Indian Lake Borough will reopen the formerly private Central City, Pa., property as a public course in 2019. The 250-acre property had been appraised at $1.4 million but was acquired by the borough for $600,000.
Indian Lake Golf Club in Central City, Pa. has been sold to Indian Lake Borough in Somerset County and will reopen as a public course next year, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
The terms of the deal were not disclosed by former club Board member and spokesperson Allison Troy Finui, but the Post-Gazette reported that local councilman Curt Morgese said the deal was a “win-win” for the borough, which got a “steal” for $600,000, according to Morgese.
In addition to preserving the historic course, Morgese explained, there is value to the entire borough to own the land, for future utility right-of-ways.
“For the council’s sake, we bought the course because it had a value to everyone in the community, not just as a golf course,” Morgese said.
The 250-acre golf club, which features the first course designed by Arnold Palmer, had been previously appraised at $1.4 million, the Post-Gazettereported.
Palmer designed nine holes for the 18-hole Indian Lakes course, which is located not far from the golfing legend’s hometown of Latrobe, Pa., before the club opened in 1967, the Post-Gazette reported.
Finui told the Post-Gazette that “Our Board and club-member mission was to always ‘Save ‘Arnie’s First,’ and we now feel [that] mission is accomplished.
“[The acquisition by the borough and its reopening as a public course] will allow everyone to come out and enjoy the beautiful course,” Finui added.
The club’s 18 holes will now be leased and operated as a public course next year by Chris Smith, who owns and operates Northwinds Golf Course across from Indian Lake GC, the Post-Gazette reported.
“We look for great things in the future,” Smith said.
Smith has been helping to maintain the private course, particularly the greens, since it first went up for sale last year, the Post-Gazette reported.
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