Sunday River Golf Club

[Bandy1080]

Some sketchy business going on at one my favorite courses in Maine -

 

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/golf-group-continues-to-sell-and-market-memberships-to-premier-country-club-despite-no-longer-owning-it

[walpy]

Oh tell me about it... lots more has been going on as well but maybe it will all come to light now that it's getting a little attention

[Bandy1080]

Interesting, I have heard stories as well. I just hope they figure everything out for this season. I am good for at least ten rounds there a year.

[AllstateMaine]

Harris doesn't have a leg to stand on here. They've been doing sketchy things in the golf business here for close to two decades. They over extended themselves and instead of selling off some of their lesser known courses...they opted to "take from Peter to pay Paul" which resulted in bounced payroll checks to employees. The root of the problem is Dick Harris, his sons really aren't bad folks.

 

Sunday River has new owners and it's only a matter of time before something happens with one of Harris' other courses. My guess would be Old Marsh is next

[walpy]

100% agree it'll be Old Marsh, and sooner than later

[call_me_fishmeal]

just an FYI, The new ownership group is pretty much the same folks that bought Stow Acres (my home course) last year and Black Swan several years before that. The playbook is pretty much the same as well (pick up the mortgage at a discount, force a transfer of ownership after a default). One year in to new ownership at Stow.... There has been a tremendous amount of (long over due) course work. It's still a work in progress but literally, I can see improvements every day. I think the folks at Sunday River will be happy with the new owners

[walpy]

just an FYI, The new ownership group is pretty much the same folks that bought Stow Acres (my home course) last year and Black Swan several years before that. The playbook is pretty much the same as well (pick up the mortgage at a discount, force a transfer of ownership after a default). One year in to new ownership at Stow.... There has been a tremendous amount of (long over due) course work. It's still a work in progress but literally, I can see improvements every day. I think the folks at Sunday River will be happy with the new owners

 

I've heard good things about your club, but I think the only problem may come from this not getting settled prior to the season opening

[cguerin3]

Hopefully they figure everything out soon because this is a great track

[AllstateMaine]

Get your popcorn ready boys. This is getting interesting..

[ChrisNH]

Any new news on this? I live only an hour away and play at least 15 rounds there each year and was actually considering joining this season.

[walpy]

Any new news on this? I live only an hour away and play at least 15 rounds there each year and was actually considering joining this season.

 

Haven't heard much lately - I assume it's all tied up in court docs or something. I'll ask around though, sure somebody knows something

[ChrisNH]

Haven't heard much lately - I assume it's all tied up in court docs or something. I'll ask around though, sure somebody knows something

Hear anything new?

[Bandy1080]

Posted on the new "Sunday river country club" website.....

 

To All Golfers:

 

As many of you are aware, Sunday River Country Club is now under new ownership. Newry Holdings, LLC d/b/a/ Sunday River Country Club is the new owner and operator of the golf course. Based upon public announcements made by the prior owners of the Golf Course, golfers that have purchased passes from Harris Golf, SR Golf or any other entity associated with Harris Golf, may request refunds from Harris Golf or can utilize those passes at the other facilities listed on the passes. In addition, recent newspaper articles indicate that Harris Golf has offered to refund any golfers who purchased memberships for the 2017 season.

 

Sunday River Country Club is not accepting or redeeming any passes purchased from the previous ownership. For the 2017 season we will not be having a membership/annual pass available for purchase. We will review the situation at the end of the year and make decisions for possible annual passes for 2018 at that time. Lifetime members should also contact Harris Golf concerning their contract with SR Golf. Sunday River Country Club is not extending any benefits to the holders of those memberships.

 

We are very excited to be involved with Sunday River Country Club and the entire Newry community. We are beginning work immediately to improve the condition of the course and making the entire experience at Sunday River Country Club an enjoyable and fun event for all. We look forward to your feedback as we progress during the year.

 

[ChrisNH]

Interesting... I wonder if they'll remain associated with Golf Now...

[TUGolfer06]

Any idea what type of ship Newry Runs? Sunday River is on my "to play" list this summer. I'd hate to see the course conditions fall off...

[walpy]

Any idea what type of ship Newry Runs? Sunday River is on my "to play" list this summer. I'd hate to see the course conditions fall off...

 

What this guy said give me hope...

 

just an FYI, The new ownership group is pretty much the same folks that bought Stow Acres (my home course) last year and Black Swan several years before that. The playbook is pretty much the same as well (pick up the mortgage at a discount, force a transfer of ownership after a default). One year in to new ownership at Stow.... There has been a tremendous amount of (long over due) course work. It's still a work in progress but literally, I can see improvements every day. I think the folks at Sunday River will be happy with the new owners

[AllstateMaine]

I'd expect the same great conditions from the new owner. SR's season is a little different than southern Maine's...it gets a really late start and stays great into the late fall/foliage season. They hold on aerating until really late in the season to make sure it's playable during prime time

[Bandy1080]

Well I am in a bit of a bind. I have almost $500 worth of vouchers from Harris golf that are now useless at Sunday river. I have left countless voicemails and sent numerous emails to Harris requesting a refund. At this point I am not sure what I can do. This is borderline fraud.

[ChrisNH]

Well I am in a bit of a bind. I have almost $500 worth of vouchers from Harris golf that are now useless at Sunday river. I have left countless voicemails and sent numerous emails to Harris requesting a refund. At this point I am not sure what I can do. This is borderline fraud.

They run other courses in Maine that you can use your vouchers to play. You should be able to find those courses via their website or a web search.

[AllstateMaine]

Well I am in a bit of a bind. I have almost $500 worth of vouchers from Harris golf that are now useless at Sunday river. I have left countless voicemails and sent numerous emails to Harris requesting a refund. At this point I am not sure what I can do. This is borderline fraud.

 

Harris Golf owns/operates at least 6 other courses in Maine...

 

Old Marsh (Wells)

Penobscot Valley (Orono)

Falmouth (Falmouth)

Highland Green (Topsham?)

Mere Creek (Brunswick)

Freeport (Freeport)

Wilson Lake (Wilton)

 

Old Marsh is a newer course, pretty decent course and it's your closest option from Cape Cod. Penobscot Valley is an old Donald Ross track just north of Bangor and probably your next best option. Falmouth is semi-private and it's my favorite track around, it's just outside of Portland. The rest are either 9 or 18 rehab jobs.

[AllstateMaine]

Harris Golf Update:

 

Reliable source at two of his courses confirmed that Harris Golf has lost Old Marsh last week and almost lost Falmouth CC but was bailed out with a $20K cash infusion loan (even though $20K is chicken scratch in the golf operations business....keeps the payroll good for another pay period)

 

He's all done.

[sir_templar2]

Harris has always been sketchy. I remember getting the full court press from him whenever I used to enter his store in South Portland.

[AllstateMaine]

Harris has always been sketchy. I remember getting the full court press from him whenever I used to enter his store in South Portland.

 

I remember that as well. He was worse than a stereotypical, creepy used care salesman. I remember when you'd walk in there was a mountain of ProV boxes that he'd use to sweeten a trade or get you to buy...I swear they were hot because he gave them away like candy

[Bandy1080]

So anyone play the course yet? Curious on the conditions.

[sir_templar2]

So anyone play the course yet? Curious on the conditions.

 

I'm curious as well. I'm hoping to play there sometime in August.

[ChrisNH]

I'm playing it Sunday for the first time this season. Will post here what I find.

 

There's only 1 review on golfadvisor from this year and it was from last week. Not good. They say they've played there a bunch of times over the years and it's been great, but this year it needs serious TLC. :(

[Bandy1080]

I'm playing Saturday. I will report as well

[Bandy1080]

Played yesterday. Course was in good not great condition. Some dead spots in some of the fairways and tee boxes. Ninth hole seemed to be the worst. I'd say it's playing like it did a couple of years ago after that record snowfall year.

 

My biggest complaint was how slow the greens were. They were obviously keeping them long so they looked nice and green. Again not a big issue.

 

Still had a great time and will head back out there when I am up in a couple of weeks.

[jdl]

 

My biggest complaint was how slow the greens were. They were obviously keeping them long so they looked nice and green. Again not a big issue.

 

Still had a great time and will head back out there when I am up in a couple of weeks.

 

Interesting, I have the same complaint about the greens at Stow (same ownership). They look good and are in good shape, but slowest greens I've played in a long time. I saw Dave Carlson at the course a few weeks ago and mentioned it. He said they do want to get them faster eventually, but IBIWISI.

[Bandy1080]

I will also say that my round was extremely slow due to a golf group of 20 guys ahead of us. Teed off at 8:30 and wasn't done until after 1:30. Called into the pro shop to try to speed it up but I'm not sure it made a difference.