Comments on: Aurora Country Club Closes

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:31:59 +0000

This is a totally irresponsible and the worst possible move a city could make in these times. First off the golf business is in the worst shape since the depression. Golf courses are closing Second if the City is worried about the land being developed they are nuts. The property has been looked at by numerous developers over the last 5 years and it is not feasible to develop with all the ravines and wetlands. The price is way too high also. Banbury owns the debt on the course but he bought the debt for a discount. Tanglewood CC has been bought for 1.6 million, why is this land worth 3.3. The City should stay out of this. This will be nothing but a headache in which taxpayer money will be thrown away. The City should take this to a vote of the people. I am sure it would go down by 90%.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 12:33:02 +0000

I guess that you cannot fight City Hall but you can question what they are doing.

The Aurora Advocate had (2) stories of interest; a request for a Library Levy to maintain operating hours, the other story was that the City has decided to buy the golf Club for over $3 million.

May I suggest that the voters of Aurora have a say in this Golf Club purchase.

If money to keep the Library open is an issue, is not spending $3 million an issue also.

We must recognize that the Golf Club is not financially sustainable. Otherwise the current owners would be still open. Is it the goal of Local government to take a financial interest in a failing proposition?

Several local Golf Clubs are failing due to a demand for the sport. We have (2) existing Gold courses in Aurora is there a need for (3) one funded by local taxpayers.

I have lived in Aurora for (20) years and I am not a golfer. I have no interest in using our local Tax dollars in supporting a failing Golf Club. In this land of free enterprise, let the free market rule. Our current financial times require extra caution providing city services, not excessive spending on financially risky ventures.

Our Mayor does not sound confident of his decision, I quote Mayor McGill “ We know the golf Club would not be a moneymaker: we just hope we could cover costs”

If Aurora City leaders have this level of confidence are we prepared to send our Tax money to support this?

I do not think the business of Aurora is to invest our money in a financial venture that they admit is risky. The residents of Aurora should vote on this.

By: olive

olive — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:38:29 +0000

I think this is a great thing for the city to do.

But we also need a library!!!!

By: olive

olive — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:37:45 +0000

Aurora plans to buy and reopen Aurora Golf & Country Club, which closed last fall after months of falling membership and mounting debts.

The city has agreed to buy the 226-acre property for $3.3 million. Aurora’s City Council discussed the deal at a meeting Monday night and could vote on the sale March 9. The transaction could close shortly after.

“We’ve been working on this for over two years,” Mayor Lynn McGill said Tuesday. “We’re planning to lease it to an operating company, and they will attempt to run it as a golf course.”

The property could reopen this year as a public club. If the club fails to attract golfers, then the city will preserve it as parkland and recreation space.

The country club opened in 1925 and closed in September. Aurora Recreation LLC, a private investor group, took on the club’s debt and maintained the property during sale talks. The city plans to acquire Aurora Recreation’s stake for $3.1 million, plus roughly $200,000 in real estate taxes and closing costs.

Portage County records place the property’s market value just above $3.5 million.

McGill said Aurora will issue a note to cover the purchase and eventually retire the note by selling more than 60 acres elsewhere in the city. But land sales, particularly for residential development, have flagged since the housing bubble burst. So Aurora, which owns roughly 1,550 acres, probably won’t be unloading land soon.

“We will wait until the market recovers here,” McGill said. “We’re not going to be selling at a loss.”

By: olive

olive — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:10:23 +0000

they are open fridays, saturdays and sundays in october i believe.

I was told by a barber that the course is open to the public on Sat & Sun

By: cc

cc — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 12:52:11 +0000

does anyone know if the course is open? I cant get anyone to answer the phone.

By: Lil Olive

Lil Olive — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:19:29 +0000

Me and Lil Popeye were talking this morning about this specific topic. The city of Aurora is only interested in this propery if they can have it for 1/2 mil or 1 million tops, it’s a market to make money in – yes, folks – you heard it here! 1 Million and not a dime more – it’s on the table and it’s being considered.
1 million….

By: olive

olive — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:13:45 +0000

I understand the course is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays in October.

By: Aurora Grad

Aurora Grad — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:51:12 +0000

I understand your thought process Lisa but the pool at the AGCC is not big enough to accommodate a city pool and there are no tennis courts there. AGCC members had reciprocity with another country club for tennis.

By: Lisa Gorman

Lisa Gorman — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:18:29 +0000

I think it would be a boon for residents if the City purchased the property. I have a family and would really like to become a member to an Aurora-based pool rather than taking my money to a neighboring city to enjoy the recreational amenities that would be offered by this club. We don’t live in a neighborhood that has a pool or tennis facilities and we are not interested in becoming members of a country club either. I hope this is what will happen to the property. The very last thing we need in Aurora right now is another housing development which would further burden our already over-burdened school system.

By: Oscar

Oscar — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:20:06 +0000

It’s beginning to look like the club is closed for the season although the grass is still being cut. Anyone heard anything

By: Gavorski

Gavorski — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 21:52:27 +0000

So what’s happening? Has it opened to the public?

By: olive

olive — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 14:58:51 +0000

Who’s cutting down the large trees at the country club?

By: olive

olive — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 15:02:08 +0000

It is a beautiful location. It seems very challenging. However there are many maintenance issues that i could see. There are many buildings to maintain and the greenspace needs constant upkeep. I understand that fertilizer and chemicals have just taken a large jump in price.

If the city is interested (as it is just a rumor now) there is a lot to consider. Grantwood is Solon is facing financial pressures, but that course is flat and boring. As a public course, Aurora CC ought to attract a lot of attention and players for a while. A full financial plan ought to be public.

There are additional benefits to the community like connectivity to Sunny Lake and a future rails to trails. The property ought to be more than just a golf course. The clubhouse could be used for additional community uses, (they could move city hall to that location! ;) ) but the pool seems kinda dinky for public use.

I agree with GL guy on some of points, but i support the city buying land in any form, swamp or golf course. Too bad this wasn’t in the Recreation master plan The city is rolling in dough. And this purchase could make a lot of sense. Too bad full members lost their money.

By: not a member

not a member — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 14:44:04 +0000

FYI, I have a couple of relatives who were stockholders (dropped down to social voluntarily a year or so ago for other reasons) and they’ve been told the stock holders do not get ANY money back–initiation fees, stock fees, assesments, etc. The club is broke, B-R-O-K-E. In fact full members (stock) were asked a few months ago to prepay, and now they lose that money and any use of the club that money was intended for. Any money rec’d from a sale will go to paying off debts and it’s doubtful there will be enough to even cover the debts.

I do agree that too many courses in Aurora (and the economy) contributed to the demise of ACC…just not enough demand. Too bad, I’m not a golfer but from what I hear it really is a nice course, better than Walden’s. My grandpa once played in a pro-am there in the 70’s w/the Golden Bear.

City looked into purchasing this a while ago (last year?) and deemed it to expensive, but if they can get it at a cheaper firesale price now, in my opinion, more power to them. Run correctly this might actually be profitable for the city.