Schenectady to invest $3 million in golf course

The City Council plans to invest approximately $3 million in improvements to the Schenectady Municipal Golf Course over the next few years with the goal of attracting more players and increasing revenue.

A council committee Tuesday night adopted a master plan for course improvements. The full council will formally adopt it at a later meeting. The city will then put the project out to bid to obtain solid cost figures before deciding how to pay for the project, said acting Mayor Gary McCarthy.

Payment options include bonding or funding the project in phases. In either case, city taxpayers would not assume any debt associated with the project, as the city would use greens fees for the adopted payment option, McCarthy said.

“We don’t know what the cost will be. The plan is something we would like to have and what we can afford,” he said.

Northeast Golf Company, which developed the master plan, estimated the cost of the project at $3.3 million with work done in phases. McCarthy said some work could begin this year at the conclusion of golf season.

The 18-hole, 6,255-yard course includes a clubhouse and maintenance buildings and covers 174 acres.

The first phase of the project would involve installation of a computerized irrigation system, at an estimated cost of $1.5 million, and drainage along greens. Subsequent work would involve repair, reconstruction and restoration of tees, cart paths and fairways; lengthening the golf course; tree removal and pruning; and development of a fairway bunker plan.

City officials justified the project on several grounds.

“By improving the course we will protect and enhance the golf course revenue stream,” McCarthy said. He said the course grosses $1 million annually, with the city netting between $20,000 and $100,000 of the total.

He said improved irrigation will increase efficiency, as golf course staff have to turn on water values manually, often leading to over-watering. He also said better drainage will increase speed of play by allowing the course to open quicker after a rain shower, and would allow more people to play.

McCarthy added the project would make the city more attractive. “We are talking about rebuilding neighborhoods and improving services and making people want to live in the city,” he said.

Councilwoman Barbara Blanchard said the project will save the city money in the long run. “I believe we need better drainage and irrigation that would save water. It is a quality-of-life issue. To have a reasonably priced golf course nearby and have it be in good shape, that is a fine job for government to take on,” she said.

Councilman Carl Erickson said the course has sustained wear and tear through the years and has not undergone a major rehabilitation since it was constructed in the 1930s. “It is important we invest in the golf course. It is an asset that is very valuable to the city. We have to make sure we get the most value out of any investment we make,” he said.

The city in 2003 considered selling the golf course to Schenectady County as a way to reduce debt.

The city paid Northeast approximately $12,000 for the study, McCarthy said. It worked with the Golf Advisory Committee, which McCarthy activated when he took on the duties of acting mayor in August. “I reappointed people after assuming office, and this is product they have put forth,” he said.

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