BY JIMMY LAWTONNorth Country This Week

CANTON —  Mayor Michael Dalton said the village is working to reduce the Partridge Run Golf Course’s operating deficit during a discussion sparked by anonymous letters that levied complaints about conditions of the course.

"It's not our goal to close the golf course," Mayor Michael Dalton said during a Village Board meeting.  He clarified that the goal of the golf course was to break even and not generate revenue.

The concerns come as the golf course continues to operate at a financial deficit, according to financial data provided for the course.

For the 2025-26 fiscal year, Partridge Run reported revenues of $396,384.62 and expenses of $518,312.47, resulting in a deficit of $121,927.85.

The financial report shows the course has operated at a deficit each year since at least the 2016-17 fiscal year. Deficits during that period ranged from $24,341.97 in 2021-22 to $219,923.43 in 2023-24.

"It's a negative revenue," he said. "I think what it needs to be is a lot closer to zero than it is right now," he said.

Dalton addressed the issue after anonymous letters criticizing the course were posted on a bulletin board at the golf course and later circulated on social media.

"Normally anonymous letters don't get a ton of attention," Dalton said. "But they did become public because they were posted on the bulletin board."

Dalton said Trustee Beth Bullock Larrabee  recently met with Kevin Maginn, director of Partridge Ridge Golf Course, who has scheduled a membership meeting. Dalton said the meeting was intended to give golfers and village officials an opportunity to exchange information and discuss concerns.

Dalton said correcting what he described as misconceptions about the golf course's finance has been a challenge for the village.

"I think what we're trying to tell people, and the point we need to get across, is that it's not a profit center," he said.

The mayor also outlined staffing changes at the course in recent years. A longtime employee retired during the season, another superintendent left after a year for a position at St. Lawrence University, and a candidate selected to fill the position later withdrew.

Department of Public Works Superintendent Tim Bacon has been serving as interim golf course superintendent.

"Tim's done a good job out there," Dalton said. "He's worked hard to go out there and take over."

Bacon said he would prefer that golfers bring concerns directly to him rather than through anonymous letters.

"It's one thing when you get some positive feedback," Bacon said. "It's another thing when all you hear is behind your back."

Trustee Barbara Beekman shared the frustrations about the lack of direct clear communication. 

"Even the feedback about the garden. Call me. Email me. Then we can have a conversation," Trustee Beekman said. "I offered to go down there and talk to anybody who wanted to. If you want to talk about it, contact me. I think a lot of these communication problems are because it's one-way."

Dalton agreed, saying anonymous criticism and social media posts make it more difficult to address concerns.

Bacon  told trustees that not all of the feedback has been negative. He pointed out that a recent news story on WWNY featured golfers who provided positive feedback about the course.

Trustees said direct communication on the matter is welcome, but anonymous criticism tends to be less useful.

Dalton said trustees often have a wider view of the situation.

 “Another thing is that we sit here as a board and we have a big picture to look at,” he said.,

The board expressed hope that golfers will attend the July 21 membership meeting to discuss concerns and hear additional information about the course's operation and finances.