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Sunnydale Country Club seeks taller poles for tennis and pickleball courts; board closes hearing for decision
Summary
Sunnydale Country Club asked the Greenburgh ZBA to allow replacement and addition of poles with 65‑foot netting to reduce stray golf balls; the board heard design, safety and wildlife questions and closed the hearing for decision, scheduling deliberation for Feb. 19.
Sunnydale Country Club representatives told the Greenburgh Zoning Board on Jan. 15 that rising participation in tennis and pickleball and increased golf‑ball carry justify replacing existing poles and adding new ones to raise netting to 65 feet. Counsel Helen Mauch and engineer Zach Pearson said the project replaces 11 poles and adds six new poles along exposed court edges to reduce the risk of errant golf balls landing on play areas.
Why it matters: Club officials said increased play and modern equipment have raised safety concerns where the courts abut golfing holes. The club sought an area variance to permit the taller poles and accompanying netting.
Board members asked about alternatives, including full‑cover netting versus taller poles, potential visual impacts, and bird entanglement. The club said full covers would create large sags, impair play (especially lob shots) and be far more expensive; the netting vendor and club president said the proposed netting is designed to let birds fly around the structure and that the taller poles would reduce—but not eliminate—ball intrusions. Several board members asked for additional materials (photos and clearer visual context) before final decision.
What the board did: After questions and discussion the board indicated it would close the hearing and take the matter up for decision on Feb. 19, 2026. No final variance was granted at the Jan. 15 meeting.
Next steps: The club may provide any additional visual exhibits requested by the board and the ZBA will issue its written determination at the scheduled decision session.
