Friday, July 25, 2003
Friday, July 25, 2003 |
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Coweta company acquires golf courses Lee Burton, vice president for golf of Patten Seed Company, announces the sale of the majority interest in Canongate Golf Clubs to Sequoia Golf LLC, a Sharpsburg corporation. Included in the Canongate portfolio are Canongate I in Sharpsburg, Canongate-on-White Oak in Newnan, Flat Creek, Braelinn, and Planterra Ridge in Peachtree City, Chapel Hills in Douglasville, and Mirror Lake in Villa Rica. Patten Seed Company, headquartered in Lakeland, Ga., is a 60-year-old company that in addition to owning the Canongate Golf Clubs is one of the largest turfgrass sod and seed producers in the country. W.A. "Bill" Roquemore, former President of Patten Seed Company who passed away in 1997, was the originator of what is known nationwide as the Canongate Concept. Roquemore pioneered this plan in 1965 with Patten Seed Company's first golf club venture, Canongate I. The concept is based on a low entry fee and a dues structure that has made private golf club membership more affordable. Over the past 38 years, Patten Seed has continued the Roquemore philosophy and tradition with the addition of six facilities, with members enjoying reciprocal play rights at all of the Canongate Golf Clubs. According to Lee Burton, Roquemore's daughter, the change in majority ownership will result in the long term enhancement of facilities at all of the clubs. Joe Guerra, President and CEO of Sequoia, says no changes in membership structure or policies are anticipated. "Our philosophy is simple: If it ain't broke, don't fix it." At the same time, the company plans to renovate and improve a number of the Canongate Golf Courses and facilities, as well as add more value to the membership with increased member programming. Two new courses, which will ultimately be added to the group, are under construction in Bluffton, S.C., and Henry County, Ga. These and the other Canongate courses can all boast of championship layouts designed by some of the nation's finest golf course architects. Braelinn, Planterra Ridge, Canongate-on-White Oak, and Chapel Hills are all evidence, as they have each been host to U.S. Open or U.S. Amateur qualifiers. All parties decline to release the purchase price, but say the closing date for the deal will occur within the next 60 days and Patten Seed Company will retain a minority ownership in the courses.
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