In addition, the purchase of the course has helped keep six full-time jobs and 30 seasonal jobs staffed by a combination of former staff and new hires.
“We really want to save this for Springfield and provide employment for Springfield,” said Dave Duffey, the new general manager of Windy Knoll.
Two other parcels of land once considered part of the golf course have not been sold and are still under receivership, though they are reserved for development purposes along Bechtle Avenue, said Jerry Strozdas, city law director.
Court appointed receiver Reg Martin of Martin Management Services, Inc. was unavailable for comment.
“There are people wanting to develop that ... it’s a really good development deal,” Strozdas said.
Windy Knoll had fallen into receivership a year ago, with more than $4.5 million in debt, according to court documents.
The purchasing price of $1.44 million paid for the debts associated with the land, including a $110,000 debt to the city for extending Bechtle Avenue and Roscommon Drive for easier access, said Strozdas.
The expansion “improved traffic flow and improved access to shopping and retail,” he said.
While the current sale has taken care of all back taxes, loans and charges on the golf course, it’s clear the golf course has a long road to go.
“Because of the financial condition of the previous owners ... we’re working hard to bring (the course) back to the same condition it was in several years ago,” Duffey said.
The course will add new lighting and pave the gravel parking lot, as well as fix the fences and add restrooms to the course to replace port a-potties. Duffey also said the corporation wants to rehab the restaurant and kitchen to make it a year-round venue.
“We want to increase play and get local people to enjoy the facility,” Duffey added.
He said that the course gets a lot of customers from Dayton and Columbus, but the support of locals would give the course a shot in the arm. For that reason, the prices have been lowered to make the course more competitive.
“This is a public golf course, but over the years people have thought this is a private facility,” Duffey said. “This is open to anyone.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371 or emason@coxohio.com.
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