Lawrence country club receives a mulligan

Along with the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club’s many amenities what stands out the most for longtime Village of Lawrence resident and Parks Commission Chairman Barry Schwartz is the people.

Schwartz points to General Manager Leo McMahon for being one of the individuals, along with club employees and village officials, who worked long hours to help get the village owned and operated club back up and running after the damage sustained in Hurricane Sandy.

“You get what you pay for and the personnel, the staff and Leo are outstanding and unbelievable,” he said.

For Schwartz, it is a municipal club that serves its members as a private club. “There is a special feeling here,” he said, noting how hard the employees work, “going above and beyond the call of duty. The Lawrence club is the best value in Nassau County.”

Nearly $2 million was spent to restore the municipal club, according to Village Administrator Dave Smollett, adding that one half is the combined insurance money for contents and building structure and the remaining 50 percent is village money. Lawrence is anticipating being reimbursed 90 percent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the million it spent.

Amenities at the club include a 6,500-yard, 18-hole golf course; nine Har-Tru tennis courts, a 135-slip marina, 12 practice tees in a heated space along with a dozen more outdoor spaces, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a snack bar, pro shop and a 308-person capacity catering hall with two kosher and one non-kosher caterers.

In the clubhouse, where the offices, catering hall, locker rooms and a restaurant are located, new more efficient heating and air conditioning, and electrical systems were installed. There are also 80 new golf carts garaged in an elevated shed.

“We have a great product now, I’m excited about our future,” said club General Manager Leo McMahon. “We have a great foundation for the future.”

For golfers, starter Vinnie Biondo, “the air traffic controller,” according to Village Administrator Dave Smollett, who coordinates the flow, plays matchmaker and enforces the rules of play remains at his post.