"The Houndslake Community centers around a 27- Hole Championship golf course in the Aiken area. Designed by Joe Lee, who designed the likes of La Costa, Doral, and Disney World. The three nines provide pleasure to the average golfer and a memorable challenge to the advanced player. All three nine holes play to a par of 36 and average just over 3,300 yards each. Our Azalea and Dogwood nines boast over 50,000 Azaleas planted during construction in 1974 to compliment the splash of Dogwood, Holly, and Kalmia in the area." quote from the Houndslake Country Club website.
Rumors are running around that Club Owner, Weldon Wyatt, is going to close the Laurel Golf Course at Houndslake Country Club. The reason stated by the Aiken Standard Newspaper is: Lack of Play and residents and members say they do not play because of poor maintenance of the course. As you can see in this beautiful photo by Thom Abbott, of Southside Gallery, the 9-holes are along water and the wooded areas close to Hitchcock Woods.
The houses along this course are some of the most valuable in the development, but now these values are in jeopardy. This course is an integral part of the community and closure could collapse the housing values in this area of Aiken. I encourage Aiken residents and members of the Club to help save the Links! Start Playing the Laurel, again! Call a member and play, if you are not a member become one, everyone in this part of Aiken needs to help support the future of the golf course.
The economic devastation that this closure would bring to the Aiken housing market does not benefit anyone. I hope citizens that live in Houndslake will write letters in protest of this closure. The Members of the Houndslake Country Club need to join forces and stop this devastating action. Help Save the Laurel 9! Write to the newspaper and the club, get your voice heard. The membership was not asked about the Club's sale to Wyatt, but now the members need to stand up and be counted, not only for the Laurel, but for our economy!
Hi Jane,
It looks like a really nice course...It would be such a shame for them to close it!
Don't forget me if you learn of anyone moving to "The OC!"
Michael
(949) 753-7900
Hi Jane Page. Is there more than one course over at Houndslake? Everytime I go in there I see people playing. How can they close the golf course in a golf course community?? Nothing W W does surprises me anymore.
That would be a lose to the community. It sounds bad when the locals complain about the condition of the course.
Michael, How is The OC? You must have seen some of this type of thing out there with the market.
Kara: WW is only closing one of the 9's. I heard today it could be bought for 1.2 mil. not bad.
Randy: You have an investor that might want a little 9-hole in SC? We have palm trees, too.
Jane, I hate to hear that, as Aiken is a golf destination, I thought. We had a course to close, Coldstream in Columbia, but that was a mismanagement and some other going on, not entirely lack of play. Hope y'all can keep this course open.
Charlie, I have foundout that the lack of play is really a case of lazy! This 9-hole is a good distance from the Clubhouse and across the highway. I think we will save it!
Jane, that is a beautiful place. I hope they keep it open...
Jane, so do I! I hope someone will buy it.
It would be a shame to close such a pretty place, I hope they find a solution soon:(
Good News for Golfers, A few buyers have surfaced to buy the entire club. Today, a group of citizens met to discuss protection for our city openspaces, we included golf courses- public & private.
The community will appreciate your efforts.
Will, thanks for stopping by, if you make it to Aiken & play, let me know!
I hope that people get out there and golf- see? it's not just fun, but also a very worthy cause. :-)
Chuck, I know a lot of guys who would like to believe that golf is tax deductable because of the economic charity work involved in maintaining the housing market and openspace:) LOL!