The project will keep the 50-year-old Crownsville, Md. property, which is now owned by Anne Arundel (Md.) County and managed by Billy Casper Golf, closed until the spring of 2020. Planned improvements include a new clubhouse, new bentgrass greens, a new short-game practice area, an expanded driving range, a creek restoration, a new double-row irrigation…

As the city of Annapolis, Md. and Anne Arundel (Md.) County try to negotiate the sale of the Crownsville, Md., course, a clause in a half-century-old lease has come to light which indicates that the county, which wants to buy the course from the city and has cited its disrepair in making a bid of $3.1 million, has always been responsible for its upkeep.

Anne Arundel County has shared responsibility for the Crownsville, Md., property with the City of Annapolis, Md., for nearly 50 years, and has allotted $3.3 million in the 2017 budget to buy the aging golf course. The city and county have evenly split maintenance costs and profits for the 18-hole, 6,500-yard course since 1966, which nets about $300,000 annually.

The Key School bought the nine-hole golf course for $1.5 million and plans to build three athletic fields, eight tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a 1.7-mile nature trail, a pool and a maintenance facility on the property, leaving 44 acres untouched. The 85-year-old golf course will close September 29.