I was just looking at the routing of the original 27 hole course (which is hung over our copy machine) yesterday, and today I see this.......we know the club has a history of selling off land.
There is some land on the north boundary. The high rise apparently will take out the old range, which is too small anyway.
Des Moines Register (Iowa)
October 21, 2006 Saturday
The board of directors at Wakonda Club wants to develop town homes in two locations on its private, 18-hole golf course as a way to lift the aging club out of debt and build its declining membership.
The plan would include clusters of 40 to 50 town homes along Park Avenue, north of the fifth fairway, as well as a midrise building with an undetermined number of units adjacent to the clubhouse. Club President Brad Winterbottom said each town house could translate into $30,000 to $50,000, for a potential of several million dollars in new revenue to the 84-year-old club.
"We've been looking for ways to create additional revenue opportunities without assessing the membership," said Winterbottom, who would not disclose de-tails on membership fees. "I would stress that we're still in the conceptual stage with this project, and while the board of directors is viewing it very positively, we still want full membership feedback before we make a final vote."
Wakonda Club's membership has dropped 25 percent, to 352, in 13 years. It has 57 members younger than the age of 40, club officials said.
Winterbottom said the decline is reflective of the country club industry as a whole, as more upscale public clubs become available and suburban families choose to join clubs closer to home.
Where Des Moines Golf and Country Club has enjoyed strong growth in the western suburbs, Wakonda Club has remained somewhat stagnant, he said.
"When you have a vibrant, full membership, it creates cash flow to buy more amenities and attract even more members," Winterbottom said. "Our hope is that this project will allow us to retire our debt and make significant improvements so that we too can draw in new members and better serve our existing ones."
Golf course housing has become increasingly common in suburbs and rural areas, but the move would be a big step for a landlocked club in the middle of the city. Wakonda leaders stressed that while the club was still sound financially, the trends were troubling.
In a DVD sent to members explaining the proposal, businessman and philanthropist Jim Cownie implores: "If we don't do something like this housing initiative, we will continue to languish." . . .
Two member forums will be held next week to discuss the development, and board members will vote on the plan early next month. If they decide to move forward, Wakonda would then begin meeting with developers, Winterbottom said. The club would sell land to developers, who would then sell the units. A range of costs for the units hasn't been determined.
So far the feedback from members has been good, Winterbottom said.
"We absolutely want to make sure that the golfing and club experience that people have historically enjoyed out of Wakonda remains intact," Winterbottom said. "I feel certain that we will."