The three-time A-grade champion and greenkeeper was yesterday ­continuing the clean up of fairways he has called home since he was12. 

Mud-covered, water-logged and with almost 60 trees down the course copped an absolute battering in the super storm which ravaged the Hunter Valley seven days ago.

“It is just devastating,” the acting grounds superintendant said.

“This is the worst I have seen it in the 18 years I’ve been here.”

Much of the damage was caused by intense flash flooding last Tuesday when water made its way down the creek from the New England Highway at East Maitland to the golf course across Raymond Terrace Road.

“It was like a rapid,” Chapman said.

“It hit with such force that it moved a concrete path, knocked down trees and moved signs bolted to the ground.”

Club professional Michael Holden said he recorded 450 millimetres of rain, unofficially, in 48 hours.

“They weren’t exact figures, but we got a good 450mm in 48 hours which is our half-year average,” Holden said.

“We would average about 900mm in a calendar year, so no wonder it did what it did to the whole Maitland area.”

Holden said the damage had been less than expected despite the fact water had laid on some greens for up to five days after the storm.

“The second and the 10th [holes] particularly spent a good five days under water and normally that would choke them out with no oxygen,” he said.

“But they have actually survived and are looking pretty good, which is a bonus for the club.”

Holden said he was confident of opening a composite 14 holes on Thursday and, weather permitting, 18 holes by Saturday.

This has been made possible with of the hard work of ground staff and volunteers to clean up the course.

“A lot of the members have got around the place,” Holden said.

“Saturday was the peak with people having the day off and we had a good 40 volunteers out there.

“It’s amazing how many hands make light work and we got a tremendous amount of work done.

“It’s been very good to see that club spirit come through.” 

The golf club was one of many sporting venues in Maitland that bore the brunt of the wild east coast low conditions.

The sand-based greyhound track at Maitland Showground was swept away and the electric boxes destroyed with the high winds and heavy rain.

This has forced Maitland Greyhound Club to postpone Wednesday’s meeting and transfer Thursday’s meeting to Gosford.

The synthetic field at Maitland Hockey Centre, one of the city’s newest venues, crinkled with the force of the storm and will need to be straightened or possibly relaid.

Maitland Federation Centre wasn’t accessible for Saturday night’s Anzac Day clash between the Mustangs and Newcastle with floodwater around the outer building and leaks from the roof onto the basketball courts. 

The netball courts at Maitland Park were completely covered by water last week and a decision about Saturday’s opening round will be made later this week. 

Most grounds remained closed, according to the Maitland City Council website. These included Maitland Sportsground, Cooks Square Park, Max McMahon Oval, Robins Oval and King Edward Park.