The weather was perfect for golf Friday, but only geese roamed the greens at the Evergreen Hills Golf Course in the town of Oswego.
The nine-hole course, which opened in 1972, is closed.
With its ownership mired in foreclosure proceedings, it's not clear when, or if, it will reopen.
That worries John Damiano, one of several homeowners whose lots abut the links. If someone doesn't resume maintenance of the property soon, it may require intensive work to make it golfable again, he said.
"It's going to be a hayfield by the end of June," Damiano said. "You can't stop the grass from growing."
William Pritchard, of Thompson Road in the town of Oswego, is the owner of the property. According to county land records, he bought it in 1999 for $190,000. The 36-acre lot on county Route 20 is assessed at $230,000.
Pritchard has not returned several telephone messages left over the last two weeks. He was not home Friday afternoon.
County records show that Pritchard has not paid taxes on the golf course since 2000; he owes $35,376 in county, town and school taxes.
Pritchard also is behind on his mortgage payments, according to County Treasurer John Kruk. As the county's chief fiscal officer, a court appointed Kruk trustee of the estate of Phil Scozzari in March of 2003. Scozzari designed and built the course 32 years ago and his estate holds the mortgage on the property, Kruk said.
Kruk has hired a lawyer to begin foreclosure proceedings on the golf course. Kruk said he did not know the amount Pritchard owes the estate.
Damiano said the golf course was busy and seemed to be doing well last year.
"They had leagues four nights a week," he said. The clubhouse closed in February, Damiano said.
"I went over to get a beer one day, and the place was locked up," he said.
Plants in the clubhouse have died. Outside, grass is growing around abandoned golf and lawn care equipment. Sixteen golf carts are parked in the lot. Flags remain on several greens, now dotted with dandelions.
Town Supervisor Victoria Mullen said she hopes the course can reopen. "It's been a little golf course here since I can remember," Mullen said.
Source: The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)
