A group of investors called Clinton C.C., LLC will take over ownership of the property on September 1. The group plans to maintain the 18-hole golf course, while offering memberships as well as public play, eliminating lifetime memberships, and seeking a liquor license.
The Plattsburg (Mo.) Country Club has been sold to a group of investors, thereby avoiding bankruptcy. The new ownership will begin operation on September 1, the Plattsburg Clinton County Leader reported.
Before a large crowd of members on August 10, club president Brett Cockrum had board member Ono Monachino read the motion to sell the club and its assets to a group of investors, Clinton C.C., LLC, the Leader reported.
Gary Ellington, who is one of the six investors of the LLC, stood before the membership and answered numerous questions. He assured the members that the group would restore the course back to its once proud condition, where members and guests alike enjoyed the challenging 18-hole layout. Some key points made during the discussion of the motion were:
• Course will remain an 18-hole golf course layout.
• Memberships will be offered along with public play. No price for membership dues has been established. Tournaments will be held at times to avoid conflict with member play.
• Personal golf carts will continue.
• Current greens keeper Reid Bromley and clubhouse manager Carol Davis will continue in their current capacity.
• Pool plans are to continue to operate as before. Ellington did not guarantee it, but said it looked favorable.
• Lifetime memberships for those over 10 years will no longer be honored. Those less than 10 years will be prorated.
• Current memberships will also be prorated based on the September 1 purchase date for the new ownership.
• Water agreement with the City of Plattsburg will be signed acknowledging that the water used for the course is reclaimed water, not for drinking.
• A liquor license will be sought to sell beer and wine.
The group has already made and paid for improvements. A new AC unit has been purchased and installed in the Adult Room. New sprinkler heads have been purchased and water controls have been repaired, the Leader reported.
“We will reseed the greens and tee boxes,” Ellington said. “We will fertilize the fairways and make the needed repairs on (the) Hole 17 bridge and cart path on Hole 8. Currently, the club has about $6,000 remaining in the bank and has an August 15 payroll of $4,800.”
The motion was then voted by the membership. Those casting “aye” votes were counted and no hands went up when they called for those who opposed—a unanimous agreement for the sale, the Leader reported.
The end of the Plattsburg Country Club began with the announcement at the Plattsburg Park Board meeting in May. Club member Ono Monachino informed the Board that during their spring membership meeting it was decided they would not pay the Platte Valley Bank their annual payment of $27,300, which was due on May 14. The club had about $20,000 in the bank, he said, and decided they would use that money to keep the club functioning, the Leader reported.
“If we paid, we would not have anything to run the club,” Monachino said. “The Platte Valley Bank has been great to us. We owe around $350,000 to the bank and (a) $25,000 loan to the Plattsburg Development Corporation. Our plans are to use the funds to operate the course as best we can, and let the process play out.”
At one time in early 2000, the club had about 325 members, with membership now at approximately 140, the Leader reported.
“We don’t plan on making a profit for a while, and our group understands that,” Ellington said. “We will focus on getting members back and new ones, plus hosting tournaments.”
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