'Aggressive' construction starts at Sunday River

Golf Course News, Jun 2003 by Rice, Derek

BETHEL, Maine-While plans are in the works for an official groundbreaking here at Sunday River Golf Club, construction is moving forward aggressively, according to Susan Duplessis, corporate communications manager for Sunday River.

"The 18th tee box and fairway are shaped, and work has begun on the driving range," she said. "The area for the clubhouse is being cleared and other miscellaneous work has begun as well."

Site work is also ongoing for the ninth fairway. As for the official groundbreaking, Duplessis said Sunday River is working with Robert Trent Jones Jr. to schedule a date when he can get up to Maine to be the guest of honor for a ceremony. At press time, they were shooting for the late-May to mid-June timeframe.

Boothbay Harbor-based Harris Golf, which owns and operates two other courses in Maine, is handling construction of the course, which began within a week of the April 11 official closing the land deal. The course, which Harris will own and operate, is scheduled to open in summer 2004.

The stone-and-log clubhouse will be built using native lumber from the Maine woods. Details are still being finalized, but the finished product is intended to be a reflection of the natural surroundings at Sunday River.

While the construction plan is ambitious, Duplessis said she did not forsee any delays in opening the course as scheduled.

Golf Course News will continue to follow the development of the course at Sunday River in future issues.