Blizzard Damage Delays Cranberry Valley Opening

HARWICH – The February blizzard took its toll on Cranberry Valley Golf Course, knocking down between 70 and 80 trees and delaying the opening of the course. The front nine holes will not be available for play until at least next Monday.

The course traditionally has a soft opening on or about St Patrick's Day, said Director of Golf Roman Greer, but because of the storm-related conditions, the back nine holes were to open on Monday (March 30) and the front nine on Monday, April 6.

 “It’s been the sound of chainsaws,” Greer said of activity at the municipal course over the past few weeks. “It was reminiscent of the tornado.” On July 23, 2019, a tornado ripped through Harwich knocking down an estimated 3,000 trees on public property. The municipal golf course lost about 200 trees in that storm. Golf maintenance Superintendent Shawn Fernandez said the blizzard was the second worst storm he has experienced in his 27 years, citing the tornado as the first.

 The blizzard came with hurricane force winds and the front nine holes of the course suffered the brunt of the damage, said Greer. Holes one, two, eight and nine were pounded, he said. 

The entire staff has worked to clean up the golf course, he said. The maintenance department worked on the back nine holes where less damage occurred and was able to remove and clear the damage. The major obstacle was a big tree that came down in the apron to the 18th hole, although it did not cause a lot of damage as it fell in the open area and was easily cut and removed.

 “My crew has done an unbelievable job. The five guys have been working sun up to sun down, Monday through Friday, cutting off around greens and tees. We’ll be doing this through mid-summer,” Fernandez said of the removal of stumps and hanging branches.

The most significant damage occurred on the front nine holes. Town Administrator Jay McGrail, who has a history of managing golf courses, informed the select board last week that he would be seeking a $45,000 reserve fund transfer to hire Bartlett Tree Experts to come in and remove the downed trees along the edges of fairways. 

Greer said Bartlett would start this week with two crews working to remove the trees with the goal of the full course opening by April 6, he said. The fairways are in good shape, Fernandez added, but the felled trees and hanger branches along the edges need to be addressed.

 “We got really lucky,” said Greer of the lack of serious damage to the greens. “Over the last few years we’ve cleared the areas of trees around the greens and tees.”

Greer said on March 27 that the plan was to open the back nine holes to golf on March 30 for a $40 fee. No golf carts will be allowed. He advised golfers to call in for tee times, adding that the pro shop will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

 “We’re shooting for April 6 for a full opening with golf carts,” Greer said.

 Greer said the driving range remains open year-round with access when there is no snow or ice around. Residents and the Monomoy High School golf team have been using the driving range.

 “People are itching to play golf,” said Greer. “So many of the courses on the Cape have been impacted and they are scrambling to get up to date. I think they’ll all open at about the same time.”

 Greer said the financial impact of the delayed opening will be minimal, since early season golfers are usually local players with memberships and fewer greens fee players.