Boothbay Country Club opens for the season on May 25 with renovated and new facilities. The golf course was purchased in February by Southport philanthropist Paul Coulombe.
“I’ve played this course many times, it’s worth saving,” Coulombe was quoted saying in the LCN article at the time. “I feel the club is a critical component of our community that attracts both out-of-state visitors and Maine residents.”
Last minute projects were finished on Monday and Tuesday in a mad dash to ready the facility for its grand re-opening. A new deck has been built for outside dining. “It will be double the capacity of what it used to be,” head golf pro Chad Penman said.
A staging area for golf carts located near the parking area has also been added.
The kitchen and dining room have been renovated, as well as the pro shop. “All the work is expected to be done by Tuesday (May 21) night,” Penman said.
In a “couple of years the plans call for knocking the building down and building a new one,” Penman said, adding, Coulombe is “making it a destination spot for people to come in from all over. His goal is pretty big. We all have our heads down and are running toward that finish line.”
A new driving range is being built on the other side of 18, and is expected to be finished by Fourth of July weekend. It will run almost parallel with the road. “It is close to a full length driving range, which for the local area is very unique,” Penman said.
A house, belonging to the club will be moved to make way for the driving range, and re-located to the top of the hill. The house will be used for “employee housing or whatever Mr.Coulombe deems it for,” Penman said.
Ledge was blasted away to make way for the driving range, and an estimated 20,000 yards of fill is being brought in to build the range.
“It’s a busy place right now,” Penman said of all the renovations.
“We’ve got a lot of the old members who left for various reasons that are all coming back. Everyone is getting behind it. It will benefit local hotels, businesses and everybody,” Penman said.