County’s lone golf course still for sale after auction

No one offered the minimum bid of $475,000 — plus a 10 percent buyer’s premium, which put the actual minimum bid at $522,500 — during a hybrid sealed bid and online auction recently.

“It (the golf course) did not sell and is still available,” said Frank Smith of Tranzon Integrity Partners, the company handling the auction of the course for BB&T Bank.

Smith would not say how many people offered bids on the property.

“We can’t release that information,” said Smith.

Right now, it’s unclear whether the land will be used for a golf course or for something else. Smith said most of the interest in the property was from potential buyers who didn’t have golf in mind.

“Most of the interest was from folks not really looking to buy it as a golf course,” he said.

Smith said there are no plans right now for another auction, noting that sellers typically “adjust their expectations downward” when a minimum bid is not met.

“Folks can still bid on it,” he said, adding that anyone interested in making an offer on the property can call him at 1-888-237-4252 ext. 84.

The 18-hole, 6,364-yard golf course is located on 135 acres, with a 2,400-square foot pro shop and 3,000 square foot maintenance building.

The course was formerly owned by developer John Byram, who appeared before county commissioners multiple times seeking a rezoning for a senior citizens development on the property. He intended to open an “executive” style course, which would have featured numerous par 3’s instead of a par 72 setup. But that plan was never realized. Byram closed the course this summer amid financial troubles.