Golf course auction set for Saturday
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GUILFORD LAKE -- Golfers have been making their last rounds around Twin Springs Golf Course before Saturday's auction.
"That's what they're saying, 'We want to play it one last time,'" owner Scott Morris said. "I hope it's not. But you have no clue what is going to happen."
The course opened in 1962 and the Morris brothers, Scott and Al, have owned it for the last 20 years.
"Almost half of my life has been there," Scott Morris said.
There will be complete liquidation of the rolling 78-acre, nine-hole course at 10 a.m. Saturday by Kiko Auctioneers. The real estate will sell first, followed by the equipment, including 35 golf carts. The land will sell either as a unit or in five parcels, whichever brings the most.
"A lot of people say they are coming to it," Morris said. "I'm hoping somebody is going to buy it as a course, but I'm not sure. Whatever happens, happens. I always think things are done for a reason. There is a reason for this."
The future of the course took a turn six months ago when the owners lost their father, Ralph, who mowed the greens and was around when needed. That started the wheels in motion for the auction.
"It was a combination of things," Scott Morris said. "Pops passing in the spring and I have health problems now, which was 90 percent of it."
Business has been brisk lately with the good weather and the possibility of the course closing for good.
"A lot of people say they're sad, but they understand," Morris said. "There is a lot of work that goes into it. They just show up and golf and think it's just like that. The work is endless. You start mowing at the beginning of the year and you don't stop until the snow flies."
Morris said there's one word to describe why golfers kept coming back to the hilly layout near Guilford Lake.
"Challenging. That's 100 percent why people come here," he said. "That's what makes this place. It's hard."
This may be the final challenge. The last day for golf is Thursday. An auction preview is set for Friday.
"Everyone stops by and says hello," Morris said. "The people are going to be what I miss the most."
Divots
¯ Twin Springs is known for the two toughest holes that golfers gladly settle for bogeys --No. 2, a 410-yard par 4 with a dogleg left, and No. 8, a 210-yard par 3 that has a green at the crest of a hill.
"My favorite is No. 2," Morris said. "It's a tough par 4 from the white tees. No. 8 is a tough par 3. You can get a hole-in-one on 8, but not on 2."
¯ Twin Springs also has been the home course of the Lisbon golf team.
Lisbon athletic director Kyle Bing and Lisbon golf coach Ryan Snyder met last week about where the Blue Devils may have to move to next year.
Bing said he has reached out to five courses about becoming the Blue Devils' new home course, but has not heard anything back yet.
Lisbon school officials have praised the course for not charging the golf team.
"Because that's what you're suppose to do," Morris said. "That's your future."