The City of Hartford is suing the company that was supposed to keep its golf courses in good shape.
The city alleges that MDM Golf Enterprises breached its 2009 contract for maintenance and operations of the city’s two courses, at Goodwin Park and Keney Park.
Keney fell into such disrepair it had to be shut down, and both were barely playable at one point last year.
“They should be held accountable for what they did to these courses,” said golfer Michael McKenna, who was teeing off at Goodwin Park on Friday.
A 2013 city audit found that MDM failed to make about $1.3 million in course improvements as required by its contract.
Since that audit, Hartford has straightened up Goodwin on its own, spending nearly half a million dollars on new maintenance equipment.
Keney is still closed.
The City of Hartford declined an on-camera interview and when asked what damages were being sought, the mayor’s spokeswoman sent an email, saying: “This is legal. Don’t have a comment.”
MDM Golf’s business phone numbers were disconnected, and an email to owner, Matt Menchetti, was returned to sender.
“They just let it go. I don’t know what they did with their money. But I know it wasn’t spent here,” said golfer Jay Cottone, who was at Goodwin on Friday afternoon.
The lawsuit, filed last month in Superior Court, was first mentioned on the local blog, “We the People.”
Since the city ended its relationship with MDM, the city has made its own repairs and partnered with gardening group, KNOX.
The PGA is contracted to help manage operations.
Keney Park is set to re-open in spring 2015.