Committee recommends town does not purchase Black Birch Golf Course

The tee box for the former third hole at Black Birch Golf Course is overgrown.

By Peter Marteka

The town shouldn’t get into the business of driving ranges, fairways or greens. That was the recommendation from the Black Birch Golf Course Feasibility Study Committee.

The seven-member committee was formed last winter to evaluate the potential purchase and restoration of the 18-hole course for use as a municipal or public golf course. They made a report to the board of selectmen Aug. 19.

“The committee believes the course should be purchased by a private owner/operator,” read the 14-page report’s concluding statement, “perhaps a joint venture between an experienced and well-capitalized residential developer, current ownership, the Banner Estates condo association, and a professional golf course management firm.

“The town should be supportive of the efforts of potential private developers to facilitate the revival of the course,” the reported added, “and the completion of the residential community pursuant to an appropriate revised plan.”

The committee was made up of chairman Alan Ponanski, secretary Jeffrey Miller, Stephen Longobardi, Donald Lorusso, Michael Morris, John (Jef) Wolter and Daniel Zimmerman. The committee held regular weekly meetings from March through June as well as several special meetings and field tours and meetings at the course.

“In this region, how many 400-acre districts are there where the town actually wants a golf course and residential development at a fairly significant density,” Miller told the board. “We’ve got a rarity in a very anti-development state of Connecticut where the town is willing to support proposals to resume residential development and restore the golf course and make this a truly successful planned golf community.”

The committee estimated if the town purchased the course, it would need $4-$10 million in improvements to get it back to playing condition – which is estimated to take 3-5 years. And that estimate didn’t include the purchase price. The fairways and greens have all been reclaimed by Mother Nature and the committee noted everything would need to be plowed under with a lot of tree removal. There’s also not enough land for a driving range, no banquet facility, pool, tennis – all potential revenue drivers.

Some of the holes would have to be relocated due to septic systems being placed along the fairways of the former first and ninth holes. Echo Pond would need to be dredged. There are also too many unknowns with water availability and cost.

“The ship has a lot of holes in it,” First Selectman Todd H. Gelston said of the town’s potential purchase. “This would be a huge investment with little return.”

Selectman Erik Dill said he doesn’t want to see the golf course become homes.

“I want to see the open space,” he said. “Whatever we can do to protect the open space. Would I love to see a golf course there? Absolutely. I think it should absolutely remain a golf course. Your conclusion didn’t surprise me.”

Gelston is hoping to meet with the owner and work out some kind of plan for the future because a golf course would bring commercial expansion and bring new businesses to town. He’s hoping for some sort of public/private partnership with the town being a facilitator.

“I’m not a golfer, but I see golf courses around the state being used,” he said. “I don’t see idle golf courses anywhere except here...What’s going on now I don’t like. It looks very negative. It’s not really making the best use of the property.”