Article Courtesy of The Tampa Tribune

By LAURA CONE

Published July 22, 2010

Ed Barnes, president of the Sun City Center Community Association board of directors, said he is optimistic a $14 million deal for the purchase of WCI's golf courses may close by mid to late August.

"They are certainly in the negotiation process and they shut off bidding," he said. "It's not a hard contract yet and it could fall though, but I think they will sign a hard contract by mid to late August."

Steven Ekovich, a vice president in charge of marketing with Marcus & Millichap in Tampa, confirmed they are in negotiations for the Sun City Center area golf portfolio that includes the executive courses Kings Point and Caloosa Greens, North Lakes Golf Club, Scepter Golf Club, Club Renaissance, Falcon Watch and Sandpiper. WCI hired Marcus & Millichap Real Estate to market its golf courses.

Ekovich said the prospective buyer is an experienced golf course owner with expertise in running golf courses.

Barnes is a golfer who owns a home with a view of the Renaissance golf course.

"Membership in golf here has been declining since 2000, and with a new owner hopefully they will get renewed interest and renewed vigor to recover some of the ground lost in the last 10 years," Barnes said.

Barnes said officials with WCI and Marcus & Millichap are not releasing the name of what Ekovich called a "prominent and promising" prospective buyer.

"If we get the right company in to run these golf courses - a company that will invest money in to the golf courses and get the membership to grow - it will be a good deal for Sun City Center," Barnes said.

Barnes said the board has continued to decline its "right of first refusal" to purchase North Lakes and Sandpiper courses. WCI has notified them due to a 1984 agreement it had with the Community Association.

In regard to the upkeep of the vacant North Course, Barnes said he has not received any new complaints lately about the grass not being cut or weeds.

"I think they are doing a better job mowing," Barnes said.

Earlier this summer, homeowners with property bordering the North Course had complained to the SCC Community Association as well as to Hillsborough County Code Enforcement.