Trust The Process

Walnut Lane Golf Club is the home of The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia. It is in the Philadelphia Fairmount Park system. The course is an Alex Findley design. Over the past two years, there have been some personnel changes, including the addition of Bob Sawicki, Superintendent, and Bill Hyndman V ,as the new Executive Director of The First Tee program. Sometimes change is good for everyone.
While the program had grown to be one of the tops in the First Tee nationally, the golf course needed some TLC. Under longtime Director, John MacDonald, the wheels had started to turn to begin the emphasis on improving the golf course conditions.
Walnut Lane, being part of the Philadelphia Fairmont Park system, limits the ability to remove trees "at will " and often makes the process of tree removal slower than most. Also, the long term lack of tree work has made the catch up even more of a challenge. Throw in equipment that has long outlived its life and a shop that needed upgrades, including roof repair ASAP, and it can be daunting.

With the help of local companies such as Arader, Shreiner and Asplundh Tree Companies, there has been an estimated $250,000 worth of tree work and stump grinding! The support of the local Philadelphia Superintendents Association volunteered days to help with aeration. Clubs donated equipment, such as work vehicles and a trim mower. People like Frank Shuman, Board Member and former owner of Philadelphia Turf Company, supported the purchase of a new sprayer to replace the much needing retirement of the old sprayer. Throw in a local church volunteering to help clear fence lines and some long overdue fence repair work and we are talking about progress!

It is exciting to see all the changes, in the last few years.
Being able to give the children of the program, a really good golf course, and as an additional bonus, giving the community, a consistently improving product, is great to see!


WJC