SWL: Say goodbye to Stonybrook Golf Course and hello to another farm

Above: Southborough golfers will no longer be putting at Stonybrook’s 9 hole course. (Photo posted to Facebook by Lee Andron)

Southborough Wicked Local shared news on the closing of Stonybrook Golf Course.

In December, an observant reader worried about what might be coming via the pending sale of 70 Valley Road. The 16.5 acres at property belonging to Stoneybrook Golf Course was sold for $600,000.

Reader development worries were eased by the restricted use listed:

Zoned mixed use Residential/Recreational, the parcel can be changed within Ch 61 guidelines without penalty. Tax rate changes if intended change in Use falls outside of CH 61 parameters. Possible Uses include: equestrian, winery, farm, tree farm, athletic fields, driving range, golf course, shrub/tree/flower nursery, landscape business, athletic fields, park, agriculture business etc…Parcel is building restricted by deed and cannot be residentially developed.

SWL reports the new owner has said he’s looking to turn it into an organic farm: 

[Yingsum Tsui of Dover] intends to transform the 16.5-acre site at 70 Valley Road into an organic farm, according to [Kevin Sullivan of Maplegate Realty].

Founded by Ernest and Anna Kallander in 1970, Stonybook was one of the few par-three public courses in Massachusetts. It was purchased by Sullivan’s parents, Joseph and Margaret, in 1983 with Sullivan buying the course from them in 1997 for $450,000.

With old farmland in town being converted to developments over the years, it’s nice to hear that some cleared acres will be converted into a farm. (Then again, I’m not a golfer. Perhaps for some of you this is unwelcome news!)