The city of Westfield is poised to close on the purchase of a new golf course next week and already the course may need to be redesigned in order to accommodate plans for a new housing development.
The development of more than 100 new homes is planned near the City of Westfield’s soon-to-be acquired Wood Wind Golf Club, according to plans presented at a recent city council meeting.
The city announced it had purchased the 147-acre championship golf course, located near 161st Street and Ditch Road, last week. Then city councilors were presented plans for the new residential development on Monday.
Wood Wind Golf Club will be Westfield’s first municipal-owned golf course, although it’s not uncommon for cities to own golf courses in Central Indiana. Indy Parks and Recreation operates 12 public golf courses in Marion County, and Carmel and Noblesville also own golf courses.
“There has been much speculation over the years about whether Wood Wind would remain a golf course with the residential development that has popped up,” Mayor Scott Willis said in a news release announcing the city’s planned purchase. “Since my first day in office, the owner has pitched ideas to develop the course into a high-density housing development. The city purchasing the course ensures that it will remain a community asset for decades to come and the open green space the area offers will be preserved.”
The Downtown Westfield Community Development Corporation will purchase the course for $3.1 million from Westfield Golf Club, LLC. The purchase includes all buildings on the grounds, the clubhouse and party pavilion, and site amenities, including two pickleball courts, golf carts, maintenance equipment, and furnishings.
The city is expected to officially close on the course by Oct. 1 but is already under contract to make the purchase.
“It’s important to note that the course is generating revenue and will continue to do so in the coming years,” Willis said in the news release. “The city will reinvest any profits back into the course for improvements and additional community amenities. It’s important that we have a public golf course available for all residents and our school district teams.”
Are public golf courses in Hamilton County profitable?
Carmel bought Brookshire Golf Course for $2.6 million in 2007 to save it from development. The 18-hole golf course is along Cool Creek between 116th and 126th streets west of Gray Road.
Brookshire is not profitable…
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