NEWS

Myrtle Beach's
Colonial Charters
looking to replace
holes with houses

(Oct. 17, 2005) - It appears the Grand Strand could be losing at least part of another golf course.

Mike Matheny, owner of the Colonial Charters Golf and Country Club has been trying to redevelop part of the course to make way for housing, a trend that has become all too common at the Grand Strand in recent years, and one which infuriates many residents of golf communities.

Matheny submitted a plan to the Horry County Commission this summer that called for as many as 300 condominiums to be built. Two holes, the practice range and the clubhouse would have been affected.

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But, the plan stalled because it ran into opposition from neighborhood residents and because it would have required re-zoning. Now, Matheny has written a sketch draft, according to Myrtle Beach Online and others, that would close the back nine holes for single-family housing. That plan, which has not been formally presented, would not require a zoning change.

Residents are angry and concerned.

"You close the back nine of a course, you've just signed the death warrant for that course," said Dee Weiss a resident of Colonial Charters and a realtor. "When those nine holes close, what are those of us who bought homes or condos surrounding the course now looking at? We're looking at weeds."

Weiss said she and others expected Matheny to propose a scaled-down alternate plan from the original, eliminating a hotel and six three-story condo buildings at the entrance to the neighborhood.

"We expect future development," Weiss said. "We've learned to live with it here in Myrtle Beach where construction is absolutely monumental - but none of us expected to see our property values plummet on the loss of a golf course."

Weiss said residents loved being able to play a good course so close, and that the relationship between members and Matheny, who bought the course in 2002, was good for a while. But the relationship soured when Matheny and the Colonial Charters men's golf association could not come to a new agreement on fees. The men's association, as well as the ladies association, ended up leaving and moving to different courses.

Colonial Charters had been in Chapter 11 reorganization since September 2003 but in early October, the course emerged from bankruptcy after a U.S. bankruptcy judged ordered its cases closed. Weiss said residents are frustrated over the possible loss of at least part of the course.

"A lot of us are retirement age here," Weiss said. "They bought homes at a very reasonable price a few years ago. Where are they going to go now? Even if they sell that home at an appreciated value, everything else is appreciated, too. Where are they going to go now for the same price? They cannot do it. Consequently, we're all stuck. It doesn't look like there's much we can do about it."

Matheny was not available for comment.

The course opened 17 years ago, and has hosted the Carolinas Open, and it's the site for the annual Carolinas PGA Senior Professional Championship, the NCAA Big South Conference Championship and the Myrtle Beach Invitational.

It has always been popular with juniors, with its slope rating of 124 from the back tees, especially during summer when the club offers junior discount programs. The 18-holer was designed by John Simpson.

At least four courses have closed at least nine holes since January, and eight Grand Strand courses have folded in the last six years. Burning Ridge West closed nine holes in January for a housing component, Robbers Roost closed in 2003 and Raccoon Run is scheduled to close soon, to be replaced with housing.

In North Myrtle Beach, Bay Tree Plantation plans to close 36 of 54 holes next year to make way for housing. Two Calabash courses are being affected: Calabash Golf Links is expected to close in November for housing and Marsh Harbour closed in 2002.

Angels Trace Golf Links is currently negotiating with prospective buyers, and Crown Park closed nine of its 27 holes to make way for new homes.

Some in the Grand Strand golf industry have predicted as many as 10-12 courses will be closed in the next 12-18 months.