Sandenos to become new owners of country club

Members of the Morris Country Club have approved the sale of their club to the Sandenos, the owners of 'D' Construction in Coal City.

A membership meeting was held Jan. 9 to approve the sale of the 87-year-old private golf club. Of the 138 members who voted, 136 voted yes. Official paperwork for the sale is expected to be completed later this month, according to an email from the club to its members.

"It had to be an 80-percent majority of all the members, not just the votes," said Tim Applegate, president of Morris Country Club. "We needed 117 and got 136."

The Sandeno family owns all of the property around the club located on West U.S. 6. Future plans, as in "10 to 15 years" from now, are to develop homes around the property, Applegate said.

"It's a win-win for the Sandenos, and a win-win for the members," Applegate said.

Representatives from 'D' Construction could not be reached by press time. According to the November 2011 club newsletter, the purchase price was for $1.2 million and would cover all bank notes, tax liabilities and accounts payables.

The new owners plan to keep the club private for at least two years. Plans are to continue the banquet operations and retain most of the employees. Director of Golf John Keegan will remain in his role.

A club board will not continue, however, and an advisory committee may be established, Applegate said. The club board will stay in tact until the sale is officially complete.

In addition, dues will stay as is for at least two years, and some remodeling to the clubhouse and other improvements are expected.

Mike Johnson, a 41-year member of the club, said the sale is definitely a good thing. Maintaining the club and keeping up with it was becoming financially difficult.

Coming this spring, when they assessed the amount of members with the cost of running the club, there could have been another dues increase, causing more members to leave, Johnson said.

"We would have had no choice but to close," he said. "It's been open since 1924. I personally didn't want to see that. I don't know what I'd do."

Club memberships are not a financial priority for people. When they are looking at cutting costs, those memberships are one of the first to go, Applegate said.

Across the nation, clubs are closing, so the Morris Country Club was looking for options to stay open when they were approached by the owners of 'D' Construction, Applegate said.

"They plan to keep it a private golf course for the next 87 years," he said.