En-Joie Golf Club irrigation system at center of a controversy

ENDICOTT — The En-Joie Golf Club is in the midst of controversy as Broome County looks to upgrade the course’s irrigation system to modernize it and improve its efficiency. The county began operating the course about 17 years ago but does not own it, Broome County Executive Jason Garnar tells CNYBJ. “It’s a municipal golf course, and it’s still owned by Endicott,” he notes. However, about a year and a half ago, employees began to complain to the county about problems with the irrigation system. The system is about 70 years old, Garnar says, and covers about half of the 18-hole course. Broome County engaged Ramboll Engineering to conduct a study of the system. The study, which took place from June through October of this year, showed the irrigation system uses 180,000 gallons of water per day from the Village of Endicott’s water system, but it requires about 400,000 gallons of water daily to properly maintain the course, according to a release from Broome County. “En-Joie is pulling close to 10 million gallons a year out of that water supply,” Garnar tells CNYBJ. The study went on to recommend a new irrigation system, supplied from the Endicott Wastewater Treatment Plant. This plan would be beneficial on several fronts, the county executive says. First, it would stop drawing from the village water system, which currently has just one well. It would also stop the disposal of treated wastewater into the Susquehanna River. Finally, Broome County would pay Endicott for the water used in the new irrigation system, creating a source of revenue for the village. “In a way, we would recycle a lot of their wastewater,” Garnar says. The study estimates a total replacement cost of $7.8 million for the project, before any engineering costs. It would be a two-year process to replace the irrigation system, the county executive says, with the design, bidding, and bonding taking place in the first year. Broome County believes replacing the irrigation system is a priority as the En-Joie Golf Club serves as the home of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, part of the PGA Tour Champions. The event includes the golf tournament for professional tour golfers aged 50 and over, along with a concert that usually features a big-name performer, such as Luke Bryan in 2024 and Maroon 5 expected to perform in 2025. The festivities draw tens of thousands of people to the greater Binghamton area, Garnar says, and the event generates an economic impact of about $3 million. To continue hosting the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, En-Joie Golf Club needs to be maintained to PGA Tour Champions standards, he adds, and that could be at risk without a new irrigation system. Under the existing operation contract, Endicott is responsible for maintenance of the golf course. Broome County is willing to undertake the project but can’t do so unless it owns the course, Garnar says. The county can’t issue bonds to finance a project on property it doesn’t own, he says. However, the village seems unwilling to turn over ownership of the course to the county, Garnar contends. CNYBJ contacted Endicott Mayor Nick Burlingame for reaction, and he emailed the following statement about the issues facing En-Joie: “We are currently completing our own irrigation study, conducted through Hunt Engineers. Village management and the board of trustees will review the data from both studies to determine next steps, which will include an opportunity for community input and engagement, as we’ve promised. We remain committed to doing what is in the best interest of En-Joie Golf Course, Endicott residents, and the larger community, and hope to work as partners with Broome County toward a solution.”  In the meantime, things remain at a standstill. “We’re just trying to be helpful,” Garnar says. “Our philosophy is let’s take care of the issue.”