PORTSMOUTH, R.I. — Shortly after Roger Turcotte became golf course superintendent at Montaup Country Club in 1966, he built the back nine holes along the shore of Mount Hope Bay, making it an 18-hole course with sweeping views to the Bristol shore.
Under his management, the 143-acre course became rolling greens — and green fairways (used to be sandy fairways) — dappled with water hazards and sand bunkers, and landscaped with small trees and bushes.
“Everything you see here — I’ve done every tee, every tree, every bunker,” Mr. Turcotte, a Little Compton resident, said. He added that in 1966, “There were no waters, very few bunkers, no grass on the fairways.”
Nine men, including Mr. Turcotte, care for the course in rotating shifts every day of the week, starting at 6 a.m. during the week and at 4:30 a.m. on weekends. A semi-private club, with daily tees open to the public, it is open year-round, weather permitting.
To have this course ready all year, the greens are mowed nine times a week, the fairways mowed twice a week, and the tees three times a week. Tee cups are changed out daily. Each fall, bent grass seed is spread over the entire golf course. And that’s just a short list. Mr. Turcotte said, “I’d have to sit you down for an hour” to go through all the work put in on this course.
“It’s been my livelihood,” Mr. Turcotte, who is in his 44th year as superintendent. “We’ve made vast improvements from when I started.”
Now, the club has an 8-year waiting list to become a member, Mr. Turcotte said. “We’re one of the premier golf courses in the area. Everybody wants to belong here.”
Unfortunately for Mr. Turcotte, the golf course has also been a target for late-night reckless drivers. Most recently, Andrew Westerkamp, 19, of Bedford, Mass., was charged with vandalism, reckless driving, obstruction, and possession of marijuana, after his severely damaged 2010 Toyota Corolla was found mired in the 10th hole sand bunker on Feb. 27.