Deer Track courses likely closed for good

No matter what happens regarding rezoning and litigation with the two golf courses at Deer Track Golf Resort, it’s highly unlikely either course will ever reopen.

McCray Smith, a principal in the company that owns the North Course, has a more than 400-unit development planned and said Thursday he is not interested in operating it as a course. Though he eventually would like to own and operate a course on the Grand Strand.

Jeff Farrell, Myrtle Beach Division President of Bill Clark Homes, said in September his company has a contract to buy the South Course from the Schaad family of Tennessee and intends to build as soon as possible. Ferrell said the contract is pending the outcome of a lawsuit.

Residents on both courses have sued course owners attempting to halt redevelopment. But even if they were to win one or both suits, someone would have to operate and manage the courses.

While the courses are still in relatively good shape considering they’ve been closed for nearly two months, that’s not likely to be the case for long and it would take an initial investment to make them playable.

Gary Schaal, an owner of the Leading Edge Golf company that had operated both courses before they closed within a week of each other, said it’s doubtful his company would operate the courses again.

Source: Alan Blondin, The Sun News, Myrtle beach, SC