WEST CHESTER TWP. — No one stepped up at an auction Thursday to purchase the Beckett Ridge Golf Club.

The auction of the club, at 5595 Beckett Ridge Blvd., was conducted online by AuctionPoint and NAIBergman of Cincinnati with a starting bid of $2.9 million.

Even though the club did not sell Thursday, 57 individuals, corporations and entities that registered to participate in the auction have expressed serious interest in purchasing the facility, said Craig Fanning of Liberty Twp., a former general manager and co-owner of the club.

“There has been an email sent to all those people that acknowledges there were no responses at $2.9 million or higher at the auction (to purchase the golf club),” he said.

“It’s basically inviting them to make an offer and submit a LOI (letter of intent), and submit that with their terms and price.”

Charles Staples, the owner of the golf club, said the deadline to submit the letters of intent is July 10.

He said he decided to put the club, which opened in 1975 as a premier golf course in the northern Cincinnati corridor, up for auction because it is difficult to manage the facility from his home in Jupiter, Fla.

Staples said he is disappointed the club did not sell.

“We don’t have any other properties in the vicinity and the property is doing well. I think something will happen. We’ve got plenty of interest out there,” he said.

“Today, it’s hard to find a loan and stuff like that. We’ll just have to see how these letters of intent come in between now and July 10. I’m very optimistic. It’s a good property, it’s a good location, it’s a good golf course and cash flowing really good money. I think its got possibilities for development.”

Staples said he and Fanning purchased Beckett Ridge Country Club in 2002. Staples became the sole owner of the club in 2007.

The Staples family owns Fore Golf Inc., which operates 10 golf courses in Florida: eight in Tampa and two in Melbourne.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxinc.com.