A golf hat trick in the Catskills

For Louis Cappelli, owning two of the most famous Catskills resorts ”“ Grossinger”™s and the Concord ”“ may be a feather in his real estate portfolio cap, but to Hudson Valley residents, Cappelli”™s name brings a lot of question marks about the future of the once-thriving and now hanging-by-its-fingertips Borscht Belt.

One thing Cappelli”™s organization has pledged to do is re-open the Concord”™s golf course for the 2008 season. Grossinger”™s will also remain open, as well as its golf course. Cappelli also gave Kutsher”™s $1 million, along with another $2.5 option to buy the last family-run resort in the area, to keep its golf course open for the upcoming season.

Golfers may be disappointed to learn that the Concord”™s famous “Monster” course will not be open this season.

“Gene Sarazen gave the course that name,” said pro shop manager Mike Stoltz. “He was referring to hole seven ”“ and the name just stuck.”

Stoltz is getting ready to open both Grossinger”™s and the Concord”™s International course by April 18. Kutsher”™s should be ready then, too. Cappelli”™s organization plans to offer a three-for-one package deal for golfers to get them re-acquainted with the once-sought-after resort area.

For golfers interested in playing the three courses, both Grossinger”™s and Kutsher”™s hotels are open. The Concord remains just as it did 10 years ago ”“ empty and dilapidated ”“ when Cappelli bought it for $10 million from the bankruptcy court.

Cappelli has some ambitious plans for the Concord, but whether the state plans to kick in the more than $550 million Cappelli is asking for to revamp the aging hotel and build his resort remains open for speculation. While there is a time frame built in to repay the money, the state”™s current fiscal crisis makes it seem unlikely that Cappelli”™s hope of getting state aid will pass muster.

Regardless, according to sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, Cappelli will build his megaresort on his own dime. In the meantime, three of the Catskills”™ most popular golf courses ”“ the International, Grossinger”™s and Kutsher”™s ”“ will be open this 2008 season.