Deer Park golf course purchased from Senica family

The Senica family of La Salle has sold Senica's Deer Park Golf Club, formerly Deer Park Country Club, to an Ottawa native and philanthropist who made his fortune in the aircraft industry.

"Yes, we finally closed the deal," said Jeff Senica, president of Senica Investments LLC, when contacted late Monday afternoon.

Senica said he has been talking for several years with Jim Downey, one of the founders of EnCore Interiors and a designer of molded fiberglass airliner interiors.

Senica said it's his understanding Deer Park, which is about 120 years old and has been updated, modernized and expanded during the past 40 years, could get a new clubhouse. The current one, built in the 1970s, "is starting to show its age," Senica said.

He said he and Downey reached an agreement on the deal for a sum Senica did not disclose, and lawyer Nick Balestri helped with the closing on Monday. "He did it through one of his corporations," Senica said.

Downey, who's originally from Ottawa, made his fortune by designing bins and other interior features, for passenger jets, Senica said. Downey, who spends much of his time in Southern California, purchased the Ferracuti Mansion in Ottawa a couple of years ago.

"He likes putting money back into the La Salle-Peru-Ottawa area," Senica said.

Senica also said Downey is active with a lot of children's charities. He said, however, he did not know exactly who will be able to play at the course — whether it will be private, a country club or public. "I wasn't in on that board meeting," Senica said.

Senica said Jesse Cavanaugh has been asked to manage Deer Park for Downey, and the greenskeeper will stay with the place for continuity. The Senicas bought the course from the country club membership just over four years ago, in October, and made investments in the course treatments as well as a lot of tree cutting. Much of the tree cutting took place (at both courses) because of ash trees getting killed by the emerald ash borer.

The Senica Family continues to operate the 18-hole Senica's Oak Ridge Golf Course and banquet hall. When asked what his family might do with proceeds from the sale, Senica was not specific.

Craig Sterrett can be reached at (815) 220-6935 or csterrett@shawmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @NT_NewsEditor.