Some big changes are coming to the golf Industry in Owen Sound.
Legacy Ridge has been sold to a group of local investors, and Stone Tree is closing as a golf course with the property going up for sale.
President of Balnar Management Limited, Michael Balnar says he decided to leave the golf industry to focus on his core business of residential and commercial properties in Guelph, Fergus, Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge.
Legacy Ridge is being sold to Michael Todd the Director of Operations for Balnar Golf, Marc Brooks the Course Superintendent for the company and local businessman Bert Leeder.
Michael Todd has been with Stone Tree for 16 years, and Michael Balnar has owned the property since 1992.
The deal closes January 18th, but there is no information about any planned changes by the new owners.
Meanwhile, Stone Tree’s Fitness club will remain open and the banquet facilities will be available for rent.
Food operations close January 1st and there will be no golf next spring at Stone Tree.
Rooms in the motel will be rented for events only.
Balnar says 23 full and part time staff are affected between now and January 1st, along with seasonal staff who worked at the golf course.
He says it was a tough decision to make and today was a tough day because the staff were told this morning about the shutdown of the Stone Tree golf operation.
No sale price was given for the Legacy Ridge purchase.
