Mayor Richard Dionisio hits the inaugural tee shot at Harrison Meadows. Photo by Dave Donelson
The town-owned course, formerly Willow Ridge Country Club, has been awakened after a season-long slumber.
There’s still some work to be done, but golf balls are flying as Harrison residents and their guests are at play on the former private course sandwiched between Westchester Country Club and Apawamis.
“This is one of the best things that ever happened to Harrison,” says Mayor Richard Dionisio. “It’s absolutely gorgeous as it’s coming together. We’re very excited about it.”
The course sat idle for a year as the town worked to acquire it in a contentious eminent domain proceeding (at a price that’s not yet fully resolved). Troon Golf’s Indigo club management division was hired to operate the course and, once Harrison took possession last July, work began to bring the playing grounds back to life.
The first order of business for Harrison Meadows was tending to the fairways and greens, which were fertilized, aerated, and repeatedly mowed. The sadly-depleted bunkers got new sand this spring and the course conditions today are equal to many of the private clubs in the county. A full 15-bay practice range is available as well.
Nearly 300 families signed up for memberships before the course was even opened and the tee sheets for daily fee play are filling rapidly. As of now, only residents of the town can become members, and daily fee play is restricted to residents of Harrison, West Harrison, Purchase, and their guests. Tee times can be reserved online or through the club’s app. The current plan is for the course to offer both memberships and daily fee play, with members receiving preferential tee times and other amenities.
Dionisio believes the pool and tennis courts will be ready for play at Harrison Meadows around Memorial Day, but they will also be available to members only. Food service at the club will be limited for several weeks as all-new kitchen equipment makes its way through supply-chain delays but it’s hoped that full food and beverage service will be available by fall.
The golf course will undergo further major work, probably after the season ends this year. A new irrigation system is on the to-do list, as are new cart paths, a short-game practice area, and even rerouting of a couple of holes where bottlenecks slow the pace of play. Drainage issues at some places on the course will be addressed at a later date. The town bonded an additional two million dollars for those improvements when it financed the purchase.
