Goodwin Park Golf Course, an 80-year-old layout in Hartford, Conn., finally opened for the season recently thanks to much-needed improvements provided by, of all things, the local chapter of the PGA of America.Until it opened for the season on June 26, municipal Goodwin Park had remained closed since last year after it, along with sister property Keney Park, had fallen into a severe state of disrepair due to what the city has termed as neglect by the management company operating the property.
The city has since fired MDM Golf Enterprises, charging that the company had failed to make necessary upgrades at both courses as per its contract with the city. In March, the city hired the PGA of America Connecticut Section as a consultant on course conditions. As a consultant, the local PGA section will oversee course operations at both Goodwin Park and Keney Park. Pat Aldrich, golf properties consultant for the Connecticut Section, is serving as director of golf course operations for the city's two properties.
City officials say a municipal audit last fall showed that MDM had failed to make the $2.4 million in upgrades to both courses that were stipulated in its contract with the city. According to the report, repairs were needed to turf on 27-hole Goodwin Park's greens, tees and fairways, including drainage and irrigation upgrades. Across town at Keney Park, which the report noted was littered with trash, needed repairs included a leaky clubhouse roof and cart paths and bridges that had deteriorated.
The report also laid blame with other city officials for failing to maintain necessary oversight.
The city, which is paying the PGA section $150,000 annually for course consulting and management services, has since spent more than $400,000 on new maintenance equipment at Goodwin Park, which has been serving Hartford-area golfers since 1930. Keney Park was declared unplayable and remains closed while a renovation under the guidance of Dusenberry Design Inc., is under way. The course, which first opened in 1927, is scheduled to reopen in April 2015.