DEMARK — Excitement was in the air as the owners of the newly refurbished Carlowden Country Club held an open house Saturday — excitement on behalf of the new owners showcasing the work they have done on the more than 90-year-old club and excitement from members and prospective members as to what changes have been made.
The biggest change has been improvements to the clubhouse — revamping the banquet facility, installing restrooms between the bar and dining room areas, bringing back a pro shop and modernizing the locker rooms.
Earlier this year, the golf course, which was established in 1925, was purchased by the North Country Golf Inc. The group of friends, Timothy J. and Tracy J. Yarina of Turin, Timothy and Trish Marten, Port Byron, Kevin and Dana Hughes, Utica and James and Lori Potrzeba, Whitesboro, plan to run the course and restaurants themselves.
“It’s been a lot of work,” said Mr. Martens.
The main focus has been to get the renovations completed and to get the course up to par.
“We’ve already have a number of weddings and reunions booked,” said Mr. Hughes.
In addition golfers have taken to the course.
“We had about 25 golfers out today despite the rain,” he said.
The new owners have demolished some of the cart storage shed.
“You can see No. 16 and 10 now,” said Mr. Hughes of the scenic holes which are now visible from the parking lot.
He noted the club has leased 50 new carts and is easing out private ownership of golf carts at the course.
The club has a fully stocked bar and restaurant.
“Our chef is Patrick Ryan who was at Memories (a former restaurant in Lewis County),” said Mr. Potrzeba. “We want to be able to offer food all the time and he can make everything.”
For the time being, however, Mr. Hughes said they will be concentrating on “taking care of the golfers,” offering lunches, dinners and snacks as well as providing meals for the banquet events.
Mr. Potrzeba said the clubhouse has undergone a “total renovation,” including updates to the heating and plumbing.
“In the future we’d like to be open year-round,” he said.
The course itself remains unchanged.
“We want to build on what we have going on,” said Mr. Yarina.
“We’re not planning any major changes, just making the course more manicured,” said Mr. Martens. “They worked on an limited budget previously but we decided whatever it takes to make it nicer, we will do.”
He noted there are no plans to change the layout of the course.
Mr. Potrzeba said most of the tournaments played at Carlowden have returned.
“We’re pretty booked up but might be able to fit in something new,” he said.
Mr. Yarina stressed the course is open to the public. Although the stockholders had opened the course to the public more than a decade ago, Mr. Yarina said the stigma remains that it is a private course.
“We are open to the public and everyone is welcome,” he said.
Members present at the open house seemed impressed with the changes.
“It’s awesome,” said John McHugh of Lowville who has been a member for 10 years. “It’s neat to have people who own it, run it. It was hard to run with volunteers. I love this course and my daughter is having her wedding here.”
“It’s gorgeous — long overdue,” said Patsy S. Makuch. who lives across the road from the course and is a long-standing member. “This is just what Lewis County needs — an upscale place. It is in the same class as the vineyard.”
Mrs. Makuch also has a family wedding planned at the golf course.
Harry Ames of West Carthage, who has been a member for nearly 50 years, said “everything is beautiful.”
“It’s not Carlowden anymore but it’s not supposed to be — it’s a new venture,” said Mary Demko of Lowville, who has been a member since 1980.
“It’s wonderful,” said Melvin Chalker of Lowville. “It’s so opened out. I like the new glass down — you can see right out onto the course. It will be nice to just come to sit and look out over the course.”
Mr. Chalker said he also likes the changes to the course website which allows a golfer to book tee times from home.
“I liked the old fireplace,” said Diane Chalker. “But it is so fresh, open and new now with it gone.”
Replacing the stone fireplace is a stone marker made by T.F. Wright & Sons Granite Foundry engraved with the Carlowden name.
“It’s beautiful — I hope they make a go of it,” said Marcia Samsa of Lowville. She and her husband Stanley have been members for 15 years but Mrs. Samsa said they were still undecided if they would return to Carlowden this year.
“I’m glad we moved on,” said Randy M. LaBarr of Carthage who has been a member for 20 years and a member of the board for the past eight years. “It’s been a struggle to keep it afloat for the past 10 years. It seems it was a good move thus far.”