Goodrich- For Jake Allen, nothing spells winter fun like zipping head first down a snow covered hill on a plastic sled.
Yet for Allen, and other area youths that frequent the snow covered slopes of the Goodrich Country Club golf course’the wintertime rides may now be limited.
‘It’s a great sledding hill out on the golf course,? said Jake, 14, a student at the middle school and Hegel Road resident. ‘The distance you cover coming down is great, and it’s close to home. It’s fun, too, when my friends meet there on snowing days.?
Jake’s colorful plastic sled may cover a few less miles during the winter after club members erected several hundred feet of snow fence last year around the perimeter of the course to discourage snowmobilers, skiers and sledding enthusiasts from utilizing the inclines. The plastic fencing also crosses the incline just behind the country club building, in the path of a popular sledding area.
Kim Berly, Goodrich Country Club manager, says the decision was made on Jan. 16 following a very light snowfall.
‘The sledders and snowmobilers came out and they did damage to the course right after the dusting of snow,? said Berly. ‘I’m sad that we can’t let the kids sled there anymore, but it’s just very costly and too damaging to the course.?
Bob Root, Goodrich Country Club treasurer and committee member who lives near the course, supports the sledding ban.
‘Last year’s damage was the worst,? said Root.
‘Three greens and six tee-boxes were damaged as a result of snowmobilers? the steel cleats in the track really cut up the sod. The grass on the hill near the country club where kids sled was worn down to dirt. When spring comes and golfers get out there, it’s two months before all the repairs are completed. We figure it cost about $15,000 to $20,000 to repair the course each year after winter.?
Root added that the golf course is private property and although it’s been utilized as a ‘public? sledding hill for many years, such activity is considered trespassing.
‘The police are aware of the problem and have been working with us to patrol the course when possible.?