BRISTOL — The City of Bristol is having an appraiser look at Chippanee Country Club and is considering purchasing it and turning it into a municipal course.
A property listing for Chippanee Country Club went up last November, stating the clubhouse was for sale for $1.5 million and the 18-hole golf course was for sale for $5 million. Mayor Ellen Zoppo-Sassu has since been in communication with owner Fritz Blasius about potential future uses for the site.
Chippanee Country Club was originally designed in 1923, starting as a 9-hole course that was later expanded to an 18-hole course. It also has an Olympic swimming pool and clubhouse. According to the property listing there are 133 acres available for residential development.
The City Council voted to authorize Zoppo-Sassu to enter a letter of intent for a potential purchase of the property by the city. Zoppo-Sassu said the property is being appraised now. She expects to have the results of that appraisal back within two weeks. A referral has also been made to Planning & Zoning.
Zoppo-Sassu said the city is taking care of all of the procedural steps required by state law in the event the city moves forward with a purchase.
“We also put money aside for the potential purchase as part of the capital improvement project budget,” she said. “If we go forward with a purchase, it will be bonded using that money. That is money that can’t be used for things like education or road improvements. It is used specifically for long-term projects. None of these funds are from the general budget fund.”
Zoppo-Sassu said the Bristol Parks Recreation Youth and Community Services Department will also be discussing the future of Chippanee Country Club as an agenda item at their next meeting. The city will also be speaking with Connecticut PGA professionals for their input.
“We’re looking at it becoming a municipal golf course that is open to the public,” she said. “The Parks Department could run their golf leagues there. Other amenities could also be added. We should know more by the end of March.”
Zoppo-Sassu said she knows of approximately 38 other towns and cities in Connecticut that have similar municipal golf courses.