Town of Louisville may take over Massena Country Club; golf course will open this year either way

By Andy Gardner

LOUISVILLE – The Town of Louisville may take over the Massena Country Club, but a country club official says the golf course will open later this year, regardless.

“We’re in the process of negotiating that possibility,” said Town Supervisor Larry Legault. “Hopefully either February or March, a decsion will be made on which way it’s going to be going forward.”

The New York Power Authority owns the actual land. Massena Country Club, Inc. owns the buildings and equipment. Tim Peets, president of the Massena Country Club Board of Directors, said they “are in a position to open this year” regardless of whether the transfer happens before the start of the golfing season.

“The Massena Country Club Board of Directors has been discussing a possible transition from a privately run golf course to a municipally run golf course with the town of Louisville. The talks are currently ongoing, and we have no further comment at this time,” Peets said in an email.

Legault said the town would only take over the golf course if it can sustain itself.

“It’s got to be self-sufficient … by membership or greens fees or something like that,” the Lousiville town supervisor said.

He said the town wants to see the country club remain open, regardless of who runs it.

“It’s a recreation facility that’s been on the Town of Louisville for over 80 years,” he said. “We definitely want to see it open and continue to be a golf course.”

The Town of Massena had discussed possibly taking it over, but they’ve stepped aside after Louisville expressed interest.

“We had offered back … beginning of 2020 that if Louisville and the Town of Massena could work together to keep that alive, we were willing to look at different options,” Town Supervisor Steve O’Shaughnessy said. “Larry Legault felt he wanted to work on this project. So we said ‘ok, fine.’”