Trouble on the links. Fairway at Sagaponack's Poxabogue Golf Course may not continue to operate with proprietor Dan Murray come spring if a fight between the popular restaurant's owner and the course's management continues. The dispute, which has Murray fighting Long Island Golf Management, the company put in charge of the property which is co-owned by Southampton and East Hampton towns, seems to be over LIGM's meddling ways. The company wants to act 'like a partner', receiving part of Murray's gross and have the power to force him to perform maintenance or renovations. Murray, who has operated Fairway for 22 years, wasn't pleased with these new contract terms and hopes to do business directly with the towns.
LIGM has gone so far as to choose a new chef (Michael Avella of Mattituck's Love Lane Kitchen) and expressed interest in expanding the café's menu to include dinner service. Murray has a 500-signature petition that he plans to present to the towns at an upcoming meeting about the issue, with the purpose of showing the community's support of keeping Fairway the way it is. This one's far from over.
Photo courtesy EH Star
· Fairway Lessee May Get a Mulligan [EH Star]