Drops in membership and other factors have made rumors swirl about the possible sale and/or closings of Birchwood CC and Northgreen CC. With the prospect of economic growth in the Twin Counties, local authorities continue to look for ways to help those properties and other clubs in the area thrive.
It’s no secret that the golf business has been struggling to find ways to grow, and its decline has been felt in the Twin Counties, reported the Rocky Mount (N.C.) Telegram.
Recent rumors have been floating around about golf courses in Nash County closing. Birchwood Country Club, a semi-private country club in Nashville that was started in 1960, is rumored to be contracted out to a homebuilder who plans to redevelop the course for housing, reported the Telegram.
Joe Hester, a local lawyer, who is the acting President of Birchwood Country Club, wouldn’t confirm or deny if Birchwood was being sold. According to Hester, no transaction of a sale of Birchwood has been finalized and business at the country club is going on as normal, reported the Telegram.
According to a local official, Birchwood’s membership has dropped significantly over the years, reported the Telegram.
“We’re in the process of trying to resolve everything and it will take some time before things work themselves out,” Hester said.
Randy Davis, General Manager and Golf Professional at Northgreen Country Club in Rocky Mount, said rumors that Northgreen is closing aren’t true. Davis said Northgreen’s course and property is currently listed for sale for $1.3 million, reported the Telegram.
“Our owners are involved in other ventures and simply do not want to own a golf course 500 miles away,” said Davis. “We would love to have a local individual or group of individuals purchase the course and re-invest in it.”
Golf has had its challenges in the region during the past 10 years, Davis noted. Hickory Meadows golf course in Whitakers shut down in 2012, and the owner of the 56-year-old Happy Valley golf course in Wilson announced that it will be closing at the end of the golf season this year, he said.
Northgreen has been struggling for the past few years, Davis said, trying to get the golf course back in shape. But times have been tough, with a weak demand in the market and competition from other courses. The downward trend in the golf business is just as much of a national issue as it is locally, Davis noted.
“Golf used to be booming, but there’s just not that many people to support that many golf courses,” he said. “It’s almost survival of the fittest, and we’re trying to hang on as long as we can.”
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