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Burning Tree Presents All-New Venue for Parent/Child Scholarship Tourney

Posted on Aug. 4, 2024  /  Subscribe 0

The MetGCSA’s Annual Parent/Child Scholarship Tournament will convene August 5 at an all-new venue: Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, CT. Our host, Steve Wickstrom, is in the midst of preparing the perfect playing field for all our members’ children (young and old) to get out and enjoy the game that is so much a part of their parents’ livelihood. 

Now in its 12^th year, the tournament is, as always, free to our members and will be followed by dinner and our annual scholarship award presentations. 

About Burning Tree

Presenting unique challenges for golfers of all skill levels, Burning Tree was founded in 1962, opening its first nine holes in 1963 and its second nine in 1965. The golf course has undergone numerous enhancements in its 62 years, boasting an updated practice range and all-new bunkers and greens that have drawn numerous U.S. Open Qualifiers and Met PGA events.

Working with Golf Course Architect Tripp Davis, Steve was involved in many of the course enhancements in his 10 years at the club, including reconstruction of all greens to USGA specifications and growing them in with bentgrass. Steve assumed the reins from Burning Tree’s super, Mike Barton, when he retired after 10 years’ service to the club.

Tripp is still working with Steve and the club, offering input on a three-phase master plan designed to enhance more than just the golf course. Phase 1, which is underway, focuses on the pool area, where restaurants, a gym and golf simulator center are being built. Also included in this phase is the installation of an all-new irrigation system. Phase 2 will target the tennis facilities, as well as the driving range and short-game practice areas, while Phase 3 will focus on clubhouse expansion.

The Road to Burning Tree

Steve has had a long-term relationship with golf. “From the time I was 13, I played golf courses in the metro-Detroit area near where I grew up,” he says. After graduating high school, Steve then spent a summer working at The Grand Traverse Resort and Spa, where his uncle was the superintendent. “I realized then that not only did I love the game, but I also enjoyed golf course maintenance,” he says.

But before settling on a career in turfgrass management, Steve pursued a year of business studies and even entered a program at Macomb Fire Academy where he received certifications in firefighting, as well as water rescue, hazardous material operations, and medical first response.

With some good life skills under his belt, Steve returned to golf course maintenance, enrolling in the turfgrass management program at Michigan State University.

He interned at Quaker Ridge under Superintendent Tom Ashfield while he pursued his degree and decided the New York Metropolitan area was where he wanted to be. With a Turf Management degree in hand, he returned to Quaker as an assistant, in 2008, and began his six-year tenure working under Superintendent Tom Ashfield. 

“Working with Tom and the rest of the crew to fine tune the course went a long way in helping me hone my skills and gain the confidence that would eventually propel me toward my goal of becoming a golf course superintendent,” says Steve.

In 20214, Steve saw an opportunity to gain another perspective in turf management. That opportunity turned into his current position as Burning Tree’s superintendent. 

Steve Behind-the-Scenes

Steve lives in Greenwich, CT, with his wife of 14 years, Tina, and their 9-year-old son, Owen. Tina works as a school nurse in the Greenwich Public School System, as well as part-time at Greenwich Hospital in the Maternity ward. Owen is a soccer devotee, playing for the Greenwich travel team. From all accounts, Owen loves school and already has his sights set on becoming a MetGCSA scholarship recipient in the future! 

Steve enjoys nothing more than traveling to faraway destinations to play a good round of golf with others in the industry. Most recently, he traveled to Scotland and, in February of 2023, to New Zealand and Australia, where he enjoyed experiencing and learning how greenskeepers manage their turf in other areas of the world.

While Steve is hard at work during the summer months, Tina and Owen vacation with her family. Then, when the Christmas holidays roll around and Steve is free-and-clear from course concerns, they vacation with Steve’s family in Aruba.

Steve is hoping Met families will take this fantastic opportunity to leave their work pressures behind and come out for some fun

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