En-Joie Golf Standoff: Broome County and Endicott Remain At Odds

Endicott village officials have not been talking with Broome County representatives about the future of the En-Joie Golf Club.

The golf course, which has been around for nearly a century, hosts the annual Dick's Sporting Goods Open. But there's concern about the fate of the tournament if the facility's irrigation system isn't replaced.

A year ago, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar released an engineering study that outlined work needed at the golf course.

Garnar said the future of the golf tournament was in jeopardy if the irrigation problem at En-Joie wasn't resolved soon.

Broome County has operated the golf course since 2006, although it's owned by the village of Endicott.

The county executive repeatedly has expressed frustration in recent months that village officials have not been willing to discuss the situation involving the facility.

Garnar recently told WNBF News that "nothing has changed" with respect to the standoff between the county and the village involving En-Joie.

The county executive said he's heard nothing "from the village officials about what they plan to do" about the golf course. He noted the contract between the county and Endicott to operate the course expires at the end of next year.

Broome County has offered to cover the estimated $8 million cost of replacing the irrigation system if the village turns over the ownership of the golf course.

Endicott officials were not impressed with that plan. Mayor Nick Burlingame has not responded to requests for comment on what the village intends to do about En-Joie.

Garnar said he can't remember the last time he spoke with Endicott officials about the golf course.

Endicott Johnson Corporation sold the golf course to the village in November 1963 for a fraction of what a private developer had offered for the facility. The county began operating the course in January 2006.

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.