Montague Golf Club receives Phoenix Award

Vermont Business Magazine, Jun 01, 2000

The Montague Golf Club, located in Randolph, has been designated by the US Small Business Administration (SBA) as recipient of the Vermont 2000 Phoenix Award for Small Business Disaster Recovery.

In June of 1998, disaster struck the Montague Golf Club when the Third Branch of the White River changed course and came roaring through the fairways. The flood leveled dozens of trees and deposited several feet of silt throughout the area. The small club, which only recently had become a full, 18-hole course, was suddenly faced with major expenses. Volunteers from the golf club and business community helped shovel silt off the first green and cut up fallen trees, but debt soared from $225,000 to nearly $600,000.

"Had we not received help from SBA, I don't know where we would be today, said Linda Gaidys," president of Montague Golf Club.

"We salute the Montague Golf Clubs determination and resiliency," said Kenneth Silvia, District Director, SBA Vermont District Office." Making a come-back from a storm of this magnitude takes courage."

With assistance from SBA and Randolph National Bank, the clean-up was accomplished, and the river that ravaged the area is now secured with many tons of rip rap. Trees have been planted, along the river to help stabilize its banks, and drainage pipes have been installed to help drain excess water. Less than two years later, the Montague is again a fullyoperating, 18-hole golf course.

One of the oldest continuously operating public golf courses in New England, the Montague Golf Club has been in existence since 1925 and is an integral part. of the community. It. supports the golf teams for South Royalton High School and Randolph High School. It sponsors benefit tournaments, including the Chun tournament which helps support the local hospital, Youth golfers take advantage of its free clinics. And on any given morning, one, can see groups of seniors out for an early round of golf.