Weatherwax (Middletown OH) update 9/27/15 - Bye bye to golf

[teejaywhy]

** See post #7 for the latest info **

 

 

Weatherwax golf course, the former City of Middletown 36-hole municipal course has been sold to private ownership and despite some hopes that the new owner might make a go at continued operation, just three weeks after close of sale, an auction has been scheduled for the sale of the golf car fleet and all the maintenace equipment etc.

 

http://www.journal-n...uipment/nhZMd//

 

 

Background and some links to news stories that follow the saga:

 

Weatherwax is a 36-hole Arthur Hills design opened in 1974.

 

Once a proud industrial town with major steel and paper mills driving the economy and providing employment, Middletown has faced steady decline since the mid-70's as both the major industries slumped. The city faces declining tax revenue and decaying infrastructure.

 

So not an unusual story - the city had struggled for years with the course operation in the red and debt service for a renovation loan.

 

After considering all angles including contracting out the course to a private operator, in the choice was made to sell last fall. (Dec 2013)

http://www.journal-n...atherwax/ncBps/

 

Auctioneer offers 1.6 mil: (Jan 2014)

http://www.journal-n...atherwax/nc6cB/

 

Agreement made to purchase golf course: (Feb 2014)

http://www.journal-n...f-course/ndC6x/

 

Sale finally closes (Sept 2014)

http://www.journal-n...e-closes/nhNth/

[Tallen01]

Thanks for the update. I shared something similar on another forum. Sad state of affairs, but reality. AS a lifelong Middletown resident, I really enjoyed Weatherwax. I need to get out and take pictures before it becomes a farm or houses.

[Tarantula18t]

They are staying open another year. Someone leased the course thru Nov 2015.

They had everything set to be auctioned off, but it was cancelled.

[teejaywhy]

Well, that's good news for now. Here is the story.

[url]http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/local/weatherwax-to-remain-golf-course-in-2015/nhkhH/[/url]

[Lord Helmet]

Good ole Butler Cty. Middletown is a shell of what it used to be.

[ilikegolf26]

I occasionally played this course in college. It isn't a far drive from Oxford and it was a nice change of pace from Indian Ridge and the usual slow play at Hueston Woods. Sad to hear it's closing but nice to see it will remain open for a couple last months.

[teejaywhy]

Weatherwax has been sold to the Butler County Metroparks. A link to Thursday's Journal-News article:
[url="http://www.journal-news.com/news/news/sale-of-weatherwax-property-to-metroparks-is-end-o/nnmfb/"]http://www.journal-n...is-end-o/nnmfb/[/url]

What I find most interesting, the statement:
[i]"... However, due to restrictions placed on the use of the property by the grant funds used to acquire it, golf will no longer be possible there once the present golf lease expires and park ownership begins..."[/i]

That doesn't sit right with me, why the exclusion on golf? Why is golf contrary to the offering of public recreation?

The article says the source of the grant money is The Trust for Public Land. Who are these people and why do they hate golf?

[url="http://www.tpl.org/"]http://www.tpl.org/[/url]