More than a week since Tropical Storm Isaias powered through the northeast, Bethpage State Park remains in recovery mode, with the Yellow Course and part of the Blue still shut due to extensive tree damage.
In the hours following last Tuesday's storm, fallen trees were a common sight across Long Island communities, a good indication that areas like Bethpage -- no stranger to post-storm tree damage -- would be heavily impacted. The park slowly reopened its courses over the next few days, but Yellow and Blue were hardest hit.
"All tree damage and hanging branches," says Andrew Wilson, Bethpage's director of agronomy. "We're working our way through the courses."
Slowing down the recovery process is regular maintenance and mowing that can't be interrupted even by a powerful storm. "Grass doesn't get the hint, so we do have to keep up mowing," Wilson says. "We can't let tees, fairways and greens go a week without it."
There is no update yet on when the Yellow and Blue front nine will reopen. Stay tuned for news.
