Courses

Bay City Blues

January 21, 2009
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Golf courses in money trouble are about as common as range balls these days, though it's unusual --  and not a little sad -- to see one like Bay City Country Club in a fight for its life. Founded more than 110 years ago near the base of northern Michigan's Saginaw Bay, the club features 18 holes designed by Larry Packard, most famous as the architect of the courses at Florida's Innisbrook resort.

Lately the club has been offering memberships with zero initiation fees and dues of $3,000 a year. It also planned to open the course to public play this season. But now it appears to be in default on a roughly $3.2 million mortgage and a sale date has been set for Feb. 13. It has about 175 members, reports the Tri-Cities Business Review, down by about half from its peak.

-- P.F.