Long established business near Battle Island State Park Golf Course going through renovations, getting ice cream parlor, lounge
By Stefan Yablonski
Greg Callen, founder of Move Along, Inc., a nonprofit that promotes wheelchair athletics and competitive programs for persons with disabilities and their families, and Kristen Aluzzi, owner and head chef of Kristen’s Kitchen at Battle Island State Park, have acquired Fulton Driving Range
They purchased the business from Bill Nivers — who had owned the driving range since 1960.
It has been renamed Tee Time CNY.
“Our purchase price was $90,000. We are currently renovating and upgrading the place. We are working through the town of Granby,” Callen said. “Our investment is pending. We put some money in; you go through an off season and you are still paying taxes and paying bills. There is a little more money invested on that end.”
They plan to renovate the site adding a lounge and ice cream parlor. The driving range itself will also receive an upgrade.
“Last September is when we closed. This will be our first full season. Until today [April 18] it was really too wet to do much. We are going to launch today and see how things go and then get moving in terms of upgrades and improvements,” he said.
They are working with the town of Granby on some permits right now and funding. They have to change the internal structure of the building because it is not ready for an ice cream shop or a lounge, he added.
“There are a lot of golf balls. There’s a lot — there’s probably about 15,000 around there — and another 10 grand out in the woods from over the years,” he quipped.
Tee Time will be open from sunrise to sunset.
“One of the great things we have is we put in an automatic ball dispenser. People will be able to purchase membership cards and they can walk right up with their credit card and pay and get some balls and go from there,” he said. “There are three different levels; you get small, medium or large. It ranges from $8 to $15.”
Callen said he could offer some “target dates,” for when the work would be completed — “but it all depends on permit approval, loan approval and length of construction,” he added. “The goal is to have the construction done in July and hold an event in August as our ownership-grand opening!”
They will be working on getting a utility garage and possibly another ball dispenser to hold another 6,000-10,000 balls.
“Our current dispenser holds 6,000 and we store about 8,000 to 10,000 in our existing building,” he said.
Callen said he had previously resigned from Move Along, which was renamed CNY Adaptive Sports. The nonprofit provided sled hockey, adult and youth wheelchair basketball, swimming, kayaking, rowing and adapted cycling.
“A few years ago I developed a nonprofit for adaptive golf. I switched over to New York Adaptive Golf — aiming to provide the opportunity for individuals with cognitive or physical limitations to learn the game of golf and join a social network.
