School gets new putting green

Vernon — Glen Meadow School’s new 800-sq.-ft. putting green was created through the efforts of Boy Scout Troop 912, the Glen Meadow SWEP (School Wide Enrichment Program) members, Ballyowen Golf Club and Ray Bross Construction. The project started as a small, single hole putting green to enrich the golf program at the school in response to a request from the Scouts for a community service project the boys needed to complete their Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge. It quickly grew into a four-hole, commercial grade green when Ballyowen pitched in to provide the materials and expertise. The Kiwanis Club of Vernon Township, which sponsors the Boy Scout Troop, took ownership of the project. Over 25 people pitched in recently to complete the green in about four hours. Ellen Shapiro, physical education teacher at Glen Meadow, said she was delighted when the Scouts took on the project. She had been trying to get it done for almost two years. Even Dr. Carol Nelson, principal, was seen grinning from ear to ear when she checked on the progress. Ray Bross Construction followed the outline provided by Brad Sparta from Ballyowen and removed the top eight inches of sod and soil the week before to prepare the ground. Then the eight Boy Scouts and as many SWEP members, along with the adults, spread over 400 cubic feet of gravel and stone dust and packed it down to make a base for the artificial turf, used by professional courses. The finishing touch was to cut in the four cups that many, many students will be sure to retrieve their “hole-in-ones” from for years to come.