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Under Park’s cheap jack boot, Crestwood
began a long, slow lingering death. Stories of
his mismanagement became the stuff of legend.
Multiple members confirmed he committed
the following atrocities:
His one-man maintenance crew, his son,
had zero experience, and no idea how to
deal with turf grasses or drainage issues. He
never watered the course, aerated the greens,
wouldn’t offer reduced rates until after 6:00
PM, plus he spied on people from afar with
binoculars to make sure they didn’t play two
balls. If they did, he’d threaten to make them
pay another greens fee.
He also tried to buy seed for the greens at
Lowe’s Home Improvement.
As the years progressed, the course became as
overgrown as a lost city. Its fairways and greenswere
choked with weeds. The bunkers had vanished and
the tee boxes were swallowed by brush.
During the two decades that Park owned
Crestwood, all but seven of the original 200
members left the club. Crestwood seemed
destined for the dreaded “NLE” distinction:
“No Longer Exists.”
Finally in 2012, a White Knight appeared.
Steve Naczewicz was the PGA Head
Professional at nearbyTeugegaanda former club
champion at Crestwood. He won consecutive
titles in 1990 and 1991. He remembered the
heady days of Crestwood’s prime. Steve’s wife,
Barb Presky, was in the corporate side of the
golf business. When the unpopular Park finally
decided to sell Crestwood, Steve and Barb
were ready.
“I had many wonderful years at Teugega,
but Crestwood was always my home course,”
explained Naczewicz. “It’s where I learned
the game, and the sale of the club gave Barb
and me and our families the chance to bring it
back to its glory days.”
A tremendous task indeed.
The Parks had trashed the clubhouse and flayed
the golf course to within an inch of its life.
“Water runoffwas oneof thebiggest problems,”
Naczewicz explained. “The turf was unhealthy
because he never kept the streams and ditches
that shed the water clear of grass, leaves, and
dirt. We had to re-excavate everywhere to get
the proper runoff.”
NWO Golf Links