Jon Nekoroski remembers when Route 114 was a sleepy roadway and Middleton was a rural farming town, long before housing developments like Fuller Pond Village and retailers like Market Basket changed the landscape forever.
Nekoroski, owner/operator of the popular Golf Country complex next to Richardson’s, said the tee boxes used to be located at the top of a hill closer to the ice cream stand. The angle was such that golfers who sliced their drives created problems.
“Balls were always flying onto Route 114. There were no houses across the street and traffic was light,” Nekoroski said. After houses were built, it was not unusual for homeowners to stop by the range’s office clutching broken windows.
Much has changed since then. The old Middleton Golf Range has come a long way from that modest 16-bay facility.
The Nekoroski family bought the business in 1979 from Lenny Cormier, who had run the range for many years. Cormier approached George Nekoroski, a Salem Country Club member, champion golfer and heating oil company owner, about buying the business.
“He was thinking of selling the range. Lenny knew my dad had five sons and the range would keep all us busy,” said Jon, with a smile.
“I started at 10 years old, the youngest of five boys. I took a liking to (the driving range), more so than my brothers. That was 45 years ago.” He became his dad’s right-hand man.
A number of improvements and expansions began in 1990 when the name was changed to Golf Country. Fifteen bays were added and the 18-hole miniature golf Millpond Course was built.
In 1998, nine batting cages for baseball and softball were constructed, the first such outdoor facility on the North Shore. Grass tees came next.
Then, in 2001, the tee bays got a roof and heaters were installed so the facility could operate year-round. There are turf stalls as well as natural grass practice areas; the entire range is lighted. There are some 50 hitting stalls.
In 2004, the 18-hole mini golf Stone Bridge course was built. Business boomed.
“There are no clown mouths on our mini courses,” said Jon with a grin.
In 2020, custom tee dividers 13×4 feet were installed.
Nekoroski plants and maintains all the gorgeous flower beds on the 16-acre property. Waterscapes, ladders and a huge waterwheel were added.
The facility has hosted weddings, birthday parties and corporate outings. One couple met at the mini golf course and got married there. There are many photos of well-dressed brides and grooms holding putters post ceremony.
Nekoroski said Golf Country has a great partnership with Richardson’s, the oldest dairy farm in the United States.
“About 50% of our clientele is the ice cream crowd. They don’t own clubs; we give them a club and a bucket of balls. … On the hottest days of the year our mini golf courses are very busy, after people get ice cream.”
On a good day, customers hit 50,000 balls and 800 people play mini golf. It’s a popular Saturday date night spot and many families stop by after supper.
