the greens.
The construction crew worked feverishly during the fall growing season and Antokal again helped expedite the process by using materials such as washed sod. Although more exspensive than regular sod or even seed, the wash sod would take to the top soil instantly. Antokal also solved another problem by coupling the crew to help solve another problem that had plagued Spring Vallely, the drainage system. The result is a course that beginning on June 1st of 2007 primetime. Nearly one year to the day, the club is hosting a Massachusetts Golf Association Championship, the Senior Fourball. It is incredible all of this has happened in just one year.
I recently played Spring Valley for the first time. I regret not playing before the renovations because I did not have anything to compare it to. I will say that the course is a unique blend of a classic New England style parkland course only the twist are modern greens that do not depend on large sloping front to back or back to front greens. Instead they resemble the modern greens with little subtleties that will take several times of playing to detect. The membership deserves credit it to, their patiences and understanding of the dire circumstances that surrounded the club has in the end brought the members closer together. When I played in the one-day member guest I could sense a pride and accomplishment for each and every member and I must say I can’t blame them.
