Historic 9-hole golf course in California closes its doors.

17 Jan 2018

by Darius Oliver

Disappointing news out of California this month, with the Aetna Springs golf course closing and likely to be replaced by housing.

Situated in Pope Valley near the famous town of Napa, the 125-year old golf course is one of the oldest west of the Mississippi River in the USA and was once ranked by Golf Digest Magazine as one of the five best 9-hole courses in the country.

The golf course claims to be the oldest along America’s western coastline, having opened in 1891 as a 5-hole course. It later extended to 9 holes in 1893, but that course was redesigned by Tom Doak’s company in 2007.

Last year the Doak course attracted less than 5,000 rounds of golf and the property’s owner, the Dallas Police and Fire Department Pension Fund, have decided to shut the doors and sell off the land. According to an article in the Napa Valley Registry, a prospective new owner is currently doing due diligence and looking to build home sites across the golf course.

Aetna Springs Director of Operations David Cage was apparently informed of the course closure in early January, and says that it has, rather ironically, led to an increase in business.

Cage told the Napa Valley Registry last week, “We’ve been really busy this week, everybody trying to get their last round in.”

“It’s very sad,” Cage added. “It’s such a great little golf course with beautiful scenery. People have come from all over the world to play it. It’s a shame it’s in such a remote location. It’s hard to get to for most folks. I think that’s the drawback of the facility.”

Read the full article here

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