Minnetonka Country Club closing down
SHOREWOOD, Minn. – Another metro golf course found itself in the deep rough and has decided to close. Venerable Minnetonka Country Club ownership announced to its members that the club will not renew memberships for 2015.
Fifteen metro area golf courses have shuttered their doors and sold off the property for development since 2005. The situation is part of a national downturn in interest in playing the sport of golf.
"The National Golf Course Owners Association actually projects that there will be 1,000 fewer golf courses in the United States, net, over the next decade," said Tom Ryan, Minnesota Golf Association Executive Director.
Ryan pointed out that Metro enthusiasts overbuilt the number of golf courses in the early 1990's.
"It is really kind of an incredible statistic," said Ryan. "In the last 20 years, about 25 percent of all the golf courses in Minnesota have been built."
Unfortunately, those new courses arrived at the cost of some older traditional courses like Minnetonka, built in 1916, and the Hastings Country Club.
"I think it is a shame," said Grant Mixdorf, Minnetonka Country Club member. "It is a beautiful course. It has been here almost 100 years. It was my first year being a member here, so it is a shame."
"It is sad," agreed Ryan. "Certainly, the local players and the community do not like to see them go, but, unfortunately, it is a reality in our business."
A message from management to Minnetonka Country Club (MCC) members, obtained by KARE 11, explained that the facility needed major upgrades and capital investment. "None of the current MCC shareholders has sufficient funds to do such investment. MCC has lost money the last two years and will again this year," the message explained. "Previous plans discussed with several members to keep MCC open contingent on the basis of 'at least financially break even or better' do not seem attainable."
The message from Bill Witrak continued "Club operations will continue throughout the remainder of this year, but we will not be able to accept memberships for next year."
The decision shocked Megan Junker of Excelsior, a non-golfer, whose husband is an MCC member.
"I feel like if MCC were to become a housing development of 60,70,80 homes, we are fast approaching over-development of a small area," said Junker. "On this side of town, almost all of the clubs are private and with the exception of MCC, all of the clubs have initiation fees of $15,000, $20,000, $30,000, $50,000 to walk in the door. So, by closing Minnetonka, you close the door on a lot of golfers and a lot of people that could help revive the sport."
Despite hopes for a rebound, it appears that more bad news for golfers is on the horizon.
"We watch it very closely and we do what we can to promote it, but it is no secret that there are going to be golf courses closing and most of those actually in the Metro," said Ryan. "Golf is really healthy outstate."
Reported by: Kare11.com
Fifteen metro area golf courses have shuttered their doors and sold off the property for development since 2005. The situation is part of a national downturn in interest in playing the sport of golf.
"The National Golf Course Owners Association actually projects that there will be 1,000 fewer golf courses in the United States, net, over the next decade," said Tom Ryan, Minnesota Golf Association Executive Director.
Ryan pointed out that Metro enthusiasts overbuilt the number of golf courses in the early 1990's.
"It is really kind of an incredible statistic," said Ryan. "In the last 20 years, about 25 percent of all the golf courses in Minnesota have been built."
Unfortunately, those new courses arrived at the cost of some older traditional courses like Minnetonka, built in 1916, and the Hastings Country Club.
"I think it is a shame," said Grant Mixdorf, Minnetonka Country Club member. "It is a beautiful course. It has been here almost 100 years. It was my first year being a member here, so it is a shame."
"It is sad," agreed Ryan. "Certainly, the local players and the community do not like to see them go, but, unfortunately, it is a reality in our business."
A message from management to Minnetonka Country Club (MCC) members, obtained by KARE 11, explained that the facility needed major upgrades and capital investment. "None of the current MCC shareholders has sufficient funds to do such investment. MCC has lost money the last two years and will again this year," the message explained. "Previous plans discussed with several members to keep MCC open contingent on the basis of 'at least financially break even or better' do not seem attainable."
The message from Bill Witrak continued "Club operations will continue throughout the remainder of this year, but we will not be able to accept memberships for next year."
The decision shocked Megan Junker of Excelsior, a non-golfer, whose husband is an MCC member.
"I feel like if MCC were to become a housing development of 60,70,80 homes, we are fast approaching over-development of a small area," said Junker. "On this side of town, almost all of the clubs are private and with the exception of MCC, all of the clubs have initiation fees of $15,000, $20,000, $30,000, $50,000 to walk in the door. So, by closing Minnetonka, you close the door on a lot of golfers and a lot of people that could help revive the sport."
Despite hopes for a rebound, it appears that more bad news for golfers is on the horizon.
"We watch it very closely and we do what we can to promote it, but it is no secret that there are going to be golf courses closing and most of those actually in the Metro," said Ryan. "Golf is really healthy outstate."
Reported by: Kare11.com
