Golf courses for sale are currently coming on the market at record pace. I just returned from a trip to the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee to preview several courses. The “Resorts” of Maggie Valley and Etowah (near the Greater Asheville Airport) are now being highlighted on several web sites.

The Maggie Valley Resort is obviously suffering from the downturn in tourism in the area but does have several condominiums that could probably be included with any purchase. Etowah could be brought back to its former prominence as a “stay and play” facility with some course TLC and an updating of the approximately 70 motel type units. Etowah is a 27 hole facility that offers a huge development potential with a conversation of the North Course to residential and there is also a large tract of land adjacent to the course for sale.

I also visited a well conditioned course just over the mountain on I-40 that I think has tremendous future potential – - Smokey Mountain Country Club (SMCC). SMCC has been operated as a private club that just recently opened its door to the general public. The long term potential is there based on the course proximity to the 10 million tourist that visit the Gatlinburg/Smokey Mountains/Dollywood area each year. The Club has spent zero on marketing, has no relationships with the many hotels within 3 miles of the course – - in fact is not even listed in the area golf course directory. The course has over one mile of road frontage on I-40 and some areas on the course are perfect for “stay and play” cabins. All maintenance equipment and carts are owned. This one is a truly turn key operation. An owner/operator could produce a reasonable ROI with a marketing budget!

If there is interest in any of the above, contact Golf Course Advisors at 904-571-4375.

Filed under: General by Golf Course Advisors