» Golf course brings in green – $141K

PHOTOGRAPHER: Tatiana Zarnowski

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The town is hitting the green on a golf course it bought two years ago.

The Barney Road Golf Course, a par 3 nine-hole executive course, has brought in $141,000 in revenue this year through the end of August, the town supervisor said.

Expense figures and how much profit the town made will be determined at the end of the year after final budget numbers are in, town officials said, but revenue is up 19 percent over last year at the end of August, when the course grossed $118,000.

Good golfing weather, an additional league and sponsorships brought in more revenue this year, Town Supervisor Phil Barrett said.

Without counting the sponsorships, which cost $500 for the season for an advertising sign at the tee, revenue rose 14 percent, he said.

The course was able to open a little earlier this year, as were many local golf courses, because of the warm spring. “Last year it just rained a tremendous amount. We had a fair number of days that were just complete washouts.”

This year, heat drove some business away.

“There’s always a give and take because of the weather,” he said.

In their second year in the golf business, town officials learned a lot about running a golf course and they plan to continue to pursue new revenue to make the course even more successful.

“Every year, we try to add new revenue sources and programs and make some capital improvements to the course,” Barrett said.

Some new initiatives this year include a junior league, the sponsorships and a night golfing event that is slated for 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 28.

The Night Glow Golf event allows golfers to reserve a tee time for $25, including nine holes, two glow-in-the-dark balls, a glow bracelet and glow necklace.

“It’s something that a lot of people haven’t done before,” Barrett said. “I think it’s something that’s very intriguing to people.”

Safety will be stressed at the event, with a volunteer working at each hole, Barrett said.

Also, the event is scheduled for a full moon, and the glowing golf balls may be even easier to see than a white ball during the day, he pointed out.

“You’ll be able to see a glowing ball and you’ll be able to see clearly that the people in front of you have finished the hole.”

So far, more than 30 people have reserved tee times. There are 60 total spots available.

For more information or to reserve a spot, call the town’s Office of Parks, Recreation and Community Affairs at 371-6667.

Normal greens fees are $12 for nine holes on a weekday and $13 on a weekend; 18-hole fees are $17 for a weekday and $19 on the weekend. Students and seniors get a discount.