Golfing Buddies Team Up To Buy Their Own Course

OSWEGO TOWN, NY – Growing up, Scott Baker and William Weimer shared a love of golf. Now, they share ownership of their own golf course.

“My partner and I met on the golf course 25 years ago. It was a dream as a youngster to own a golf course,” Baker told Oswego County Today. “It has now become a reality.”

Baker and Weimer received word a couple years ago that the owners of the Griffin’s Greens golf course might be thinking about getting out of it.

So, they sat down with them and had multiple conversations (over the course of two years) to reach terms where they felt comfortable getting out and Baker and Weimer felt like it was a number they would be able to be successful with.

“My partner is the face of golf in Oswego County as a teaching professional at the Oswego Country Club for the past many years. I have been in the field of education,” Baker said. “Our desire to make people better at what we do has helped us create our golf course motto of ‘Growing the game of golf.’ We are both very excited about this endeavor!”

“I have been an assistant golf professional for 17 years. I have been fortunate to work at one of Central New York’s finest private facilities, Oswego Country Club,” Weimer, PGA Golf Professional, said.

The new owners christened the course The Stone Creek Golf Club and hope to have it in shape and ready to welcome golfers of all ages “When we can see green!” Baker quipped.

It is an 18-hole course on State Route 104A in Oswego Town. Par for the 40-year-old course is 70.

“I used to beat my partner on this golf course when we were youngsters,” Baker said. “Although I haven’t bettered him in 20-plus years, that’s going to happen before our 40 years of ownership is up!”

“He had to work. I got to play golf and call it work. So I had an unfair advantage,” Weimer acquiesced.

A golf course can be set up to be appealing to golfers of all ability levels, Baker noted.

“(At Stone Creek Golf Club) the most difficult hole in relation to par would be the 370-yard 10th hole which doglegs left slightly up the hill. The four par threes can determine the outcome of a round. It is very rare for a golfer to finish even par or better on the four par threes,” he said.

“My partner and I see this as an opportunity to grow the game, continue a wonderful place the Griffin family built more than 40 years ago and create a welcoming atmosphere for all ages,” Baker added. “We have closed on the course and dove in head first in getting things ready for the fast approaching 2016 golf season.”

“I’d be remiss if I didn’t pay sincere gratitude to the Griffin family for giving us this opportunity. I am certain with the proper sweat equity and improved practices at Stone Creek Golf Club, we will rapidly build a product in which all members of a family will be proud to say they play golf at,” Weimer said.

Their plans are in three phases.

Immediate plans will be to get the condition of the golf course to a level of high customer satisfaction.

“We want our players to feel like they are a part of something special and we will make the necessary changes to please those who come to our facility to play,” Baker said.

“Scott’s business sense as well as his proven abilities as a coach and teacher are going to be a great asset to our community of golfers,” Weimer added.

The next level is a teaching facility.

Growing the game of golf is best achieved by improving those who come to play, Baker explained.

“At the current time, our golf course lacks a sufficient area where golfers can work on improving their game. As both owners are teachers, there is nothing more satisfying than to see an individual improve and be just a little bit more successful than the day before,” he said.

“I am a golf fanatic. I have helped cultivate more than 20 NCAA Scholarship level golfers throughout my career,” Weimer said. “Golf has always enabled me to meet people whom share in a love of the game. At its simplest form it is a people-driven business and fortunately I like learning from all I’ve met through the game.”

“Golf, I believe, is a learned skill and helping others at all levels has been the most rewarding experience for me as a golf professional. Now, having a facility to reach more people outside of the private CC realm, I am excited to help more people pursue their passions for the game,” he added. “It is the responsibility of a PGA professional to reach as many golfers as we can and promote the growth of their games.”

And, the third phase will be an addition of a food facility.

“In creating an environment where people (of all ages) come for entertainment, we want to be able to allow them an opportunity to sit and relax and enjoy a bite to eat when they are finished playing; or, to host a large gathering at the facility after a golf event at the course,” Baker said.

“Sharing in this endeavor with a life-long golf partner who is also my best friend is a dream come true,” Weimer said.

Fore more information, visit the course’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StoneCreekGolfOntario/ missing or outdated ad config

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