WESTBROOK – A Westbrook golf course that has been out of business for nearly two years has now partially reopened under its new ownership.

A short, nine-hole section is now open at Sunset Ridge Golf Course, on Cumberland Street near the Windham line, with an official “grand opening” planned for Labor Day, according to Jack Kelly, co-owner of the course.

“We’re kind of doing the ‘soft opening’ right now, working out the bugs,” he said.

The course has seen some rough times since 2010, when it closed under the previous owner, Ron Edgecomb. He bought what was then a nine-hole, par-3 course in 1985, with big plans for it. At the height of Edgecomb’s ownership, in about 2007, the 231-acre property included a nine-hole course, with Edgecomb planning to expand to 18. The course also had a clubhouse, in-ground pool, tennis courts, driving range, miniature golf course, basketball courts, batting cages, and a small, par-three course for beginners.

A fire at the 18^th-century farmhouse that served as the clubhouse, followed by a few rainy summers, led to Edgecomb losing the course to the bank, which auctioned it off in February.

After the auction, Kelly, of South Portland, and Dr. Allen Hayman, of Falmouth, bought the course for a reported $610,000.

Hayman, a Wisconsin native, came to Portland in 2002, when he and his wife were doing their residencies at Maine Medical Center. They loved it here, Hayman said, and decided to stay. Today, Hayman works as a pediatric anesthesiologist for Spectrum Medical Group, working at Maine Medical Center’s Bramhall and Scarborough campuses, and Southern Maine Medical Center.

Kelly has played in professional tournaments and worked in the golfing industry for the past 25 years. He and Hayman both run Tee N Tee Golf, a driving range on Bridgton Road. Hayman said he had played Sunset Ridge many times, and knew Edgecomb.

“I would usually go out after a night of being on-call and play nine holes,” Hayman said.

When he learned the property was going up for auction, he and Kelly both considered the possibilities.

“It seemed like it had some good synergy here,” Kelly said. “It seemed like a good fit.”

At a recent tour of the grounds, Kelly spoke enthusiastically regarding the course and its setting. On the 12^th hole, far from the road, one could hear nothing but birds and a slight breeze.

“We’re three miles from downtown Portland, and this is all you hear,” Kelly said.

But Kelly and Hayman, along with the grounds crew, have their work cut out for them. The 12^th hole and fairway are unrecognizable among waist-high weeds, and Kelly said most, if not all, of the course was this bad “or worse” when they arrived. They couldn’t even find the sprinkler heads, he said, without a metal detector.

“It was like peeling away an onion,” he said.

But Kelly said he and Hayman expect to finish what Edgecomb started, with a full 18 holes available when complete. Closer to the clubhouse, the front nine holes are in better shape, but not quite playable yet. During the tour, Kelly stopped in front of the sixth fairway, where the weeds had been removed, and the ground re-seeded, exposing the rolling hills.

“How could you not want to golf here?” he said.

Kelly said one or two of the front nine holes might be finished by Labor Day, but what is complete now is a nine-hole, par-3 course, which looked much more like a proper golf course, complete with flags marking the holes. The course is short, with the longest hole only 160 yards, and people can do the whole thing in an hour for $5.

“This, to me, is what’s cool,” he said.

The course is ideal for beginners, families, or someone looking for a short game after work, and is something most other golf courses don’t have, Kelly said.

Jay O’Leary, 58, was on the course last week, along with his grandsons Carson Libby, 11, and Cameron Libby, 13.

“We’ll come back,” he said. “A par 3 is perfect for these guys.”

O’Leary said he and his grandsons live in Yarmouth now, but he is a Westbrook native, and has a long memory for the course he remembered when it was called Westerly Winds.

“I used to be able to ride my bike here,” he said.

Kelly said the mini-golf course and driving range are also open, and more holes on the full course will open as soon as the grounds crews can repair them. The course is even preparing to begin selling memberships for next year.

Hayman said he wants the course to benefit the community, not just make money. The course has approached the Westbrook High School golf team, offering Sunset Ridge as their home course for practice. Hayman said he is also working to make the course a certified Audubon sanctuary, and sponsor local events for organizations such as the Red Cross and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Hayman credited Bangor Savings Bank’s help in working with him and Kelly to finance the purchase, and also the city of Westbrook, too.

“They have been very accommodating and willing to help out a new business struggling to get started,” he said.

As to getting back up to speed after being closed for so long, Hayman said he understands it will be a struggle at first, but already he is confident that local interest in the course remains.

“We have numerous people stop by the course each day to view our progress, ask questions, and provide moral support,” he said. “I’ve felt that the city of Westbrook views this golf course as their own and is anxious to see it back up and running.”

Sunsetridge: Co-owners Jack Kelly, above, and Allen Hayman are renovating Sunset Ridge golf course in Westbrook, near the Windham town line. The course’s short back-nine section is open for play, and the pair are working on the front nine.

 

WESTBROOK – A Westbrook golf course that has been out of business for nearly two years has now partially reopened under its new ownership.

A short, nine-hole section is now open at Sunset Ridge Golf Course, on Cumberland Street near the Windham line, with an official “grand opening” planned for Labor Day, according to Jack Kelly, co-owner of the course.

“We’re kind of doing the ‘soft opening’ right now, working out the bugs,” he said.

The course has seen some rough times since 2010, when it closed under the previous owner, Ron Edgecomb. He bought what was then a nine-hole, par-3 course in 1985, with big plans for it. At the height of Edgecomb’s ownership, in about 2007, the 231-acre property included a nine-hole course, with Edgecomb planning to expand to 18. The course also had a clubhouse, in-ground pool, tennis courts, driving range, miniature golf course, basketball courts, batting cages, and a small, par-three course for beginners.

A fire at the 18^th-century farmhouse that served as the clubhouse, followed by a few rainy summers, led to Edgecomb losing the course to the bank, which auctioned it off in February.

After the auction, Kelly, of South Portland, and Dr. Allen Hayman, of Falmouth, bought the course for a reported $610,000.

Hayman, a Wisconsin native, came to Portland in 2002, when he and his wife were doing their residencies at Maine Medical Center. They loved it here, Hayman said, and decided to stay. Today, Hayman works as a pediatric anesthesiologist for Spectrum Medical Group, working at Maine Medical Center’s Bramhall and Scarborough campuses, and Southern Maine Medical Center.

Kelly has played in professional tournaments and worked in the golfing industry for the past 25 years. He and Hayman both run Tee N Tee Golf, a driving range on Bridgton Road. Hayman said he had played Sunset Ridge many times, and knew Edgecomb.

“I would usually go out after a night of being on-call and play nine holes,” Hayman said.

When he learned the property was going up for auction, he and Kelly both considered the possibilities.

“It seemed like it had some good synergy here,” Kelly said. “It seemed like a good fit.”

At a recent tour of the grounds, Kelly spoke enthusiastically regarding the course and its setting. On the 12^th hole, far from the road, one could hear nothing but birds and a slight breeze.

“We’re three miles from downtown Portland, and this is all you hear,” Kelly said.

But Kelly and Hayman, along with the grounds crew, have their work cut out for them. The 12^th hole and fairway are unrecognizable among waist-high weeds, and Kelly said most, if not all, of the course was this bad “or worse” when they arrived. They couldn’t even find the sprinkler heads, he said, without a metal detector.

“It was like peeling away an onion,” he said.

But Kelly said he and Hayman expect to finish what Edgecomb started, with a full 18 holes available when complete. Closer to the clubhouse, the front nine holes are in better shape, but not quite playable yet. During the tour, Kelly stopped in front of the sixth fairway, where the weeds had been removed, and the ground re-seeded, exposing the rolling hills.

“How could you not want to golf here?” he said.

Kelly said one or two of the front nine holes might be finished by Labor Day, but what is complete now is a nine-hole, par-3 course, which looked much more like a proper golf course, complete with flags marking the holes. The course is short, with the longest hole only 160 yards, and people can do the whole thing in an hour for $5.

“This, to me, is what’s cool,” he said.

The course is ideal for beginners, families, or someone looking for a short game after work, and is something most other golf courses don’t have, Kelly said.

Jay O’Leary, 58, was on the course last week, along with his grandsons Carson Libby, 11, and Cameron Libby, 13.

“We’ll come back,” he said. “A par 3 is perfect for these guys.”

O’Leary said he and his grandsons live in Yarmouth now, but he is a Westbrook native, and has a long memory for the course he remembered when it was called Westerly Winds.

“I used to be able to ride my bike here,” he said.

Kelly said the mini-golf course and driving range are also open, and more holes on the full course will open as soon as the grounds crews can repair them. The course is even preparing to begin selling memberships for next year.

Hayman said he wants the course to benefit the community, not just make money. The course has approached the Westbrook High School golf team, offering Sunset Ridge as their home course for practice. Hayman said he is also working to make the course a certified Audubon sanctuary, and sponsor local events for organizations such as the Red Cross and Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Hayman credited Bangor Savings Bank’s help in working with him and Kelly to finance the purchase, and also the city of Westbrook, too.

“They have been very accommodating and willing to help out a new business struggling to get started,” he said.

As to getting back up to speed after being closed for so long, Hayman said he understands it will be a struggle at first, but already he is confident that local interest in the course remains.

“We have numerous people stop by the course each day to view our progress, ask questions, and provide moral support,” he said. “I’ve felt that the city of Westbrook views this golf course as their own and is anxious to see it back up and running.”

Sunsetridge: Co-owners Jack Kelly, above, and Allen Hayman are renovating Sunset Ridge golf course in Westbrook, near the Windham town line. The course’s short back-nine section is open for play, and the pair are working on the front nine.