Packanack Golf Course Still Being Repaired Months After Hurricane Irene

Repair work to the  continues months after Hurricane Irene severly flooded the facility last year.

Irene dumped more than 10 inches of rain on the area in late August of 2011, causing historic flooding throughout North Jersey.

The flooding severely impacted the club’s golf course. Fairways and greens were covered with several feet of water. Grass throughout the course died. Officials said the area looked like a swamp rather than a golf course.

Crews are still repairing fairways on the course and new grass is still being planted on the 7th hole. Ferguson said he hopes the club can open by May 1.

The flooding and subsequent repair work has had a negative impact on residents renewing their membership to the 47-year-old facility. About 182 people joined the club last year. Only about half that amount has signed up this year.

“From what we’re hearing, a lot of people are just waiting to see how the repairs come along,” said Robert Ferguson, the club’s general manager. “It’s a major endeavor, but in a way what happened turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Ths is our chance to start over in a way."

A new drainage system is being installed so water can receded off of the course at a faster rate. Pumps are also being installed to expedite the drainage process. The water will be pumped into one of the three ponds on the course. It is unknown how much the repairs will cost when they are complete.

“We can’t help the weather, but we’re taking steps to ensure that water drains off the course as fast as possible,” Ferguson said.

Unforuntantely, flooding has occurred on the course before, and has, in recent years, increased in severity.

“Over the course of the past 20 years, the speed at which we flood now has rapidly increased,” said Doug Vogel, the course superintendent.

Vogel attributes the increased flooding due to development along Route 23 in Riverdale and to the floodgates on the Pompton River dam.

“All that soil movement, the water just goes into the Wanaque River, which just adds to the burden of the Passaic and Pompton Rivers,” Vogel said. “It all eventually comes down here into Wayne.”

The club’s 3,500 square-foot clubhouse will also be repaired as part of the project. 

Initiation fees for new members cost between $2,500 and $5,500. Annual dues cost between approximately $1,700 and $2,400.

Ferguson said that he hopes the residents of the Packanack Lake community come together and support the club this year; he said they need to understand that work is being done to improve the course and beautify it out of necessity.

“The members of the this community, you go through thick and thin with each other and you take the time to help each other out,” Ferguson said. “It’s not like we sprayed a bunch of weed killer and destroyed all the grass and ripped up the fairways. A hurricane ripped through here. Now we’re just doing out best to make this an enjoyable place to come again.”