Published in the March 30, 2016 edition
THIS GOLFER putts at the Reedy Meadow Golf Course last week. Local golfers will be able to hit the links at either King Rail Reserve Golf Course or Reedy Meadow Friday. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Better late than never.
After being closed for over four years, the King Rail Reserve Golf Course will officially reopen on Friday, April 1. The nine hole course has been reconfigured since the course closed in the fall of 2011 before MarketStreet Lynnfield construction began.
“It’s exciting,” said PGA Golf Professional and Course Manager Donnie Lyons. “The golf course is in pretty good shape. It’s a nice early season for us.”
The King Rail Reserve Golf Course was scheduled to open last year but was delayed because the town had trouble finding a bidder to construct a temporary entrance road and parking lot off Market Street.
With King Rail Reserve officially opening on Friday, golfers will be able to play an affordable par 35 nine-hole course measuring 2,695 yards from the longest tees. There will be five par 4 holes, one par 5 hole (the 440-yard third) and three par 3s, which includes the 95-yard closing hole.
A brochure shows greens fees prices as follows:
• Weekday adult: $21 for nine holes, $31 for 18.
• Weekend and holiday: $22 for nine, $32 for 18.
There are also reduced prices for seniors over 60 and juniors 18 and under.
A weekday special (except holidays and outings) offers two players with a golf cart for $44.
Memberships will also be available. A single playing Monday through Friday will pay $900 a season; with spouse, the cost is $1,200. A seven-day single membership will cost $1,000; with spouse, $1,300. Juniors under the age of 18 will pay $300 a season and have seven days a week playing privileges.
While Lyons said the revamped golf course will attract some MarketStreet customers, he believes townspeople and residents from area communities will make up the course’s core customer base. He said King Rail Reserve’s close proximity to Route 128 will make the course a popular destination for golfers.
“Nine hole customers play for enjoyment,” said Lyons. “They enjoy the game but are not competitive. We are catering to seniors and kids who want to have fun.”
While residents will officially be able to hit the links at King Rail this Friday, Lyons noted there is more work to be done at the golf course. He said the course’s phone system is still not working due to technical issues and there is a temporary trailer on site being used as a pro shop.
Voters at Town Meeting on April 25 will be asked to approve Article 23, which would “see if the town will vote to raise and appropriate, or appropriate by transfer from available funds or by borrowing, or from any or all such sources, a sum of money for the design, construction, furnishing and equipping of a clubhouse at the King Rail Reserve Golf Course, or what action it will be taken thereon.”
One estimate for the new clubhouse is around $900,000. Lyons said the clubhouse will be a 2,500 square foot building, which he hopes will be completed by next spring.
“We will have a nice building with a snack bar, pro shop and a full liquor license,” said Lyons. “There will be a deck on the building so people will be able to see others playing.”
Lyons anticipates a formal grand opening ceremony for the golf course will take place in May.
“I am going to wait until we have good weather before we have a grand opening ceremony,” said Lyons. “I think the place is going to be fun. It’s pretty and scenic and there are going to be a lot of people who are going to come and check out the new layout.”
