By Theron Larkins
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — Ownership of The Limestone Country Club has been the topic of discussion at a number of recent board of trustee meetings at the Loring Development Authority. Former owner, Craig Phair informed LDA board members that he would not be able to operate the course moving forward into the next golf season. With the current season coming to a close, it was a top priority for the LDA board to replace the previous owner with someone who could not only keep the golf course up and running, but also work to attract more golfers to the area.
President and CEO of LDA Carl Flora, explained that he has been working with Dean Kimball, who is interested in leasing the golf course through next year.
“Mr. Kimball and another gentlemen operated the golf course when it was under the Air Force, prior to 1994,” said Flora. “He has a wealth of knowledge about golf course management and is extremely familiar with this particular course. He has some formal agronomy training tailored for golf course management as well.”
Kimball and his son Scott, who will help his father with the business venture, both attended the meeting at LDA on Oct. 15, where they made their first official proposal to lease the golf course.
“I was brought up here in May of 1978 to act as the golf and outdoor recreation director when the golf course was still owned by the Air Force,” said Kimball. “Back then, we had cross country skiing, snowshoeing and snowmobiling programs at the existing golf course and other recreation facilities at the base. With the location being just off the entrance of the base, we were a public facility, where snowmobiles used the course as a stop over during snowmobile season.”
“I’ve already spoken to various snowmobile clubs throughout the community to let them know there is a possibility that we’ll be coming back into the business this coming season,” Kimball added. “So, our goal is to open up the trails on the property and maintain them the way we used to. We’ve already spoken with many of the existing golfers in Limestone and we’ve received nothing but positive feedback and acknowledgment that they don’t want to have to play somewhere else, but wish to continue to play at the Limestone course.”
Kimball explained that he’s been involved with the game of golf since he was 10 years old.
“I started out as a caddy when I was 10 years old, played four years of varsity golf, then went to college in Jacksonville, Fla., where I played at the collegiate level in the Southeast Conference,” said Kimball. “I studied agronomy at UMASS, and my background is in golf course irrigation drainage and turf management.”
With all of Kimball’s qualifications, there was little debate over whether or not he would be the right person to take over the golf course.
“When I worked at this course during the Air Force days, we did had a very luxurious budget,” said Kimball. “However, I have also worked on smaller courses that had very minimal monies to maintain the course, so we’re used to operating based on what the traffic will bare us. The golfers who have been there for a while have indicated that they will offer great support to maintain the location as a golf course.”
Flora added that Kimball does have a long-term interest in the course, but for now, both he and the LDA believe a one-year lease combined with an exclusive negotiating period provides the best chance to develop a suitable long-term arrangement.
