Developer interested in country club

Web posted Tuesday, November 14, 2000

 Have a thought? Go to the @ugusta Forums.

By Eric Williamson
Staff Writer

Real estate developer Weldon Wyatt confirmed Monday he is heading a group interested in buying Aiken's Houndslake Country Club.

The group of buyers, working under the name HGC LLC, hopes to close on the purchase Nov. 30.

``We're basically going through the negotiation stages,'' said Mr. Wyatt, president of Wyatt Development Co. Inc. ``... Houndslake is a very unique facility. It can be made a great country club. That's our intentions.''

Houndslake Country Club Inc., at 1900 Houndslake Drive, had been caught in a financial sand trap of sorts, which apparently has been a motivator in the sale.

A series of state tax liens filed against the club, the two most recent of which were in excess of $30,000 combined, were released last month, according to a public information request by The Augusta Chronicle.

Generally, property ownership cannot be transferred when liens are present because a potential owner would not have clear title to the land.

Houndslake Country Club's owner and general manager, Robert Penland, did not immediately return calls made to his office Monday.

A Houndslake member, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a deal had been rumored for months.

``There is a general feeling around the members of the club that the club would benefit a great deal from someone who would come in and put some money into it,'' the source said. ``It's a terrific property.''

Mr. Wyatt's interest in the club appears to fit into a larger strategy.

In March, the developer broke ground in western Aiken on the Sage Valley Golf Club, a sprawling private club that has drawn comparisons to the Augusta National Golf Club for its planned exclusivity.

The ambitious, 500-acre project will be located just off Interstate 20 on land formerly held by the former Graniteville Co., which is now Avondale Mills. Construction on the clubhouse has begun, and the sodding of the fairways and planting of the greens continues.

Sage Valley, although it will have cottages on the grounds, will not compete with Houndslake, a planned residential community.

``Sage Valley doesn't have anything to do with the concept at Houndslake,'' Mr. Wyatt said.

Mr. Wyatt was rumored to be eyeing Goshen Plantation, an 18-hole course in south Richmond County that was put on the market three months ago by National Golf Properties Inc., but he said Monday he is not interested in purchasing the course.

The California-based company said it is selling the course to focus on other markets where it owns multiple courses, company spokesman Robert Clifford said.

Mr. Wyatt, whose company is one of the Southeast's top Wal-Mart developers, is a member of Palmetto, Mount Vintage Plantation, Houndslake and Woodside Plantation golf clubs.

Reach Eric Williamson at (706) 828-3904.

Submit Your Opinion Name: Email: Enter your comments here