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The storm flipped a golf cart and a tree fell on it at the Hill-N-Dale Country Club golf course in Tully.

(Sarah Moses | smoses@syracuse.co)

TULLY, N.Y. -- A Tully golf course superintendent knew he had to get golfers off the course immediately as a storm approached Thursday evening, so he jumped in a car, drove as fast he could on the course and beeped his horn.

"I looked up to the sky and it was completely white," said Bill "Carl" Grygiel, Hill-N-Dale golf course superintendent. "I knew I had to get the guys off the course quick."

He got in a convertible and drove on the course where 20 golfers were playing at various holes. Players are not used to seeing a car going 50 mph on the golf course, Grygiel said.

"Most of the golfers made it off the course before the rain started," he said. "I had to pick up one that was walking."

Grygiel said the rain hit hard and came down the hill like a waterfall. As he exited the golf course he could see trees breaking and across the street from the course he saw the power line burst into flames.

"I saw a big explosion," he said. "It was a huge burst of flames."

The road in front of the golf course on Route 80 between Markham Hollow Road and Apulia Road was closed all night and reopened this morning. Several power lines are on the side of the road. National Grid, D&D Power Inc. and Verizon crews are on the scene this morning.

Grygiel and his crew are busy cleaning up the course where about 15 trees were damaged or knocked down during the storm.

"We're open today," Grygiel said.

About 38 golfers are due to hit the course this afternoon.

Grygiel pointed out a golf cart that was flipped by the wind and crushed by a fallen tree limb.

"I'm just glad no one was in that," he said. "No one was hurt. That's what's most important."