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Schenectady to invest $3 million in golf course
Thursday, September 8, 2011
By Michael Lamendola (Contact)
Gazette Reporter


SCHENECTADY — 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....................................>>>>..............................>>>>..........................http://www.dailygazette.com/news/2011/sep/08/0908_golf/

A question of priorities? No money for needed animal control officers but another $3 MILLION dumped into the muni golf course. This is what every home buyer wants? Not walkable streets but a golf course with $314,000 golf pro. Acting Mayor McCheese says it is good!

     City sheeple go pick up your mail at the post office and reelect these incumbent morons. 2% of the profits for the City-31% of the profits to the golf pro. Its hard to take contributors on a ride with animal control.

McCarthy and his friends don't go to the Hill or MP, they spend most of their time on the golf course.

Why would they put money in safety of the streets?

I thought the $3 million was for a new golf pro. By Schenectady standards that's a bargain.

yep, rachel and u know this as a fact? or are u just guessing? what is YOUR proof?

The proof is McCarthy is putting $3 million into a golf course when the neighborhoods are going to hell.

What kind of proof do you want. That's how he's spending our taxpayer money.

the proof about your statement here: McCarthy and his friends don't go to the Hill or MP, they spend most of their time on the golf course.

, where is your proof?

otherwise it is just another malicious statement ...

Okay, maybe you're right Smokey, golf season is almost over and McCarthy will be desperate for votes in November, so he'll probably be walking in MP in the fall. Oh, tell him to get some mace, their might be a few stray pit bulls around.  

I have never seen McCarthy over in MP or on the Hill, but I don't go there as much as I used to. He probably started hanging out there frequently just as the areas got really dangerous, and that is why nobody sees him there. I used to see BS driving that jeep around, with a scowl on his face and a phone up to his ear, usually returning from Niskayuna, or sometimes he would be jogging, in Niskayuna. Never saw him in MP or Hamilton Hill or anywhere but downtown, upper Union, or Niskayuna. Wonder what kind of official business he had to take care of in Niskayuna on a Saturday?

Quoted from Madam X

Wonder what kind of official business he had to take care of in Niskayuna on a Saturday?

probably grocery shopping - or spending more money outside the city limits.

I personally think the three million should be spent on infrastructure. People in the upper Union area, in the Plum/Garner/Lexington vicinity have been having unusual water problems in the last couple of days. Also noticed problems in the Union/Brandywine vicinity. It seems like maybe some of the really old pipes are failing due to the extremely high rainfall and stormwater can't be carried away. Homeowners have been trying to deal on an individual basis but it appears to be too big a problem for them to handle. It does seem odd for basements to be filling up this far after the hurricane.

The entire City has poor storm sewers. Our inland lake, aka Gary Hughes Park, has reopened at the old KEM Cleaners parking off Erie. Thanks God Kem and Trustco HQ fled for Glenville. What happened the SOS hi-tech center on Erie Blvd? lol. A vacant Trustco HQ and some pigeons.

     No money for full time dog catchers, no money to pay the schools nor County, no money for improved street lights but $3 MILLION for the muni golf course. The only time these idiots show in HH/MP is before election time. As Madame X brilliantly stated it's a question of priorities. The top priority is free passes for DEM contributors and to keep one $314,000 golf "pro" in the chips. Everyone else go to hell and good luck beating the pit bull to your car.

Sell the freakin' golf course. It's not like it's the only game in town for God's sake!!

benny has some sage advice, once again.. I will get on the phone with my man, McCarthy, and share it with him, because we all know Benny is a genius as solving problems

That explains alot. Still waiting for your first coherent post. Buy the condo at ALCO and move in from the sticks.