STOCKTON, Ill. — The owners of Blackhawk Run Golf Course in Stockton have announced that they have played their 18th and final hole.
Dan and Deb Powers, of Warren, who have owned the course for two years, recently announced that the course won’t reopen for the 2019 season. And if a buyer isn’t found soon, the closure could be permanent.
The Powers said the decision to close was based on the number of competing golf courses in the area and declining rate of people who play golf.
“With competition being so close to us, it has been difficult,” Dan said. “It’s not like we’re in a city where there are enough people to patronize. Being in towns of 2,000 people here and 1,000 people there, it’s just been hard to get people through the door.”
Still, the Powers hope to keep the course in the community, recognizing its 55-year history in Stockton.
“This closing is nothing against the community,” Dan said. “It’s definitely not an easy choice because the community has been so supportive. Economics is just a killer.”
There have been no offers to purchase the property, located along South Golf Road south of the city. But the Powers hope a buyer will emerge with plans to re-open the 18-hole course.
“The quality of the course is as good as I’ve seen one,” Dan said. “We want to try and keep it in the community, so we hope someone will come forward and invest in it.”
Owners are asking for $695,000 for the 120-acre course. Jim Sullivan Realty in Stockton is handling the listing.
If the couple does not sell the property, a complete liquidation auction will take place in April. The pond and clubhouse will be sold, and the rest of the property likely will be divided up into farmland, Dan said.
Stockton Chamber of Commerce President Marci Schubert said she was disappointed to hear of the closing of the course.
“It’s not a great thing for the community,” she said. “But we have several other courses, and hopefully (golfers) can find a home.”
Like the Powers, Schubert recognized the course’s role in the community.
“We hate to see any business leave the community, especially this one because it’s been here forever,” she said. “Hopefully someone comes forward with ideas. We don’t want to lose it, that’s for sure.”
Stockton High School English teacher and golf team coach Casey Kenna said the closure is “a sad thing for the community and for the golf team because of its storied history.”
“As a part of a small town, a lot of the people in the community are members,” he said. “So it’s going to be a change, to say the least.”
Kenna said the team would use the course for daily practices and for competitions during the season. Course owners wouldn’t charge the team for the events or for their opponents’ course fees.
“We’re lucky to have numerous nice golf courses at our disposal, but it’s definitely sad to see them close,” he said.
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