By Deborah Goonan, Independent American Communities
Debgoonan@icloud.com
In this update: Golf course owners face financial difficulties; homeowners in several states object to redevelopment plans of defunct golf courses; Arizona homeowners win court victory to save their adjacent golf course.
California
Resort owner shuts down second of two golf courses, hopes to find buyer
Diablo Grande is a planned community that was built around two 18-hole golf courses, the Legends and the Ranch. Despite original grand plans for a 29,500-acre luxury development, today Diablo Grande consists of 750 homes on 2,300 acres.
In 2014, the owner of the golf club, World International, closed the Legends course, which was originally opened in 1998.
In September, homeowners received a letter from the developer and golf club owners, announcing plans to close the Ranch golf course in October. World International cites financial difficulties, and claims that the closure will be temporary.
Homeowners hope that rumors of a new buyer for the golf courses are true.
World International is the second owner/developer of Diablo Grande — the company purchased both golf courses and unsold lots in the community shortly after the original developer declared bankruptcy in 2008.
But home sales have remained slow, and Diablo Grande still hasn’t reached its full potential. According to the Modesto Bee, the current developer owes Stanislaus County more than $6 million in delinquent property taxes on 340 of its unsold lots.
Source:
Golf Course Closure Stirs Up Concerns in Stanislaus County Gated Community
FOX40
POSTED 10:36 PM, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019, BY ERIC RUCKER, UPDATED AT 10:35PM, SEPTEMBER 25, 2019
Diablo Grande’s golf course to close next month. Will the resort change hands?
BY KEN CARLSON | The Modesto Bee
SEPTEMBER 24, 2019 07:18 PM, UPDATED SEPTEMBER 25, 2019 06:51 PM
Virginia
No future plans for defunct golf course
Wallace Cahoon, owner of the Cahoon Plantation golf course closed last year, has owned the land since 1947. Chesapeake city council approved development plans for a golf course and residential community in 1997.
Original plans called for a public golf course with 36 holes. Subsequent plans changed, reducing the course to 27 holes and then to 18 holes by 2003. Both Cahoon Plantation and Eagle Pointe (a 55-and-older community) were built around the 18-hole course.
Cahoon says the golf course hasn’t been profitable since it opened in 1999. He finally decided to shut down in 2018, with no advance notice.
The course is now overgrown, except for the perimeter. Chesapeake ordinances require Cahoon to keep the grass mowed near the border of residential homes, but that’s it.
The land owner said he wants to develop new homes on the defunct golf course.
But HOA members want the golf course to reopen. After all, Many purchased their homes for the golf course views.
Chesapeake has two other public golf courses, and isn’t interested in purchasing another one. But city council isn’t inclined to modify zoning to allow construction of more homes on the former golf course either.
So, at this point, nothing is happening. And there are no plans for the future of Cahoon Plantation golf course.
Nearly a year later, Chesapeake’s Cahoon Plantation Golf Course remains in limbo
By BRIANA ADHIKUSUMA
THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT |
SEP 23, 2019 | 11:40 AM | CHESAPEAKE
Arizona
Ahwatukee homeowners celebrate latest victory in AZ Appellate Court
Chalk up a win for Ahwatukee homeowners. Arizona Court of Appeals just confirmed the lower court’s 2016 ruling.
The True Life Company, current owners and would be developers of Ahwatukee Lakes (site of Wilson Gee’s now defunct golf course and barren lakes) must restore the golf course, and abandon their plans to develop the land with hundreds of new homes.
The battle began as early as 2006, when homeowners say Wilson Gee neglected the golf course for years, before putting it up for sale. Pulte Homes backed out of a deal in 2014. In 2015, True Life purchased the land, fully aware that deed restrictions limit land use to a golf course, and that a majority of homeowners were opposed to redevelopment.
Ahwatukee Lakes homeowners didn’t buy into True Life’s proposed Agri-hood. The developer couldn’t get at least 51% of homeowners to agree to give up on the golf course.
Basically, the Judge sent a message to corporations hoping to convert golf courses to new residential developments: unless homeowners agree to amend deed restrictions, forget it.
Sources:
Ahwatukee homeowners win!
Save the Lakes Ahwatukhee | September 19, 2019
Ahwatukee neighbors win again in golf course development battle
Jessica Boehm, Arizona Republic | Published 6:27 p.m. MT Sept. 19, 2019 | Updated 6:40 p.m. MT Sept. 19, 2019
North Carolina
Wilmington’s premier country club declares bankruptcy
Since its beginnings in 1991, Porters Neck of Wilmington has seen more than its share of financial setbacks and litigation. So far, the Club hasn’t won any of its legal battles against its developer or its insurance company.
Both hurricanes Florence and Dorian caused significant damage. Between the high legal fees, and lowball insurance claim payments, the Club says it was forced to declare bankruptcy.
Quite a contrast from last year, when Porters Neck added a new restaurant and lounge, 4 pickle ball courts and 2 new tennis courts.
Sources:
Porters Neck Country Club files for bankruptcy protection
By WECT Staff | September 20, 2019 at 9:47 AM EDT – Updated September 20 at 10:13 AM
Porters Neck Country Club files for bankruptcy protection
StarNews Online | Sept. 19, 2019
Michigan
Future plans for closed golf course: “Everything is on the table”
After nearly a century, Silver Lake golf course in Cannon Township, Kent County, in western Michigan has been closed. The course is is currently surrounded by 125 condominiums.
A group of Silver Lakes condo owners opposes a developer’s plan to build up to 450 condos, apartments, and assisted living units on the property.
Township leaders say that the developer has yet to submit formal plans to the planning commission. Those plans would have to provide for highway access, as well as water and sewage services to the site.
If the developer and the township can’t agree on a suitable plan, there’s another possibility — Kent County might be interested in turning the defunct golf course into a public park.
That option might ensure current residents keep their view of green space. However, depending on how the park is used, a public park isn’t guaranteed to be a quiet, peaceful place.
At this point, township leaders say that there are many “possibilities” for the future of Silver Lakes, and that, in terms of options, “everything is on the table.”
Sources:
Developer could turn Silver Lake golf course into condos
The owner of Silver Lake Country Club is negotiating a sale to a developer who proposes a 450-unit condo and nursing home project. (MI)
Author: Phil Dawson | WZZM | 13 On Your Side
Published: 11:10 PM EDT September 10, 2019
Updated: 11:10 PM EDT September 10, 2019
Silver Lake Country Club closed; remaining equipment to be auctioned off
The club has been in business for nearly 100 years, according to a press release, and the remaining equipment will be sold through an online auction.
Author: 13 ON YOUR SIDE Staff | WZZM
Published: 10:36 AM EDT October 2, 2019
Updated: 10:36 AM EDT October 2, 2019
Century-old golf course could become Kent County park
If plans for a 450 unit nursing home residential development fall through, leaders say the Silver Lake Country Club could become a county park.
Author: Phil Dawson | WZZM
Published: 12:01 AM EDT September 24, 2019
Updated: 12:01 AM EDT September 24, 2019
South Carolina
Homeowners skeptical of ambitious development plans for former golf course
At a recent public meeting, Carolina Forest residents expressed opposition to plans to redevelop the Wizard golf course adjacent to their homes. The preliminary plans call for 700 additional homes on the site.
Carolina Forest Boulevard would be widened to accommodate additional traffic, and a roundabout would be added as an access point to the new community.
Homeowners’ primary complaints are increased threats of flooding from stormwater drainage, and “intolerable” traffic on nearby Gateway Road.
At the time of local reports, RS Parker Homes had not yet submitted formal plans to Horry County.
The Carolina Forest community has an active Civic Association that monitors future plans for the area. The home builder faces quite a challenge to sell current homeowner on their residential plans. ♦
Source:
You’re not fooling anybody’: Carolina Forest residents oppose Wizard golf course redevelopment
by: Chris Spiker, CONWAY, SC (WBTW)
Posted: Updated: