Spook Rock golf course seeks operator

With the town golf course losses estimated upward of $800,000 annually, town officials are looking to save money by hiring a company to operate and maintain the facility.

The Town Board approved a request for proposals with hopes of drawing an operator for the town-owned 150-acre, par 72 course Spook Rock Golf Course.

Acting supervisor Yitzchok Ullman speaks about his new role and the future of Ramapo in the supervisor’s office at Ramapo Town Hall May 25, 2017.

“It’s parkland and it’s staying a golf course,” said Ullman, who is running for his Town Board seat on the Democratic Party line and not seeking the supervisor’s seat.

“I pointed out that I am fearful that the town has a bad track record of entering into these lease agreements,” Weber said, referring to his comments at a Town Board meeting on Wednesday.

If the town chooses an operator from any proposals received, the town would get an annual fee the core of the proposal.

Ullman said he spoke with Orangetown officials who hired an operator to oversee losing revenue at that town’s 27-hole Blue Hill Golf Course and its nine-hole Broad Acres course in Pearl River.

A golfer lines up his drive at the Town of Ramapo’s Spook Rock Golf Course (Photo: File photo) Orangetown Finance Director Jay Bencik said the town has seen a change in fortunes since contracting with Applied Golf LLC in 2014 to run Broad Acres and in 2016 to run Blue Hill.

Ullman said evaluating and potentially privatizing the golf course is part of his promise for the town to review all departments for savings.