MEMBERS BAND TOGETHER TO SAVE A GOLF COURSE FROM CLOSING

By mustang6560 on 5/30/12

Here is a really cool story out of South Carolina filed by the New York Times.

With dozens of golf courses closing nationwide because of failed real estate developments, the Timberlake club is an example of a new model in the industry. Rather than watch home values plummet as a lush golf course is abandoned, nearby residents are banding together to buy the course — even if it means running it themselves.

In the wealthiest communities, this process often means that 10 or 20 of the most affluent member-residents write checks to save the course. In the case of another South Carolina golf community 35 miles from Timberlake, the WildeWood and Woodcreek clubs in Columbia, 574 members contributed an average of $4,700 to execute the purchase. Then scores of those members took on administrative duties that became like part-time jobs.

And in the case of Timberlake Country Club and others like it in states flush with retirement golf communities — North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Arizona and Nevada — the members have donned work gloves and wielded hedge clippers and weed whackers to help keep the courses green and the clubs’ revenue ledgers in the black.

According to the story, not every member takeover is a success story, but it seems like the members acted in time to save Timberlake. It's really cool to see people come together to save their course - even if it means investing sweat equity. I'm sure in the long run it will make them feel more connected to the course so they can truly say it's their home course.

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Image via Flickr, Ungaio


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