Collins Hill Golf Club still hopeful for loan

The Collins Hill Golf Club is still open, but things are no better than they were last month when the governing board asked the county to co-sign a $250,000 bank loan it is seeking.

The county delayed a decision to back the loan at its Dec. 16 meeting. That move, initiated by Commissioner Mike Beaudreau, spurred one club official to remark that the operation might have to close down.

“It’s still open, but I’m operating with a skeleton crew,” said B.J.Van Gundy, chairman of the Springbrook Golf Commission, the board that runs the club. “We’re having to go light on staffing now.”

The golf commission, established in 1999 when the county spun off ownership of the Springbrook Golf Course, owes the county $3.3 million for the course and missed its scheduled interest payments in 2008, according to Phil Hoskins, director of community services for Gwinnett County. It also owes about $1.7 million on a $2 million loan backed by the county when the commission was set up and major improvements were made.

Van Gundy said since last month, he has met with County Commission Chairman Charles Bannister and County Administrator Jock Connell. He said he thinks the issue will come up again before the end of the month.

Calls for comments from commissioners Bannister and Beaudreau were not returned.

Van Gundy also pointed out that the county has received some $900,000 in interest payments since it turned over the course to the golf commission. When the county owned the course, he said, it was costing taxpayers about $450,000 a year.

“We’re at risk,” Van Gundy said. “We’re being very frugal with our dollars and hoping to get something to happen mid-month.”

Jim Frier, executive director of the golf commission and general manager of the club, said the loan is being sought primarily for capital improvements. The club, he said, has about 250 members and averages about 28,000 rounds of public play a year.

“In this economic environment, if you can’t be competitive, you can’t be in business,” Frier said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s a golf business or a theater or what have you.”