Lakes Golf Course to Close in Prescott
The continued existence of the Prescott Lakes community golf course may soon come to a vote.
Representatives of golf club members and the course developer are working on another proposal for members to vote on, with the course’s future hanging in the balance.
It comes down to residents either voting for an offer to keep the course active or voting it down and possibly watching it turn into open space.
Bill Brownlee, managing member of M3 Companies, announced the temporary closure of the golf club effective next week.
Brownlee said the closure begins March 1 and he anticipates it will last for 60 days or until property owners vote on the proposal for the Prescott Lakes Community Association and Arnold Palmer Golf Management to control and operate both clubs jointly on or before the end of April.
“If the vote fails, it will be closed permanently,” he said. “The golf course does not make economic sense to continue to operate.”
Brownlee said residents got a letter Wednesday explaining the outcome of a meeting this past week with the community’s golf advisory committee.
Jeff Davis, who announced in late January that he is parting ways with M3 while still keeping an equal interest in the golf club, declined to comment.
Prescott Lakes Community Association board member Dave Hackathorn said Arnold Palmer Golf Management and the community association eventually will borrow about $2.6 million to go toward additional amenities and contract with the golf management company to manage it if voters support it.
“We’ve already talked to banks and stuff and we know that we are likely to be able to get the money that we need,” he said. “I think what we’re trying to work through is just that we have all the details and then be able to come back and present that to the homeowners.”
According to Hackathorn, it will take weeks to put all the pieces together, present it to residents and get ballots out and count them.
In the meantime, developers are asking golf members to continue to make their monthly payments and that money would go to maintaining the course, according to Hackathorn, who said golf members will end up paying greater monthly fees, which would vary on the type of membership package they have.
Hackathorn said it also gets M3 out of the community.
“To me, that’s the biggest value of the whole thing: If we can do this, then (M3 is) out of it both from the homeowners’ association perspective and from the golf club,” he said. “If we don’t pass it, then they’re going to continue to own the athletic club and they will continue to control the homeowners association.”
Although the athletic club will continue to operate normally, Brownlee said the golf industry is really taking it on the chin right now.
“(The) Prescott Lakes golf club is really not unique with its situation; it’s not a stand-alone problem - it’s a problem that a lot of people in the industry have,” he said. “We view it as a great opportunity for the athletic and golf clubs and the community at large.”
The letter states that if people vote against the proposal, the club will cease operations and explore “repurposing” parts of the property, including residential and commercial development options.
“We are looking at various options right now, but the focus needs to be on Arnold Palmer and Prescott Lakes Community Association plan,” Brownlee said. “We just don’t want to do anything that would take away from their ability to be successful with that plan because that’s what we see as being best for the community is for them to be successful.”
Hackathorn made a similar comment.
“What we’re looking for really is to find something that everybody can get behind and agree is the best solution.”
Source: The Daily Courier
