Matt Stout, the new course superintendent at Hopewell Valley Country Club, focuses on improving the course.
By: Tim Falls
The attention to detail is what Matt Stout hopes will draw golfers to Hopewell Valley Country Club.
The new superintendent at the course has revitalized the club with some significant changes.
Watering the course by hand is just one of the alterations Stout has instituted and he expects the club’s members to start noticing the difference.
Many did at the opening-day ceremony Saturday.Stout advocates hand-watering as opposed to irrigation because it allows for precision instead of simple saturation. By watering the course by hand Stout and his crew can make adjustments to improve specific spots on the course rather than risk over-watering certain areas and neglecting others.
It’s been a lot of work for Stout. The 30-year-old from Newtown, Pa., described a lot of it as extensive, but he expects the changes to draw in more members.
"I want there to be a waiting list," said Stout. "I want people to want to be members."
Stout took on quite the challenge by joining Hopewell Valley’s staff. The course was in a serious state of disrepair when he signed on.
"When I came to the course, there were three temporary greens, 11, 13 and 18," said Stout. "In the interview, they asked if 18 would be playable by the end of the season. I said, absolutely."
The weather last golf season ruined several spots on the course, but with some extensive treatments the course is back in shape.
"We aerified, we aggressively over-seeded, we made sure it was properly watered," said Stout, describing the efforts to repair the 18th green. "We gave it some TLC and it came right back to life."
Of all the applicants, only Stout said straight out that he could make the 18th green playable.
Stout has experience to back up that confidence.
He has been in the golf industry for 11 years, starting at Little Mill Country Club. He also has worked at Atlantic City Country Club, Pine Hill Country Club and the prestigious Pine Valley Golf Club. Stout received his certificate of turf management from Rutgers University in 1998 and furthered his education by completing a course management and superintendent program at SUNY Delhi in upstate New York in 2000.
In his time since joining Hopewell Valley, Stout has done plenty of work on the drainage on the course.
"We’ve done extensive draining," said Stout. "It’s water management. This course is either too wet or too dry. We’ve been working on a new drainage system for the fairways."
While golfers have had to put up with these projects, once they are completed the course should have an entirely new feel.
"I’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback," said Stout. "Most of the members seem pretty happy. They see the golf course is going to be improved and it’s going in the right direction."
One change Stout hopes members will notice is the course will be better able to handle rain.
"When it rains here it floods," said Stout. "I didn’t expect so many fairways to hold as much water as they did."
The work has kept Stout and his crew, first assistant Jay Kimbal and second assistant Joe Lash, pretty busy. The new superintendent credits their help for the progress the course has made so far.
"Jay and Joe are my eyes out on the course," said Stout. "They help me see everything."
Golfers can be an impatient group, but Stout said the members at Hopewell Valley Country Club have given him time to make changes that will lead to a better course.
"They know it will take time," he said. "They’ve been very supportive."
In a short speech before 90 golfers assembled for a champagne toast on the first tee before a scramble tournament on opening day Saturday, Stout highlighted several improvements, even warned golfers the greens might not be as fast as they might like. While he apologized for how that might affect their play, Stout sait it was temporary promised to speed them up as soon as he can. It will take attention to the details, but Stout is someone with a sharp eye when it comes to the condition of a golf course.

