The Green Valley Country Club is an 18 hole championship course, located in picturesque Portsmouth, RI. Known as Newport area’s finest semi-private country club, it is open to the public.
Green Valley is not only known for its beautiful and challenging course, but it is the perfect spot for banquets, corporate functions, and wedding receptions, as well as a wonderful dining experience, and a banquet facility that accommodates up to 200 people.
Green Valley was founded in 1957 by Manuel “Manny” Raposa. Manny was the designer, construction foreman, night waterer, vegetable grower, redesigner, tree mover, superintendent, clubhouse vacuumer, flower propagator, the owner, and to everyone who worked for him, respectfully as “The Boss”. For more than 43 years he barely missed a day of work, and each day included new ideas, some were to be started, and some to be finished, some to be altered, and some still pending. They all focused on the dream he had for this special place.
Manny put his heart and soul into what had started out as an idea of a way not to have to milk cows any longer. Some thought he was taking a real risk with his vision, but others felt that if anyone could do it, Manny could. His family also sacrificed along the way as hours upon hours were eaten up along the way to rake, seed, mow, water, fertilize, to take advantage of favorable weather. or to just keep moving ahead as he thought best. Eventually his wife, Lydia, shared time at the course in the clubhouse, and his two children, Ron and Louise, spent days learning the new family game they were all invested in. Golf had become their way of life and they enjoyed it, but they also sacrificed for it. Eventually Manny’s son, Ron, would take over as Golf Professional, and then as General Manager. Now, his grandson, Ryan, works with his dad to continue on with the family legacy. Many others have pitched in along the way and continue to share the vision.
In 1957 Green Valley opened to a short, but pleasant 9 holes with 50 cent greens fees. in 1966, after acquiring more land, the back nine opened with most holes wooded on both sides. the course measured about 6300 yards, and most owners would have been happy with that, but Manny had the idea that the front 9 needed some work still. So. over the next 14 years land was added and the front was redesigned and lengthened by more than 300 yards, reducing par by 1 to its present layout. The new front opened in 1980, and Green Valley became a true championship test. Yardage could be stretched back to 6900 yards, greens averaged more than 5000sqft and the addition of fairway bunkers, irrigation system and forward tees helped to progress the dream. The two superintendents since Manny have tried only to complete the mission. Others have appreciated the efforts, but none more than the Rhode Island Golf Association. In 1995 the RIGA hosted the RI Amateur at Green Valley. This was the first time it was played on a public course. It was so successful that in 1997 Green Valley hosted the RI Open tournament. Again, the first time a public course had hosted that event. Several other state championships, high school, college, PGA junior and USGA qualifying tournaments have been played at Green Valley.
So, as you tee it up, we hope you enjoy one mans American Dream, but also become part of the collective who appreciate what Manny has accomplished. Manny left us in in April of 2000. But what he leaves behind is an invitation to know him, and his family, in a way that must be experienced, and can never be explained.
Green Valley and the Raposa Family would like to thank Gary Sykes for the above article.
