CHICOPEE — For a week in summer 2004, the best female golfers from around the world competed in the U.S. Women’s Open Championship at the Orchards Golf Course in South Hadley.
But before the course could welcome the athletes and 118,458 spectators, several gardens were created by Steve Prothers and his team at Amherst Landscape and Design Associates, including ones at the Silver Street entrance and nearer the bleachers from where golf fans would watch the action.
“It was rewarding to be awarded that project,” said Prothers, describing the weeks of work that went into the design of the plantings as one of the highlights of four decades of running his own business. “It was a great opportunity and a wonderful experience.”
The small company, which handled mostly design-build projects on a residential scale, was recently sold to Mountain View Landscapes and Lawncare Inc. of Chicopee.
Even though acquired by a significantly larger company, Prothers sees the change as another phase for his business and career, in which he will be imparting his knowledge to others.
“I feel the best days are ahead, and I’m anxious and eager to continue what I’ve been doing for the last 40 years,” Prothers said. “My expertise is being able to envision what new or renovated landscapes can look like.”
Stephen Corrigan, president of Mountain View, recalls working alongside Prothers on a project at the Village Commons in South Hadley, with his company handling the stone pavers and Amherst Landscaping doing the plantings.
About two years ago, Prothers approached Corrigan to begin discussions about how Amherst Landscaping, which has been located on Route 47 in the Hockanum section of Hadley, could make for a good addition to Mountain View.
“Steve does a little bit different work, more residential and design-build,” Corrigan said. “The idea (of the acquisition) is to help maintain the Amherst Landscape Design name, and we also hope it will open doors for us in the Amherst-Northampton area.”
“We will work together and with our connections, people will feel they are still connected and valued through the relationship they’ve earned through the years,” Prothers said.
Mountain View already handles larger projects, such as parks, playgrounds and ballfields, with notable work including the renovation of Pulaski Park in downtown Northampton, landscaping on the Amherst College and Mount Holyoke College campuses and the living sign at the Holyoke Soldiers Home.
The company’s 75- to 80-member team includes 25 year-round employees to handle tasks such as accounting and payroll, and a team of estimators and project managers who prepare bid packages for work that is being advertised. Corrigan said there is a lot of work to do to get ready for bids.
“Our down season is not really that down,” Corrigan said.
Many of the projects Mountain View handles can take three to six months to complete with the landscape architects and engineers often having to follow specifications provided them.
The change for the companies comes as there is more competition in the field, with more startups and others in the landscaping business.
“Those who stand out are people who have done it for a while and know the work will stand the test of time,” Prothers said.
Prothers said he hopes joining a bigger company will allow him to do design work and continue to learn.
“I always had my eye on large projects, but I knew my limitations,” Prothers said.
He had to turn to subcontractors when stone walls were built or woodwork was incorporated into a design.
Some of the bigger projects Amherst Landscape handled included the Eric Carle Museum, The Arbors retirement community in Amherst and the hotels owned by Hampshire Hospitality Group on Route 9, including the Courtyard by Marriott and Holiday Inn Express.
Hampshire Hospitality President J. Curtis Shumway said his experience was good with Prothers.
“He had great pride in his work and helped his customers realize their vision,” Shumway said.
Prothers said he is “not ready to close up shop” and Corrigan’s acquisition will benefit both companies.
“I love what I do, I enjoy sharing it with people, and I think we both share excitement in continuing that process,” Prothers said.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
