In 2012, Weatherwax, which sits on 425 acres, and neighboring Sebald Park were appraised at $1.2 million. Since then, Sebald Park has been sold to Butler Metroparks.
Myron Bowling, president of Myron Bowling Auctioneers in Hamilton, made the highest offer after meeting with his partners, who have been in the auction business for 38 years. He expects to open Weatherwax, a 36-hole course in Madison Twp., this spring and the “immediate plan” is to keep it a golf course.
He said his goal is to make Weatherwax, which has operated in the red, profitable by making improvements and reducing costs. When asked to elaborate, he said: “We don’t have a plan laid out.”
Bowling said he’s “never held a golf club,” then added: “I don’t plan on starting.”
Under his leadership, the company has conducted more than 2,000 auctions in the past 38 years.
Midwest Golf Investments LLC., which listed Howard Jackson from MiddCities as a partner, offered $225,000, according to documents. Jackson said he was “disappointed” that his offer wasn’t the highest because he was excited about putting assets back into the golf course.
But he realizes Middletown “needs to do what’s best for the city.”
He called Bowling’s bid “a pretty aggressive number.”
Middletown hopes to reduce its budget by selling the course and plans to eliminate 22 positions from public safety before 2015. The course is operating at a $150,000 deficit, which doesn’t include the $250,000 annual debt payment for past improvements, said City Manager Judy Gilleland.
Middletown is hoping to sell the golf course to a private owner because it wants to refocus its “efforts on core city services,” according to the Request For Proposals prepared by the city.
The proposals will be discussed by city staff, then a recommendation will be made to City Council at its next meeting on Tuesday, city officials said.
City Council has several options, and needs to act quickly, said Cindy Strayer, the city’s purchasing agent. She said if the city decides to retain Weatherwax, chemicals need to be purchased and applied in the next few weeks for the course to be ready for the golf season. If Weatherwax is sold, the order can be cancelled, Strayer said.
According to city documentation, several outings have been scheduled this year at Weatherwax and $3,900 in gift certificates have been sold and $7,600 in season passes.
Middletown isn’t alone getting out of the golf course business.
The National Trail Parks and Recreation District board in Springfield recently voted to close its 93-year-old Snyder Park Golf Course. By closing the course, the financially-strapped district will save an estimated $357,500.
National Trail’s golf operations have lost approximately $1.08 million over the last three years, including about $493,000 last year.
Crooked Tree, a 24-year-old golf course in Mason, closed late last year. Crooked Tree general manager Jack Eifert said before the mortgage payment, the 18-hole course was losing $150,000 to $200,000 a year.
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