WORTHINGTON – After going three and half months without its liquor license, The Links At Worthington has access to it again on the condition that it make its clubhouse disability accessible by June 10.
The Select Board the golf course’s license when it came up for renewal in December but chose to withhold it from the establishment until its clubhouse was brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The license would have gone into effect on Jan. 1.
“We wanted them to show some steps toward compliance with the ADA,” Select Board Chairwoman Amy Wang said.
Wang said the town has waited since 2019 for the clubhouse to become ADA compliant, when its current owners bought the course, which would involve putting in at least one disability accessible bathroom and a wheelchair access ramp.
At its April 12 meeting, the Select Board voted 3-0 to restore the license, following a conversation before the board.
“I appreciate the fact that you guys have done what we’ve asked and shown good faith,” said Select Board Member Charley Rose.
The board also stressed that if the renovations are not going to be completed by June 10, the course should give advance notice to the board so that an extension could be considered.
“We’ll press as hard as we can,” said Helen Pollard, who co-owns the course with her husband David Pollard.
Helen Pollard said most of the activities The Links does are outside, and the board said that areas under construction should not have people in them. This was placed as a condition for returning the license.
Another condition was that a handicapped-accessible portable toilet be placed on site until the accessible bathroom area was completed.
The golf course having a license again means it can now serve alcohol and purchase alcohol as a business.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.