Community Corner

Golfers Take Final Swings at East Coast Golf

The business' last day was Sunday. Owner Laura MacKinnon said she is leasing the site to the New England Ruffnecks, which plan to build a baseball complex there, according to their website.

PGA apprentice Jaron Valukis has enjoyed practicing his swing at the East Coast Golf Academy and Practice Center in Northborough.

"It's the best grass around. All the other driving ranges anywhere close by, my back yard has better grass," the Framingham resident said Sunday.

Sunday, golf balls flew onto the 333 Southwest Cutoff facility's grass for the last time.

East Coast Golf closed, ending 18 years in business.

Owner Laura MacKinnon said Sunday she is leasing the site to the New England Ruffnecks, which plan to build a baseball complex there, according to their website. Ground breaking is expected before December, with the facility opening next summer.

"We worked out a deal that we're happy with," she said.

MacKinnon said that seven years ago, the site was under agreement with a different developer that wanted to "put a shopping plaza here."

"At that point, we weren't that interested in selling," she said.

However, "then the economy died," and the developer helped finish Northborough Crossing, across the street, instead, MacKinnon said.

"When it came time to extending the agreement, we decided not to do it. We decided to sit and wait, and see what happens when that all opened," she said.

"The golf industry has been flat for a while. It was very vibrant back in the '90s. Then, we got a little saturated. A lot of golf courses opened. Everybody had to do a little bit less business than before.

"The long and the short of it is: when you get in the mind of maybe selling, then when people come to you, you're more receptive to it."

The East Coast Golf site was woods when MacKinnon opened the business 18 years ago, she said.

"I was a very avid golfer. And there was a need for a facility so you could practice: not only practice hitting balls, but the whole game, and off grass."

"In the beginning, we were the only one that had year-round. So, people would come from everywhere. Then, it became kind of a necessity to help pay bills in the wintertime."


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