Business has been steady at Colonial Acres Golf Course during its first month open under a private operator.
PGA golf professional Dale Ezyk has been running the course since the beginning of April, after the town agreed to a three-year operating contract with the option to renew.
Ezyk said the recent “unspring-like” weather had him concerned, but as the days grew hotter the amount of play has increased.
“I have nothing to compare it to, so I’ll just say I’m not yet ready to jump off of a bridge,” he joked.
In order to introduce himself as the new owner of the golf course to the community, Ezyk has scheduled an open house weekend to begin on Friday, May 17. There will be raffles, golf contests with prizes and free lessons for new players.
“I intend to make CAGC a fun, activity-filled place to be, and I’ll try to convey that,” he said.
For the event, Ezyk will be partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Albany. All of the proceeds from the weekend will be donated to the organization and through a new partnership, children enrolled in the program will now be able to golf for free at the course when accompanied by their “big.”
“There are qualities inherent to the game of golf that will serve anyone well if practiced in their everyday life,” said Ezyk. “Sharing a game of golf with a young person is a means of practicing and promoting these values by example rather than sermonizing about them. I think the ‘bigs’ are always looking for affordable activities to do with their ‘littles,’ and we are very affordable.”
Jessica Mansmith, director of development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Albany, said she was excited by the new relationship formed between the organization and Colonial Acres.
“A lot of these kids wouldn’t ever have the opportunity to learn the game of golf, so we’re appreciative,” she said.
Ezyk said the partnership is part of his long-range vision for the course to become a unique place for people both young and old to learn the game.
Depending on his finances, Ezyk said eventually he would like to replace the existing clubhouse with something bigger to allow for a small food area.
Recently, a “learning center” has been started at the golf course with a practice putting course, hitting nets and mats for honing ball striking skills. A third set of tees for younger players called “Wee Tees” were also added. The tees are closer to the greens, making it more fun for the 5- and 6-year-olds playing there.
“My goals for the club are to make a fun, welcoming environment for anyone to come and escape the everyday hubbub of life,” said Ezyk. “Enjoy the sound of the birds, the fresh air and beautiful surroundings. I want to introduce new players to the game and help the seasoned player play better.”
The town opted to no longer fund operation of the golf course in the 2013 budget. Officials had previously projected the nine-hole, par-three course to run at an annual loss of $40,000. Scheduled capital improvement projects could have seen the town spending up to $270,000 in the coming years. Under the operating agreement, the town and the Open Space Conservancy will split some of the course’s profits on a sliding scale.
The grand opening and ribbon cutting is set for Friday, May 17, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Colonial Acres. The Open House weekend is May 18 and 19 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.