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(New page: '''Heatherwood Country Club''' is a golf and country club located at 400 Saint Annes Drive in the Heatherwood subdivision of Hoover. It opened in 1986 and was completely re...)
 
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'''Heatherwood Country Club''' is a golf and country club located at 400 [[Saint Annes Drive]] in the [[Heatherwood]] subdivision of [[Hoover]]. It opened in [[1986]] and was completely renovated in [[2001]]. The club is owned by [[Inverness Holdings]], a partnership of [[Bill Ochsenhirt]] and [[Jonathan Kimerling]] and managed by [[Diamond Clubs]].
[[File:Heatherwood Country Club clubhouse.jpg|right|thumb|450px|View of the Heatherwood Country Club clubhouse in 2021]]
'''Heatherwood Hills Country Club''', later '''Heatherwood Golf and Country Club''' was a golf and country club located at 400 [[Saint Anne's Drive]], just off [[Heatherwood Drive]] ([[Shelby County Road 370]]) in the [[Heatherwood]] subdivision of [[Hoover]]. It was opened in [[1986]] by [[Inverness Holdings]], a partnership of [[Bill Ochsenhirt]] and [[Jonathan Kimerling]].


The club's 18-hole golf course was designed by Arthur L. Davis and redesigned by John LaFoy. It is a 6,371-yard par 71 with a course rating of 70.4.  
The club's 18-hole golf course was designed by Arthur L. Davis of Gainesville, Georgia. The facility was managed by [[Diamond Clubs]]. Until [[1999]] the course was owned by [[USX]]. It was acquired by '''Heatherwood Golf Club, Inc.''' that year, and then to '''Heatherwood Holdings''' in [[2000]]. The property underwent a major renovation before reopening in October [[2001]]. The golf course was redesigned by John LaFoy of Greenville, South Carolina, with a new underground irrigation system. He flipped the front and back nine holes, allowing golfers to finish their rounds closer to the clubhouse. Narrowing the fairways made the course more challenging. The result was a 6,371-yard par 71 course with a rating of 70.4.  


In [[2008]], the owners filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. A lawsuit filed by a group of members seeks to keep the club open.
Initially buoyed by revenue from new memberships, the club's finances became precarious during the [[Great Recession]]. Heatherwood Holdings closed the club down on [[December 31]], [[2008]], and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on [[January 6]], [[2009]]. A group of members filed a lawsuit. They were unable to secure an order for the club to resume operating, but did win a decision in [[2011]] that prevented the land from being sold "for any reason other than to be kept as a golf course." Over the next several years neighbors helped to maintain the grounds on a voluntary basis to keep the course from going to seed.
 
In [[2016]] a co-operative of 100 homeowners and other members acquired the property and paid off its then-outstanding debts. They re-opened the club quietly in October [[2016]], and then celebrated a grand re-opening on [[June 17]], [[2017]]. [[Mary Anna Raburn]] served as president, [[Sonny McHughes]] was general manager, and [[Chad Burke]] was course superintendent. The clubhouse restaurant, dubbed the '''Heatherwood Grill''', was headed by chef [[Richard Mack]]. The club contracted with Cypress Golf Management of St Cloud, Florida for operations. [[Ben Osteen]] succeeded McHughes before the end of 2017.
 
In [[2020]] businessman [[Kishan Amin]] purchased the club property for $220,000. [[Dale Jones]] took over as general manager in [[2021]] and brought back chef Richard Mack. Anin closed the club on [[January 31]], [[2024]], citing insufficient revenues.


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==References==
==References==
* Cooper, Lauren B. (January 23, 2009) "Heatherwood Country Club files Chapter 11 bankruptcy." ''Birmingham Business Journal''
* Cooper, Lauren B. (January 23, 2009) "Heatherwood Country Club files Chapter 11 bankruptcy." {{BBJ}}
* Dawkins, Stephen (July 21, 2017) "[https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2017/07/06/heatherwood-hills-re-opens-as-semi-private-club/ Heatherwood Hills re-opens as semi-private club]." {{SCR}}
* Cipriano, Guy (May 2018) "[https://www.golfcourseindustry.com/article/heatherwood-hills-golf-alabama/ The Hills Are Alive Again]." ''Golf Course Industry''
* Wortham, Noah (February 5, 2024) "[https://www.shelbycountyreporter.com/2024/02/05/heatherwood-golf-and-country-club-shuts-down/ Heatherwood Golf and Country Club shuts down]." {{SCR}}
* Leech, Marie (February 5, 2024) "Struggling Birmingham area country club shuts down." {{BBJ}}


==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:Heatherwood]]
[[Category:Heatherwood]]
[[Category:1986 buildings]]
[[Category:1986 buildings]]
[[Category:1986 establishments]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments]]
[[Category:2017 establishments]]
[[Category:2024 disestablishments]]

Latest revision as of 16:46, 6 February 2024

View of the Heatherwood Country Club clubhouse in 2021

Heatherwood Hills Country Club, later Heatherwood Golf and Country Club was a golf and country club located at 400 Saint Anne's Drive, just off Heatherwood Drive (Shelby County Road 370) in the Heatherwood subdivision of Hoover. It was opened in 1986 by Inverness Holdings, a partnership of Bill Ochsenhirt and Jonathan Kimerling.

The club's 18-hole golf course was designed by Arthur L. Davis of Gainesville, Georgia. The facility was managed by Diamond Clubs. Until 1999 the course was owned by USX. It was acquired by Heatherwood Golf Club, Inc. that year, and then to Heatherwood Holdings in 2000. The property underwent a major renovation before reopening in October 2001. The golf course was redesigned by John LaFoy of Greenville, South Carolina, with a new underground irrigation system. He flipped the front and back nine holes, allowing golfers to finish their rounds closer to the clubhouse. Narrowing the fairways made the course more challenging. The result was a 6,371-yard par 71 course with a rating of 70.4.

Initially buoyed by revenue from new memberships, the club's finances became precarious during the Great Recession. Heatherwood Holdings closed the club down on December 31, 2008, and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on January 6, 2009. A group of members filed a lawsuit. They were unable to secure an order for the club to resume operating, but did win a decision in 2011 that prevented the land from being sold "for any reason other than to be kept as a golf course." Over the next several years neighbors helped to maintain the grounds on a voluntary basis to keep the course from going to seed.

In 2016 a co-operative of 100 homeowners and other members acquired the property and paid off its then-outstanding debts. They re-opened the club quietly in October 2016, and then celebrated a grand re-opening on June 17, 2017. Mary Anna Raburn served as president, Sonny McHughes was general manager, and Chad Burke was course superintendent. The clubhouse restaurant, dubbed the Heatherwood Grill, was headed by chef Richard Mack. The club contracted with Cypress Golf Management of St Cloud, Florida for operations. Ben Osteen succeeded McHughes before the end of 2017.

In 2020 businessman Kishan Amin purchased the club property for $220,000. Dale Jones took over as general manager in 2021 and brought back chef Richard Mack. Anin closed the club on January 31, 2024, citing insufficient revenues.

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