Again, the backstory of the club can be found in Bill Field’s article:
https://pinestrawmag.com/fallow-ground-fertile-memories/Here’s a brief overview of what’s happening now with the dormant nine holes at SPGC:
The management company that ran the golfing component of the Elks club in Southern Pines filed a lawsuit after the Elks declined to renew their contract. The lawsuit settled for a sizable sum, which the Elks had to borrow. Repayment will be due soon. Thus, the Elks reluctantly came to consider selling some of the Little Nine land – holes 1-4.
The Elks voted on rezoning, subdividing & selling holes 1-4 last Monday, but the proposal did not get the required 2/3 majority. So, the situation remains as before. The loan falls due in February of 2020, and how the Elks might meet that obligation remains unclear.
I bring this up on here for reasons you may imagine. It is a fine little course. And design zealots such as ourselves don’t like to see fine courses taken over by development. This is especially the case when one of the titans of design built the course.
There is also the issue of development. This area has seen a great deal of development. Like anything, this can be done well or poorly. Unfortunately much of the development in the area has been ill advised. Have a look at any urban or suburban area and you’ll see a huge amount of wall to wall housing/condos/strip malls. It should be painfully obvious that (for many reasons) a lack of open area is not the best way to move forward.
I told the good folks trying to preserve the land this was an exceptionally knowledgeable group. They are eager to hear your ideas and suggestions. Feel free to share your thoughts.
Thanks!