THE KING RAIL RESERVE GOLF COURSE will soon be serving wine and malt beverages after the Select Board recently approved a seasonal license. (Dan Tomasello Photo)
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — The Select Board unanimously approved a seasonal wine and malt license for the King Rail Reserve Golf Course during a recent meeting.
Attorney Tim Doyle said wine and malt beverages will be served at King Rail’s clubhouse.
“The hearing is simply for the board to vote on moving it forward to the ABBC (Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission),” said Doyle. “We have notified all of the direct abutters, which is approximately 22 businesses and dwellings.”
Doyle said alcohol will be stored in both a refrigerator at the clubhouse and at a designated storage area in the building.
“Products will be held until they are sold,” said Doyle. “Both of those areas will be locked. The refrigerator is a locked refrigerator located behind the desk of the clubhouse. The desk will be the area where people will come in and pay for items whether it be beer or wine in addition to anything else that may be located in the pro shop.”
Doyle said only King Rail employees will be allowed behind the desk. He said the storage area is located in the back right hand corner of the clubhouse.
“That will be under lock and key as well,” said Doyle. “It would only be accessed by employees of the golf course.”
Doyle said alcohol “will be under tight control at the clubhouse at all times.”
Select Board Chair Phil Crawford recalled that seasonal wine and malt licenses have been issued to the Reedy Meadow Golf Course in the past.
“I don’t really have any concerns,” said Crawford. “It’s not something new and it is a much nicer facility that what you had before. I am sure the safety there is much better.”
Select Board Vice Chair Alexis Leahy expressed her support for issuing the seasonal wine and malt liquor license to the King Rail Reserve Golf Course.
“I haven’t heard of any issues coming from the police or any concerns about issuing these in the past,” said Leahy. “I am anticipating that will continue.”
Select Board member Dick Dalton asked if Lynnfield Golf Director Donnie Lyons or his employees have “plans to take on a regular basis inventories of the product so that we understand on the fiscal side we are making the money we should?”
Lyons said Lynnfield Golf’s “POS (point of sale) system would allow for any category i.e. beer, wine or whatever to be added when it is delivered and obviously subtracted as you sell it.”
Dalton pressed Lyons on the need to conduct inventories of the alcohol.
“In addition to the POS system, it has to tie into an inventory so it is all accounted for,” said Dalton.
Lyons said Dalton’s request was “a simple task.”
“We would never have probably any more than 20 cases at a time combined of beer and wine and stuff there,” said Lyons. “It would be a simple task to do weekly.”
Crawford proposed that 9 p.m. be the cutoff for alcohol sales.
Lyons expressed his support for Crawford’s suggestion. He noted that both courses close at dusk.
In response to a question from Walnut Street resident David Moynihan, Crawford said the ABCC will require King Rail Reserve Golf Course employees to be Training and Intervention Procedures for Servers (TIPS) certified.
Moynihan, who is an abutter, expressed concerns about King Rail Reserve Golf Course’s seasonal liquor license request.
“What I want to know is where is the beer and wine?” asked Moynihan. “Are people going to be able to take it out on the course? Are they going to be able to linger in the parking lot with it? We have had beer cans and stuff in our backyard. I am concerned about that.”
Moynihan also aired concerns about noise.
“Who is going to control it?” Moynihan asked.
Lyons said King Rail staff members will “control” the noise. He noted that the Reedy Meadow Golf Course also abuts residential homes.
“We have had beer and wine for 20 years,” said Lyons about the Reedy Meadow Golf Course. “We never had an issue with the neighbors. We have had no lack of control over sales and so forth.”
Lyons said golfers and attendees at Reedy Meadow are allowed to drink inside the clubhouse and on the back patio.
“We will do the same thing at the (King Rail) clubhouse,” said Lyons.
Lyons also said signs will be installed in the parking lot that will state alcohol consumption is prohibited.
Moynihan asked again whether alcohol will be allowed on the course.
Lyons said no. He said people will only be allowed to drink alcohol inside the clubhouse or on the patio.
Moynihan also asked if the course’s employees will shut down people from drinking in the parking lot.
“Correct,” said Lyons.
Moynihan explained why he was raising his concerns about the seasonal wine and malt liquor license request.
“When the clubhouse went up, we asked about a restaurant,” said Moynihan. “No. We asked about liquor and it was no. So, here we are today.”
Doyle said the seasonal wine and malt liquor license application being sent to the ABCC stipulates alcohol will only be allowed inside the clubhouse and on the patio.
“There is nothing beyond that,” said Doyle.
After the discussion, the Select Board unanimously approved the seasonal liquor license for King Rail along with a separate motion stipulating that alcohol sales will be allowed from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
The ABCC will be required to approve the seasonal wine and malt liquor license for the King Rail Reserve Golf Course before alcohol begins being sold.