Ridgemark investor Alex Kehriotis confirmed to the Free Lance on Monday that holes 11 through 18 of the Gabilan Course at Ridgemark Golf & Country Club will be closed by the spring or early summer.
Kehriotis, along with his father, John, and their company JMK Investments, acquired Ridgemark Golf & Country Club nearly five years ago. Kehriotis cited a variety of factors in the decision.
“There’s just not enough demand for golf to support a 36-hole facility,” he said. “Part of it is due to our customer base. Part of it is due to the golfing industry. The demand wasn’t there, and the cost of upkeep (was too high).
“When we took over, we thought the demand for golf would return if we maintained the course. At this stage in the game, nearly five years into it, we haven’t been able to achieve that (of making 36 holes viable). We’ve tried a variety of techniques and marketing approaches, but despite all of our best efforts, we’ve been forced to close the holes.”
JMK Golf, the owners of the course, met with representatives of the Ridgemark Homeowners Association on Jan. 28 and told them of the plan to close the holes. Kehriotis said the next step involves trying to develop a residential community.
“We’re working with them (Homeowners Association) moving forward in hopes of building a residential community,” Kehriotis said.
As to what impact the hole closures will have on tee times and the overall golf revenue, is still uncertain.
“It’s hard to say at this point,” Kehriotis said. “We won’t really know until we get further along in the process.”
Bruce Lewis, the PGA director of golf at Ridgemark, said it doesn’t make any sense to speculate on what type of effect possible hole closures will have until all of the paperwork gets signed, sealed and delivered.
“Until all the permits are lined up, there really is no change,” Lewis said.
He said until Ridgemark knows what permits are needed by the county and how long it’s going to take to get all the reports done, it is not going to be able to figure out what to do operationally.
Lewis said the drought could have the biggest impact on the golf courses, for obvious reasons.
“If we’re restricted to how much water we can pump out of our own well, then that could have much more of an effect (than hole closures),” Lewis said. “For example, maybe you don’t water the rough or the first 100 yards off each tee? We’ll just have to wait and see how all this plays out.”
