The Legacy at Bonne Esperance is up and running at the former site of the Oaks at Sherwood golf course, which closed abruptly in July 2013, and the new owners haven’t yet reached a final decision on whether to reopen the 18-hole course.
“We redid all nine tennis courts here and we have a new fitness center with new equipment, as well as our bar and grill, and the driving range is open, too,” says Ryan Dornier, who purchased the 127-acre property with his father, Randy Dornier Sr., and brother, Randall Dornier Jr., in October 2013. “As it stands now, we’re just kind of using the golf course as a park space and walking trails for our members.”
While there’s still a chance the golf course will reopen, Dornier says it’s pretty slim.
“There’s maybe a 10% chance,” he says. “There are still some members who are pushing for it, but we would still need more real interest to make it work.”
Dornier says at least 250 golfers would need to sign on as members to make reopening the course feasible. If it were to reopen, he says, it would operate as a private club. A final decision likely will be made at the end of this year or early next year, he says.
Meanwhile, the bar and grill on site has been operational for about two months, while the tennis and fitness center have about 40 members.
“It’s low, but it’s starting to pick up,” Dornier says, adding the banquet room on site is also beginning to get holiday bookings. “The driving range is pretty steady. The bar and grill was slow to start, kind of hit or miss depending on the night, but we’ve also seen increases there. Everyone says we’re the best kept secret in town.”
If the golf course does not reopen, it is possible some of the land could be sold for development, Dornier says.
—Steve Sanoski
