Murray State University Athletics
Linksters Help Miller Golf Course Ice Storm Clean Up
2/16/2009 6:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
Story by Michael Dann
Murray Ledger & Times
There's home and then there's other places we like to call home.
Consider Miller Memorial Golf Course, one of those places the
The
Will Snodgrass, director of golf at Miller Memorial said that there wasn't a part of the golf course that wasn't affected.
“Essentially all 18 holes had damage to them,” Snodgrass said. “Some had more damage to them than others, but I would say we lost eight to 10 trees and then the ones that we didn't lose, still had a collection of debris underneath them.
“I will say we were fortunate that none of the tee boxes, fairways or greens were affected.”
In order to help with the cleanup, Snodgrass got on the phone and put out a request to both men's and women's golf coaches Eddie Hunt and Velvet Milkman.
Milkman and her girls worked in two shifts this past Saturday, while the men's team finished cleanup work on Sunday.
“Velvet was instrumental in scheduling the golfers to come in to assist and she also gave her time all day on Saturday to help.” Snodgrass added.
“The teams worked tirelessly to help remove the debris left on the golf course. Not only did the teams pick up all the limbs and cut trees, but they also went hole by hole raking up the smaller sticks and pine needles.”
For Milkman, it's part of being able to give back to a staff at Miller Memorial that has already given so much to her and her team.
“We're fortunate that we get to call Miller our home. For us to help out there, would be just like helping out at our own home. I truly think they enjoyed it in a lot of ways. It was a very ?proud feeling' they were able to take away from the experience.”
For Snodgrass, he expected weeks, maybe even months for the course to retake playing shape.
As it stands right now, the course is already playable.
“I can't express how grateful I am to the teams, the members of Miller and also the employees who have helped make this clean up so rapid. I anticipated the removal of all the fallen limbs and trees to take weeks. As it is, the course is almost clear. This really has been a terrific example of student-athletes giving back to the place that hopefully gives them so much.”
