Putting Green is the Latest Addition to the Pennswood Sports Center
Pennswood Village’s New Putting Green
Photos Courtesy of Barbie Bromley and Yoma Ullman.
On June 15, nearly 80 residents (and one dog) warmly welcomed the new putting green to the Pennswood Village Sports Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration. The 9-hole putting green is an addition to the already existing bocce ball and croquet courts, creating diverse choices for all to enjoy at the Pennswood Sports Center.
“It’s very similar to miniature golf. You simply play with a putter,” says Jack Williams, Pennswood resident and member of the Sports Center Committee, “but the obstacles are the slope and the “quickness” of the green that controls the rolling speed of the ball.”
The Committees
Pennswood residents Todd Waymon and Jack Lane demonstrating how to play
At Pennswood Village, there are several resident committees that promote physical activity around campus. The Sports Center Committee is charged with promoting outdoor sports activities on campus in general, while the Bocce Ball Committee, the Croquet Committee, and the Putting Green Committee are responsible for arranging lessons, managing tournaments and encouraging play of each specific sport at the Sports Center. Therefore, tournaments on the new green will be scheduled and promoted by the Putting Green Committee.
The addition of the putting green has been several years in the making, but after residents began the Bocce and Putting Green Committee and later passed around a petition to have a putting green installed, Ben Hoyle heard the residents loud and clear.
Now residents can happily play the green on their own, with a team, or in a tournament, without ever having to leave campus.
The Turf
The new putting green adds another colorful element to the Pennswood Village campus. The artificial turf is like a carpet, made from polypropylene, and protruding “grass” blades. To finish the artificial surface, sand was swept over the surface to fill in the space between the grass blades. Finally, the surface was rolled with a power roller to achieve the desired rolling speed for a well-putted ball. The green surface is very similar in look and behavior to natural grass. It is more comparable to natural grass than a nylon turf that you might find on a miniature golf course, which is harder and bouncier.
The new turf harmoniously blends with Pennswood’s natural, green campus. The bocce court, croquet court, and putting green in the Sports Center fit together seamlessly, creating variety in the surrounding landscape.
Yet Another Wellness Opportunity
Pennswood resident playing the green
The putting green offers yet another wellness opportunity to residents on the Pennswood campus. In addition to amenities like our walking trails throughout scenic woods and meadows, the bocce and croquet courts, the fitness center with personalized fitness programs, and the 60-foot lap pool, the putting green is one more option to practice active living.
“We’ve found that friendly competition makes exercising more exciting,” adds Jack Williams. “Since golf is already well understood, we are expecting lively action on the putting green.”
Whether you prefer to swim, walk, bike, run, or play, there are amenities to do it at Pennswood Village. Don’t see your favorite activity on the list? The putting green is just one example of how residents bring their favorite activities to campus. The residents at Pennswood direct their own events and activities, so if you wish to see another event or activity, you can always take action to start something new.
Don’t know how to play? For residents who would like to learn how to putt or play bocce or croquet, contact one of our committee members for a free lesson. For more information, call Pennswood Village at 866-740-4977.