New owner at Bluff Point

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A golfer fires a shot toward the 18th green. P-R Photo / Andrew Wyatt
Golfers putt on the 18th green at Bluff Point Golf Club and Resort. P-R Photo / Andrew Wyatt
Paul Dame, owner of the Bluff Point Golf Club and Resort, sits in front of one of the golf course rental cabins. P-R Photo / Andrew Wyatt

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June 19, 2011

DAN HEATH Press-Republican The Press Republican Sun Jun 19, 2011, 03:28 AM EDT

Bluff Point Golf Club and Resort is under new ownership.

Paul Dame now owns the course, doing business as Bluff Point Golf LLC. He acquired the course from a company owned by his father, David Dame, in April.

"I've been operating the course for the last five years. I had full control," he said. "I had a lease option agreement and always planned to take the option to own the property."

Dame said it took about 18 months to finalize the deal. He now plans to continue improvements to the course that have been taking place during his time in charge.

One is installation of a fully automated irrigation system. Another would be to refurbish the sand traps.

The club has a number of cabins and suites for its "golf & stay" packages. Prices start at $79 per person per night midweek and include two rounds of golf and unlimited use of a golf cart during your stay.

Cabins sleep four to eight and feature a full kitchen, while suites sleep two or four, with mini-fridge and microwave.

The units have barbecue grills out front, while some also have hammocks and picnic tables.

Dame said he also plans to add lodging amenities.

The property has a sand beach a short stroll from the lodging. Canoe and kayak rentals are available.

Bluff Point has a long and rich history, and is considered to be among the oldest resort courses in the United States. Dame said the original course was built in 1890.

It was built by the D&H Railroad, the company that also built the Champlain Hotel on the present site of Clinton Community College.

The present course was designed by renowned golf course architect A. W. Tillinghast and opened in 1916. He is known for his designs at Winged Foot, Baltusrol, Bethpage Black and Aronomink, some of the most prominent designs in the sport.

Tillinghast's design features are seen throughout the course, but especially in the undulating greens. The severe slopes are the reason the greens have to roll slower than some other courses in the area, Dame said.

The second, seventh, 16th and 18th greens feature the most severe slopes.

Several holes offer views of Lake Champlain, the Green Mountains and Adirondacks.

Club officials are already planning a 125th anniversary celebration, which will take place in 2015. They will again feature a variety of monogrammed clothing, as they did for the 100th anniversary.

Golfing legends such as Walter Hagen and Gene Sarazen have visited the course.

The course plays to a par of 72 and features an unusual layout, with five par-5 and five par-3 holes. The design includes back to back par fives to finish the round.

Dame said the course did suffer some damage to the cart path along the fifth hole caused by the record flooding on Lake Champlain this spring. The hole remains playable, he said, and full repairs will be made once the water recedes and work is approved by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Dame said he would like to restore the shoreline and install stone columns with lanterns about every 100 feet, with landscaping between.

"The fifth hole will be better than ever," he said.

There are both standard tournaments and charity events scheduled through the season.

"We plan to have a tri-county long drive contest, with different divisions," Dame said.

That idea came from local golfing enthusiast Roger Brown. Dame said he hopes to make it some form of charity event.

"Hopefully, we'll build on that over the years. I think it's going to be a great success," he said.

The Bluff Point driving range is open dawn to dusk seven days a week. It features all grass hitting stations.

Dame said he wants to put in a new practice bunker and improve drainage there this year.

The pro shop will carry a lot more women's clothing this season. Odyssey putters will also be in plentiful supply, he said.

Dame said the course opened for play April 8, about a week behind schedule. This was the first season since he's been in charge that the course opened with no temporary greens in play.

"There wasn't a spot of damage on the greens."

For more information, visit www.bluffpoint.com or call 563-3420.

Email Dan Heath at:

dheath@pressrepublican.com