Owner believes it will remain a golf course while others suspect it might be redeveloped for homes
Bent Creek Golf Course off Airline Road is going up for auction early next month, and the co-owner who has been running the course said he it believes it will remain a golfing facility.
The approximately 33-acre course, the pro shop at 615 Mallard Lane and course equipment will be auctioned at noon Friday, June 6, with both live and online bids accepted.
“They’re leaving it a turnkey operation for somebody to have success” operating it as a golf course, auctioneer Kevin Herron of Herron Auction & Realty said Tuesday.
“Tractors, machinery, zero turns, greens mowers, sander, I’ve got everything. It’s ready,” said Chris Pritchett, who has owned the course with his brother, Judd, since 2012 under the corporate name J & C Golfing LLC. They’re selling it because Chris Pritchett, who has operated the course for 15 years, is retiring.
Chris Pritchett said he has heard from prospective buyers interested in operating the golf course.
“We had it up for sale at one time (and) had some offers,” but those offers weren’t satisfactory, Chris Pritchett said.
“It’s going to sell at the auction,” he said.
“I believe it will be a great opportunity for somebody,” Herron said.
Asked if he thinks it will be purchased by someone intending to keep the golf course in operation, Pritchett said, “Yes, I do. But I don’t know that for sure.”
Some local observers, though, said privately that they suspect the course might wind up being redeveloped for homes. The Herron online auction description characterizes it as both “a true turnkey cash flow profit producing business” and a “(p)rime investment or residential redevelopment opportunity.”
Bent Creek Golf Course was built in 2003 alongside the adjacent Bent Creek Golf Community subdivision.
Bent Creek is an executive-style nine-hole public course situated across Airline Road from the newly developed Deaconess Henderson SportsPlex. The course is 2,430 yards long, features trees, several lakes and mature fairways, and is a par 35 course.
The operation includes a fleet of 16 golf carts, mowing and maintenance equipment, and furniture and other contents related to facility.
The 3,562-square-foot clubhouse was built in 2017; Herron Auction said it offers potential for added revenue as an event center. The property also includes a detached brick 2,108-square-foot cart barn, full lake-fed irrigation system and a 40-plus-space parking area.
“It’s ready for an owner,” Chris Pritchett said.
He said the course gets plenty of play. “If it’s not raining, it’s really busy,” he said. However, “It’s rained every day this spring,” or nearly so, disrupting the opportunity to play in recent weeks.
The parcels owned by J & C Golfing are collectively appraised for just over $440,000 by the Henderson County Property Valuation Administrator’s office, including $160,000 for the 32.2-acre golf course and $280,000 for the pro shop on one acre at 615 Mallard.
Those appraisals don’t include the value of golf carts, maintenance equipment, pro shop furnishings and other property, nor the value of Bent Creek Golf Course as a going business.
In a text message, Herron said, “In today’s economy with volatile markets we believe that real estate is the most safe and sound investment, and when you consider this amount of acreage in this location surrounded by modern upscale homes and across from the new Henderson Sports Complex minutes from I-69, it is a very nice real estate investment, especially considering it’s a turnkey cash flow going business with all the golf carts and equipment needed to run the course.”
He added: “I’m excited to see who buys it and how they plan to continue to operate the facility that the Pritchetts have put their heart and soul into.”
This article has been updated with corrected name of co-owner Chris Pritchett.