New Haven Country Club Hamden, CT Assistant Superintendent: January 2005 – March 2006   Website: http://www.newhavencc.org

New Haven Country Club is a private club located in Hamden Connecticut. The 18-hole golf course was originally designed by Willie Park Jr. in 1898 and was restored by Ron Prichard in 1996. Park's portfolio includes architectural masterpieces such as Olympia Fields, Maidstone, and Sunningdale (England). As a two time British Open champion Willie Park, Jr. incorporates his respect and understanding of the putting game into the design of New Haven Country Club. Its large and undulated greens provoke strategic thinking from the approach shot, while providing a challenge once on the putting surface.

Matthew Burrows, Golf Course Superintendent, established my role at New Haven Country Club to oversee all operations on the golf course, including organizing, training, and supervising the staff and daily activities. Matt and I met on a daily and weekly basis to plan and prioritize jobs, projects, and other procedures, and I was in charge of executing them, while ensuring quality remains up to standards. Other common jobs I performed include irrigation programming, course setup, spraying, monitoring daily turf conditions, hand watering and syringing, shop organization, record keeping, budgeting, and chemical inventory. I was also a regular participant at greens committee meetings and member functions.


Golf Course Superintendent
Matthew Burrows

• 17 years experience
• Director of Golf Courses 1 year - Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY
• Superintendent 3 years - New Haven Country Club, Hamden, CT
• Assistant Superintendent 8 years
  • National Golf Links of America; South Hampton, NY - 2 years
  • Myopia Hunt Club; South Hamilton, MA - 4 years
  • Winged Foot Golf Club; Mamaroneck, NY - 2 years
• BS in Turfgrass Management - Michigan State University

Golf Course Accomplishments and Highlights

• Successfully hosted 103rd Connecticut State Amateur Championship. Firm and fast conditions held entire field, with the exception of two players, to even or over par on a short 6,584 yard layout
• Removal of 200+ trees, including all flowering trees, to reclaim original architectural intent, enhance playability and turf health, and open vistas
  • Got approval for an additional 250 trees to be removed in 2006/2007
• Maintained fast and true putting surfaces without cutting below 0.125"
  • Daily green speeds of 10-11.5; Tournament – 11-13
• Increased bentgrass population on fairways by 10-15% after initial conversion program without the use of TGR, Velocity, or other Poa Annua retardants
• Established new tall rough areas on every hole of the golf course where virtually none previously existed
• Completed major drainage work across three holes into course adjacent Lake Whitney
• Aerated tees 6-8 times in one season to modify poor soil profiles and over seeded to increase bentgrass population
• Improved equipment fleet in one year with purchase of the following: 6 Jacobsen PGM's, Jacobsen AR5 rough mower, 300 gallon Toro sprayer, Chem Turf pre-mix tank, Dakota material handler with side conveyor, Kubota M5700 tractor, 2 Toro Procore 648's, Graden slicer/sander, John Deere Pro Gator 2020, 10 foot Gandy drop seeder, Groom-It motorized drag brush, and other small equipment
• Established New Haven Country Clubs first internship program; which included hiring two interns, established roles, and acquired off-course housing through club approval
• Established new training standards among entire staff
• Incorporated complete overhaul of course accessories (tee ball markers, benches, trash containers, flags and flag sticks, etc.) to achieve a classic, antiquated feel to the course
• Doubled size of nursery using aeration plugs and over seeding
• Cut water expenditures by up to 50%
• Personally developed a comprehensive budgeting system using Microsoft Excel

Staff Organization

• Greens Chairman > Superintendent > Assistant > Shop Manager, Grounds Staff, Student Interns & Horticulturist
• Full Time = 7, In-Season = 23 (15 Latinos)

Grass Species

• Greens (Push Up) - 60-70% Bentgrass (Colonial, German, Velvet, Washington, A1); 30-40% Poa annua
• Fairways (Loamy Clay) - 75-80% Poa annua/Ryegrass mix; 20-25% Older Bentgrass
• Tees (Sandy Loam) - 50-60% Poa annua/Ryegrass mix, 40-50% Older Bentgrass
• Primary Rough (Loamy Clay) - Kentucky Bluegrass/Ryegrass/Fine Fescue Mix
• Tall Rough (Loamy Clay) - Native Fescues
• Range Tee - Bentgrass blend

Irrigation System

• Rain Bird Nimbus Central, Rain Bird Heads, Flowtronics Pump Station

Budget

• Available upon request

Membership & Rounds

• 500 Golfing Members; 18,000 Rounds

Course Information

• 18 hole
• Parkland layout
• Yardage - 6580
• Par - 71
• Rating - 72.3
• Slope - 134

Golf Course Area

• Property - 130 Acres
• Greens - 4 Acres; Fairways - 25 Acres; Tees - 3 Acres; Primary Rough - Approx. 40 Acres
• Practice Facility - 175-225yd Driving Range, with 3 Tees, Mats, and Chipping Area