Big tailgate, big clean up: Ann Arbor courses ready for 10 a.m. golfers after U-M game
The University of Michigan Golf Course and Ann Arbor Golf and Outing course were both ready for golfers by 10 a.m. Sunday after the Michigan-Notre Dame game.
Kyle Feldscher | AnnArbor.com
The first tailgaters arrived at the University of Michigan Golf Course at noon Saturday. Some weren’t off the course until 1 a.m. Sunday following Michigan’s win.
Even with all the trash that accumulated during those 13 hours, golfers were still out on the course as of 10 a.m. Sunday, officials said.
U-M Golf Course employee John Phillips said the first tee time was at 10 a.m. Sunday and the clean-up crews were completely off the course by noon. The crews start by picking up trash at the first hole and go through the entire course, he said.
“If you get someone who has done it before and can organize it, it can go pretty quick,” Phillips said.
It was a similar story at Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club, where pro shop employees said all the clean up was done by 10 a.m. Golfers were out enjoying their Sunday morning round, officials said.
Phillips said there’s a large group made up of Saline High School hockey team members and their families that clean the Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club course — one that he used to work with when his son played for the team. Local high schoolers also help clean up the U-M course, he said.
Officials at Ann Arbor Golf and Outing Club said their crew of Saline hockey players and their families is usually between 50 and 60 people.
Clean-up work was continuing at Pioneer High School, another major tailgate spot across the street from The Big House, just before 1 p.m. Sunday.
It will take most of Sunday for crews to clean up Pioneer High School's parking lot from Saturday's tailgates.
Kyle Feldscher | AnnArbor.com
Ann Arbor Public Schools spokeswoman Liz Margolis said the district uses a contractor to clean up the school's parking lot the day after the game. The work will continue throughout Sunday but the lot will be ready by the time school starts Monday morning.
"The contractor's clean up crew began last night and will continue throughout the day," she said. "They estimate (the crew will need) in excess of 224 man hours for the clean up. This includes the use of street sweepers and field vacuums."
While crews worked on breaking down stages and tidying up Pioneer Sunday afternoon, the scene across South Main Street on the golf courses was positively idyllic.
A Michigan Stadium-record crowd of 115,109 took in the game and good portion of those fans enjoyed the pregame festivities on the two golf courses. Tailgates stretched as far as the eye could see Saturday afternoon.
Of course, with a large amount of people usually comes a large amount of trash. The rolling hills and the lush grass in the roughs of the two courses had more than their fair share of bottles, cans and the ever-present red Solo cups scattered among the pregame parties.
“The bigger the rivalry, the more garbage,” Phillips said with a laugh. “With Notre Dame, Ohio State and Michigan State, there’s stuff everywhere. Some of these other games, there’s not as much.”
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
popcornmom
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 4:55 p.m.
Why does Pioneer HS need to hire an outside contractor to clean up when the golf courses and the stadium contract with nonprofit groups for their cleanup? It seems to me that a school the size of Pioneer would have several clubs or athletic teams that could be paid to clean up for much less than the for-profit company they're using. The money spent on cleanup would go back into the school as a fundraiser for the club/team. With some good leadership, organization, and dedicated volunteers the cleanup would go smoothly and the school grounds would return to their tidy pre-tailgate appearance.
a2roots
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 9:19 p.m.
@Kyle, I think you are off base here and need to do some research. Yes there are displays but they are professionally put up and taken down. AAGOC usually has several large tents that are put up professionally and taken down. The main point here is the actual cleaning up of trash. I believe Popcornmom is correct. Quit paying the outside contractor and get some non-profits or school groups out there. Perfect opportunity to make some money. Just ask Gabriel Richard about their long term stadium clean up.
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 5:03 p.m.
My guess is that it's related to the stages and tents that need to be broken down. As much as students and parent volunteers can help pick stuff up, there are definitely different factors at the parking lot than there are on the golf courses when it comes to going back to normal after a football Saturday.
a2roots
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 3:03 p.m.
@Pablo and others...some people mistakenly believe that because they paid to park that they not only own the golf course but can trash it however they like. The bottom line is whatever the fee to park is does not give you the right to act irresponsibly and be a pig. Go park somewhere else if you want to be a slob. What the clean up crews have to deal with is absurd. They do a fantastic job at AAGOC.
Blazingly Busy
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 5:14 p.m.
I agree with you 100%. The slobs don't leave me with a feeling that U of M is an academic gem.
a2roots
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 4:09 p.m.
Guess I got voted down by one of the slobs that thinks their parking fee allows them carte blanche.
Pablo
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 1:35 p.m.
Can someone tell us why/how folks act like pigs when they're trashing like that? Does that impress their family members/friends nearby? Do they act that way at home?
Brad
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 1:20 p.m.
I bet the designer of the UM golf course (Alister MacKenzie, who also designed Augusta) spins in his grave for every home football game. Thousands of cars and a slew of Porta Johns parked on his course.
a2cents
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 2:10 p.m.
That was then, this is now. It's all about the $$$.
Blazingly Busy
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 12:56 p.m.
Who pays for the clean up at Pioneer? I drove by around noon yesterday and was horrified by the trash. The sheer amount of trash was ridiculous. I realize that AAPS/Pioneer makes money by letting U of M utilize the grounds for parking, but how much of a profit is actually coming in once you pay contractors to pick after adults who are disrespectful of their surroundings. U of M is supposed to be such an educated and cultured school, but judging by the Pioneer school grounds...well...never mind. I don't want to be edited out.
Elaine F. Owsley
Tue, Sep 10, 2013 : 2:33 a.m.
Not everyone who attends the games, or tailgates, is or has ever been a student at U of M. Just because they support the team doesn't mean they have any real affiliation.
Wheelz 88
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 2:42 p.m.
Well its 50 bucks to park there and like 2000 or more cars parked there so im sure they can afford to pay a clean up crew.
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 1:22 p.m.
I definitely don't disagree, Blazingly. No one likes having guests over and having them trash their house.
Blazingly Busy
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.
Kyle, I still think that the game attendees need to be more respectful. Period.
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 1:01 p.m.
Blazingly - The district pays the contractors to clean up. They also take home all the money from parking on the lot.
Ricebrnr
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 10:54 a.m.
I turned south from Packard onto State yesterday and couldn't believe the amount of trash on lawns and in the street.
A2comments
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 10:31 a.m.
Who gets the Pioneer parking money if the district is paying for cleanup?
Kyle Feldscher
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 1:03 p.m.
AAPS gets the money from the parking fees, A2.
Elaine F. Owsley
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 10:27 a.m.
Do the cleanup crews make any money from the returnable bottles and cans?
Leahpanda
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 3:22 a.m.
How abou the stadium cleanup. Did you see all the Pom poms that get left. Father Gabriel Richard students and parents have been cleaning the stadium for years and have it done in a few hours. Way to go local students and families.
a2roots
Sun, Sep 8, 2013 : 6:18 p.m.
The clean up crews do an absolutely tremendous job. Unfortunately many tailgaters have little respect for the wonderful setting they have the pleasure to enjoy. Far to much trash and widespread mess left behind. Come on people show some class and clean up your area.
PhillyCheeseSteak
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 1:07 p.m.
A messy person who likes other people to clean up his/her trash!
Blazingly Busy
Mon, Sep 9, 2013 : 12:57 p.m.
Seriously, who voted down?
Kyle Feldscher
Sun, Sep 8, 2013 : 6:10 p.m.
All credit to these clean up crews. As someone who was out on the courses yesterday, I was very surprised when I was told the courses were all cleaned up and ready to go.
Lizzy Alfs
Sun, Sep 8, 2013 : 7:03 p.m.
This is pretty amazing. I just drove by on my way to the grocery store, and was wondering what time people started cleaning the golf course because it was spotless. As someone who lived near State/Packard in college, I know the city will leave notices and then ticket people who don't clean their yards after a game, too.