BOOTHBAY, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- The Boothbay Harbor Country Club is reopening next week after a $50 million makeover. Its owner, Lewiston-born businessman Paul Coulombe, celebrated the club's ribbon cutting Wednesday with the help of Gov. Paul LePage (R).
"This is not just the best facility in Maine," LePage said. "This is a world class facility."
He said when his time in the Blaine House is done, he's looking forward to tee time on the course, which is near his house in Boothbay.
Coulombe bought the country club three and a half years ago. He described it as "breathtaking" when he saw the finished product. He's creating 80 jobs in the area and hopes tourism doubles because of his investment, even if he never recoups all the money.
"It's really a philanthropic thing that I thought was really beneficial to everybody in the region," he said.
The course opens next Wednesday. Coulombe is planning phase two of the project: condos that would be ready in a few years.