An unnamed group is negotiating to buy Quail Creek Golf Course and lease it to Coastal Carolina University, which would operate it as a public course and a center for its golf course management program.
Officials with Horry County and CCU confirmed that Classic Golf Group, which owns the course, is negotiating to sell the course. Residents living next to the 18-hole course reported seeing surveyors on the property this week
"We're hoping we can work the deal out," said CCU Legal Counsel Eddie Dyer said. "There are some large hurdles yet to be jumped; hurdles with not only putting the deal together but in getting it approved."
Officials at CCU and Horry County declined to release the identity of the group negotiating to buy the course. Classic Golf Group employees referred questions to General Manager Skip Corn, who did not return phone calls.
Several residents who have enjoyed golf course views for years say they hope the deal succeeds, if only to protect the course from redevelopment. That fear has grown throughout Horry County in recent years after struggling courses have closed. In those cases, plans for retail and residential redevelopment have prompted anger from residents who bought land near courses thinking their surroundings would remain unchanged.
Residents say they now worry that if the deal falls apart, the course could be sold and redeveloped into residential lots.
"I just hope that doesn't happen," said Thelma Regg, who has lived next to the golf course for 19 years and said redevelopment might prompt her to move. "We saw the surveyors, and immediately we started surmising."
Even if the deal moves forward and is accepted by CCU's board of trustees, it would have to pass scrutiny from the state Budget and Control Board, which oversees the university's spending. Dyer said the approval process would likely take a year.
The deal would give Coastal's golf course management program a boost, Dyer said, while protecting the course from redevelopment.
The PGA requires that PGA-accredited golf management programs play a certain number of rounds every year, rounds that are now played at local courses. Most other universities offering course management programs own their own courses.
"We need a golf course for that program," Dyer said.
CCU President Ron Ingle said the deal "is very preliminary."
"I don't deal in speculation," he said. "We're a long way away."
The golf course was not included in a master plan of future expansions released by CCU on Wednesday.
If Quail Creek is redeveloped into homes, it would likely need the prior approval of Horry County Council. The area's County councilman, Carl Schwartzkopf, said that's a strong possibility if the CCU deal falls through.
"Residents can rest assured that it will remain a golf course if the deal is approved," Schwartzkopf said.
"Should the lease agreement not be approved, then it's likely the owner would have other plans."
Source: The Myrtle Beach Sun-News