Thumbs-up for the golf course; also for social membership

In the Bellport Country Club Property Public Workshop report prepared by VHB Engineering, out of 385 respondents including 204 Bellport Village residents, golf received the highest rating on experience with 81 percent giving it four or five stars. Tennis and food and beverage weighed in at 53 to 57 percent, giving those categories four and five stars.

In January of this year, Purple Horse Hospitality provided a report analyzing the current country club conditions and offered recommendations. Then VHB set up the workshop.

Mayor Maureen Veitch said that over 200 people walked into the Sept. 25 workshop at the country club campus. Stations for people to comment—there were four—gave the public opportunities to write in their experiences and what they would like to see. It was a similar response to Bellport’s Waterfront Management Commission Workshop held a year ago, which also had over 200 people attending.

“[Village clerk] Mary Pontieri and I were by the door, and we know some didn’t sign in,” Veitch said. “But I was surprised and pleased with the participation that they cared enough to come.”

It was also revealed that 31 percent of those who participated in the Sept. 25 workshop were willing to pay for a social membership—that is, those not interested in golf/tennis could access other amenities, including food and beverage offerings.

Veitch said she wasn’t surprised.

“I think people in general long for community. We’d get it at Wallen’s Market, an old-fashioned grocery store which had everything (the store is now Copper Beech, offering beautiful houseware items, some food, pantry items and beverages as well as catering). Also, before Amazon and the malls. Anything that provides that opportunity to gather is wanted. There’s been a long-standing request for a ‘hang’”

She referred to Small Business Saturday this past weekend, where people strolled, visited the stores, caught up with each other, and participated in the chamber’s soup contest, a big hit. (Avino’s won with the chicken corn chowder!)

Veitch couldn’t comment on Peter’s on the Green, which serves breakfast and lunch, or the Bellport Country Club wedding and event venue. “They are in negotiation with us,” she said. “The caterers lease is up in May of 2027; Peter’s on the Green’s lease is up the end of 2027.

“We need a plan that seriously considers our demographics: who is going to use it. Bellport has a lot of part-time owners. Food offerings could be seasonal, certain days, or hours for members.”

Veitch said the board would make their decisions over the next four months or less.

“So much is already happening,” she said. “This month we dredged Howell’s Creek that runs alongside the golf course. We’ll be planting native plants on the east side; it’s an environmental move. The turf is eroded and they put in coir logs, then bring in the soil. We had to get five permits to do this. And you can only dredge at certain times a year. It’s a $400,000 project just for the dredging.

“The project started four years ago. Initially, it was to invest in what’s causing the erosion. We felt 80 percent could be mitigated, then applied for a grant.”

Veitch said the village is also in the process of redesigning the bridge on hole 10, “but we have to wait to determine what the water level will be because it goes over Howell’s Creek.”

Veitch commented there were a lot of deferred maintenance issues. “Our buildings, roads, technology, sidewalks are among them. Just as an example, our air conditioning at the Community Center went out two weeks after I was elected. It cost $30,000 and the Kids Camp was starting,” she said. “The biggest piece is being smart about priorities. It’s like owning a home.”

The Bellport Country Club report is available at Village Hall and online.