The much-maligned 18-hole public links along Mulligan Drive is witnessing a renaissance, and within a year expects to be making money instead of losing it.
SOUTH HADLEY – The Ledges Golf Club had become the butt of jokes and dismissed by many as a floundering money pit – losing $250,000 or more a year.
But the much-maligned 18-hole public links along Mulligan Drive is witnessing a renaissance, and within a year expects to be making money instead of losing it.
Doug Juhasz, 48, of Wilbraham, hired as the club’s general manager a year ago, told selectmen on Tuesday the “golf course is $187,000 better off than it was in March of last year.”
When asked by selectboard Chairman John Hine whether the current deficit of $140,000 can be reduced to zero by the start of the fiscal year on July 1, Juhasz said he expects to be “close to zero.”
“Things are heading in a very good direction,” Juhasz said.
The manager said the restaurant’s new chef, John Piskor of Northampton, has renamed the eatery to “Valley View Grille” and patrons are raving about the fresh food and creative menu now in place.
Doug Juhasz of Wilbraham, general manager of Ledges Golf Club
Over the winter, the men repainted the restaurant, installed new carpeting, installed shelving behind the bar, purchased a new 46-inch television and are looking at restoring the outdoor pavilion to host large functions such as weddings in a year’s time.
Juhasz said the club plans to feature a PGA-sanctioned event in August with club professionals and their amateur students. The exact date has not yet been determined.
He said membership has increased 20 percent to 50 members from a year ago.
Despite damage caused by snowmobile tracks on a fairway in the wintertime, the “course is in very good shape,” the manager told selectmen.
A new feature rolling out is a mobile food and beverage cart.
Juhasz said the golf course was able to obtain a free three-month trial for the mobile unit.
“It’s a great opportunity for us to drive more revenue,” he said. The club restaurant at the municipally owned course will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.