Article Courtesy of The Orlando Sentinel

By Beth Kassab

Published November 17, 2014

       
Another golf course closed. This time Rock Springs Ridge in Apopka.

Residents in the 900-home community are wondering what will happen next just as neighborhoods all over Central Florida who live on or near closed or failing courses are fighting to maintain some open space.

Residents tell me the course shut down on Monday. No one is answering the phone at the club house. The course's Web site says there are no tee times available today.

But course owner Bob Dello Russo didn't immediately return a message.

Dello Russo's Golf Group purchased five other struggling courses during the last decade at bargain prices: The Country Club of Mount Dora, Wekiva Golf Club in Longwood, the Country Club at Deer Run in Casselberry, Casselberry Golf Club and Twin River Golf Club in Oviedo.

"Now whenever anybody's got a golf course in trouble, they call me," Dello Russo told the Sentinel back in 2005 after he had acquired five courses. 

Dello Russo, founder of Lake Mary-based Del-Air heating and air-conditioning company, has already explored development plans for Twin Rivers and Casselberry golf clubs.

The latest closure at Rock Springs Ridge in Apopka comes as residents on the opposite side of the county are fighting a development plan to turn the golf course there into homes, shops and possibly a school. 

Hundreds of residents in east Orange County turned out Wednesday night to oppose the plan, which is in the very early stages.

Other residents are waiting to find out what becomes of the golf courses they live on or near. Rolling Hills in Longwood, Sabal Point in Longwood, a course in Winter Springs and Lake Orlando Golf Club have all closed. 

Homeowners, it seems, are too often getting the raw end of the deal.