Buzzard Cove ready to reveal renovations as season begins

by Laura Straub

After nearly 35 years in the Hinckley community, Buzzard Cove Miniature Golf and Driving Range is undergoing renovations, spearheaded by managing partner Joe Gallo.

When regulars return to the facility at 1053 Bellus Rd., they will notice new mile markers and neatly trimmed landscaping on the driving range. The miniature golf course will feature new landscaping around all 36 holes and an upgraded pond with new water features. The interior will have a fresh coat of paint and a new deck, jutting off the rear of the building.

“I think it’s going to look amazing,” Gallo said. “I think there will be a great buzz when repeat customers come in and see what it looked like last year to what it looks like this year. I think it will be very well received.”

Gallo is also bringing his pizza operation, Agostino’s Pizza, to Buzzard Cove. In addition to salads, burgers, wings, ice cream and other snacks, visitors will be able to purchase fresh pizza. According to Gallo, he will offer fast pickup and delivery service, too.

Renovations began in late March and were expected to be completed by the week of April 22, when Gallo planned to open for the season.

The facility is available for birthday parties, school field trips and corporate team-building events.

The price of Gallo’s renovations came to more than $70,000. Gallo invested another $70,000 into the facility last summer, when he and his team replaced the interior floors, installed granite countertops, painted the exterior of the building, added all LED lighting throughout the miniature golf course and replaced all 36 putt-putt carpets.

He said his team takes comments from social media and from customers into consideration when deciding on which upgrades to do.

Gallo started to work on Buzzard Cove about six years ago, when he was referred by one of the facility’s food vendors. The owner, Bill Sukenik, had passed away, and managing the facility from their homes in Chicago, Florida and California was a challenge for Sukenik’s three children.

Gallo stepped in to help, as he has with many other hospitality businesses in the past. Through his company, Cleveland Hospitality Professionals, Gallo assists small businesses and hotel operators in improving their facilities, implementing new training protocol, updating marketing strategies, enforcing food and labor controls and streamlining products to help drive the bottom line, all while improving operations.

For more information, visit Buzzard Cove’s Facebook page.

Featured image photo caption: Buzzard Cove Managing Partner Joe Gallo stands on the new deck overlooking the miniature golf course. Photo by C. Wells