Plans Revealed for North Adams Country Club's Transformation
Plans are in place to renovate North Adams Country Club over the next few years and transformed into a 71-par, 18-hole course. |
CLARKSBURG, Mass. — James Basiliere, owner of North Adams Country Club, shared his vision for a 71-par 18-hole course and revamped clubhouse and banquet hall with the Planning Board and about 20 residents Thursday evening.
"As a nine-hole course, it just can't survive," Basiliere said, in providing an update on the work for the board. "It doesn't bring enough people in, we can't do enough rounds. We have a short playing season, I think everyone knows that."
Basiliere, who has been building golf courses for 12 years with East Coast Shaping and previously did contract work for courses, said the old style of the current club is unsustainable when competing with other courses like Waubeeka and Taconic in Williamstown.
The course, which will be re-named, may open as a nine-hole course as early as fall 2014. Basiliere said, however, he won't rush it if the green isn't mature enough to handle the constant foot traffic.
Citizens were concerned about environmental issues regarding wetlands and run-off. Basiliere addressed these concerns by explaining that he strives for the highest level of Audubon certification, which is a joint effort between the U.S. Golf Association and Audubon International that promotes conservation and green approaches in golf course construction. He will also work with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
In addition, Basiliere will feature "encapsulated" greens in proximity to environmental sensitive areas so that any drainage under the green is captured in a holding tank and then used in the irrigation system. He also said chemicals won't be used in a lot of areas.
"I've been doing this so long ... Design, construction, drainage, environmental, I've done it all," said Basiliere, who is also a licensed general contractor in the state.
Others were skeptical about how marketable this course will be, but Basiliere said he hopes for it to become a "destination location."
"I want to bring in people like people that would go from here to play The Ranch ( in Southwick), for example," Basiliere said. "There are a lot of people here that can say, 'Yeah we play the ranch it's a great golf course.' I want the people that live near the Ranch to say, 'Yeah we play that golf course.' That's my intention."
The course had been operated for more than 100 years as a publicly operated club until 2011, when financial troubles threatened its closure. Basiliere stepped in, as Clocktower Nominee Realty Trust, to ensure the golf course would not only continue, but would be completely renovated.
Work at the River Road course has been apparent over the past year, as the heavily wooded entrance and edges of the course were cleared and excavation begun.
Basiliere hopes the course can add another 15 to 20 new jobs and is confident it will create the town more income. He also hopes to bring back spectator-friendly tournaments to offer more family oriented events.
The plan and timetable is very fluid because Basiliere still needs to acquire more property where some of the back-nine holes will be and permits from the state and town.
The course's name will also be changed. Basiliere said there will be a contest for a new name, where the winner will get a free membership.
Basiliere also said the course is done burning for now and he will be acquiring a woodchipper.
Tags: golf, golf course,
