I-Team: Country club investigation

AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP) - Planning a wedding is stressful enough, but can be even more so when the venue you planned your reception for is up for sale.

The 22News I-Team investigates a situation like that that's playing out here in Western Massachusetts.

Brides-to-be Janine Lapan and Crystal Harvey chose Crestview Country Club in Agawam to have their wedding receptions this summer, they both liked the nice view it had to offer, but they say the view quickly clouded over as their weddings got closer and they stopped hearing from club managers.

"In the middle of December, there were rumors that they were either going to be sold or go up for auction and we tried calling several times to get information from them and no one got back to us," Harvery said.

"No calls back, no e-mail returns, no letters in the mail," Lapan said.

With just a few months left before their weddings and no word from the club on what's going on, both asked the 22News I-Team to investigate.

On Crestview's website there is no word of a sale or indication of a closure.

So, we went to the club but no one was there to answer our questions.

That's when we started making phone calls, starting with, the President of the Country Club: Mark Hare.  He refused comment on the situation and wouldn't grant us an interview.

The Country Club's Business Manager Darlene Blaney returned one of our phone calls, but when she left a message she didn't leave a number or any way to get in touch, that was the last we heard from her.

Finally - after weeks of trying - board member Steven Roberts agreed to give us some answers.

He explained to us that Woodlawn Realty, Crestview's parent company, is selling its real estate here to a third party owner.  He said he thinks it will remain active as a golf club, but that all depends on who buys it.

When asked why the club hasn't gotten in touch with the brides, Roberts said, "We were afraid to send the wrong message to the wrong people and we thought silence was the best thing that we could do, we're extremely sympathetic to the situation."

When asked if he thinks the situation was handled properly, he said he thinks it could have been done better.

With a wedding just a few months away, Crystal Harvey has already signed on with a new venue, and other brides are wondering if they should do the same.

22News asked Roberts if they're uncertain at this time that these events will be honored.

He said, "I can't guarantee it because I can't guarantee the vote."

Roberts the board should know more at the end of the month when another vote is scheduled.

Until then, "If they can't hang in there, then they have to go to another option but we are doing our best so they can have their wedding at Crestview Country Club," Roberts added.

We also asked about bride's getting their deposits back if they do go onto a new venue.

He said only if the club is unable to fulfill its obligations will they get their money back.

In other words, the brides can go onto new venues for their own peace of mind, but until Crestview says they can't do it, there's no guarantee they'll get their money.

Roberts couldn't say who the potential buyer is, but he did say it's an Agawam native who's in the golfing business.

**UPDATE: Business Manager Darlene Blaney contacted the 22News I-Team after our story aired to explain that she has left the business on her own accord. She says she didn't return our e-mails or phone calls because she stopped working there.