Players are becoming concerned as yet another golf club closes in Ohio.

Don Nist, a local golfer, wonders who will be the next to die.

He said, “It is getting frightening.”

The Sanctuary Golf Club owners, who are located just north of Canton, and less than one hour south of Cleveland say that they will “permanently close” the course in October.

From 2018 to 22 the Stark County public courses saw the closure of Tam O’Shanter and Skyland Pines, while Edgewood, Rolling Green, and Lake View were all closed within 10 years.

Nist is a local golf veteran who has been playing since the 1940s. He caddied at Brookside and played for Ohio State. He won three Ohio Public Links Championships. And he knows every Stark County course like the backs of his hands. After Tam O’Shanter shut down, he returned to his old haunt, The Elms.

He is nervous about rumors of further closings.

He said that “you just never know” these days.

Steve DiPietro was not unaware of Sanctuary’s recent goodbye.

“I understand completely,” he replied.

Around the same time that Amazon purchased Prestwick Country Club, his family sold Skyland. Sanctuary’s closest golf course neighbor is Arrowhead, which is managed by the DiPietro Group.

What other course closures does DiPietro anticipate?

He said, “It’ll continue to happen.”

Where?

Sable Creek’s Ray Headley “was surprised but not completely” to hear that Sanctuary was closing.

Headley, a member of the Sable Creek family, said that it was more surprising that they did so now. It seemed that the golf industry was just starting to recover after years of struggle.

“I give them credit for at the least putting it on the table, not like Seven Hills did to its clientele, who just closed up with people sitting on the tee sheet, leaving a professional hanging.”

Sable Creek is located 10 miles north-northeast of Sanctuary, and 3 miles east-east of Seven Hills.

Headley reports that business at Sable Creek is booming, with 35 leagues combining with regular golfers in order to keep the three nines running at nearly capacity.

Headley stated that “some nights, our parking lot can be full. People park on the grass.” It’s a great problem to have.

We have no plans to go anywhere.

Sable Creek Golf Course is one of the six courses that are open along State Route 619 north of Sanctuary. Mayfair was one of the six courses that closed 18 holes of its 36 in 2001.

“Sanctuary closing? David Springer who purchased the Mayfair course in 1988 said, “Two words: income statement.” Golfers get upset when a course shuts down, but golf courses are businesses, and they close when they don’t make money or lose money.

Mayfair is still open?

Springer stated that the golf season in 2023 is going well, it’s our best ever. We plan to keep this golf course open in the near future.

Turkeyfoot, a five-mile west of Mayfair stretch of Route 619 that is divided by Turkeyfoot was sold in the month January. The Upper Deck, a restaurant/bar located across from the 27-hole course owned by Timothy Adkins was purchased in January.

Adkins stated last winter that he planned to close the “water 9” and leave the other 18-holes open.

When will the “Water Nine” retire?

Mike Thirion, the general manager of the course, said that it could be open next season. “It is likely to be closed.” “If it is not closed this year, then it will be next year.”

As with Sanctuary, the “water nine” will be developed in a way that is not made public.

How long will Turkeyfoot remain open as an 18 hole course?

Thirion replied, “At the moment, I’d say forever.” “I do not see any changes in the near future.” “It looks like we are here to stay.”

In 2020, the number of people playing Turkeyfoot increased as they sought something to do during the COVID-19 closures. Crowds increased in both 2021 and 2022.

What about the year 2023?

Thirion replied, “It is going well.” We’re way ahead of last season. “There are a number of days when we do not have any tee time available.”

What is his reaction to the Sanctuary news?

He said, “I was shocked.” “I didn’t expect it.”

Angelo Tsangeos did not expect that in March, just a few months after being hired as the general manager of The Sanctuary.

The Repository at the time was following reactions to the closure of Seven Hills.

Tsangeos stated in March that “one of the biggest issues was how long Sanctuary will remain open before it is developed.” “I received full assurances from the ownership group, that we will remain a golf club for the foreseeable future.”

Tsangeos could not be reached to provide an updated statement. He was a former GlenOak golfer and Mount Union employee who worked for Skyland Pines over a period of 12 years.

The Sanctuary is located on Applegrove, a four-lane road. According to employees at the course, the course has been very busy and looks like it. However, owners Bob DeHoff & Bill Lemmon hinted that the days of the course were numbered in the spring.

The Sanctuary land is not yet specified, but it’s widely believed that the land will be used for housing.

North Canton’s Director of Administration Patrick DeOrio has a stake in this consensus. The city owns Arrowhead in the area, while The Sanctuary is in Plain Township.

DeOrio stated that “Housing probably was the end goal when McKinley Development, co-owned by DeHoff Lemmon and DeHoff, acquired the property. That someday they would build residential on it.” “They bought Edgewood and did that.

“It’s a fate that golf courses have.” The golf course becomes more important as the developer’s inventory of land to build on diminishes. The fact that the golf course was struggling to make money didn’t help, as Mr. Dehoff said.

I would expect that there will be housing in the area.

The number of golfers is expected to increase in 2023, and there are no signs that the sport will be a thing of the past.

“I am a bit surprised that Sanctuary will be closing,” said Rick Snode. He is a member of the family who owns Tannenhauf, in Lexington Township. This last month was crazy for us. Wednesday has always been our slowest day.

“Last week, I went to Windmill Lakes in order to play in a tournament. When I returned to Tannehauf cars were parked half way up the grass. What’s happening? I asked, what’s going on?

We used to get out only half of the carts and not have to worry about other half. These days are over. Every cart is out every day. Sometimes, the carts are out twice.

“Herb Page from Windmill asked me: Have you ever seen something like this?”

Snode stated that he plans to keep Tannenhauf as a golf club “as long we have interested family.”

Snode stated that Seven Hills closed in the last moment. Sanctuary surprised me a bit. It’s sad that courses are closing. I drive by Tam O’Shanter, and I don’t look. “It would be difficult to drive past if our course were ever gone and grown over.”

Phil Barr understands the feeling.

Barr, owner at the Meadowlake golf course, located three miles northeast of Canton’s downtown and four miles south of Sanctuary, said, “It is sad that we have lost so many golf holes in the last decade.” It has certainly increased our business. It has increased everyone’s business.

The golf traffic is expected to grow even more with the closure of Sanctuary.

Barr concludes that golf is sustainable as Meadowlake celebrates 60 years.

He said, “Since we are a shorter program, you can finish nine or 18 lessons rather quickly.” “Our location works well. I’m planning to pass it on to my children at some point. I won’t be moving anywhere. “I intend to stay as long as God will allow me.”

Did North Canton get a shock when Sanctuary was announced?

“Yes, it was,” said Mayor Stephan Wilder. “I didn’t know anything was coming.”

“It was probably one of those situations where the owners were forced to make a decision for business that involved the golf course. This could increase the number of golfers at Arrowhead.

Arrowhead Golf and Events Center has been doing very well. I’m always stopping by to see what golfers think of the course. We’ve received good reviews. “We have people from other counties who use Arrowhead as a part of their circuit.”

Wilder says that adding pickleball court to the complex was “a huge hit.”

He said that it could be an indication of the times.

North Canton awarded Steve DiPietro’s group in 2019 a contract for five years to manage Arrowhead. The contract ends on October 1, 2024.

DeOrio stated, “We are in preliminary talks with the DiPIetros to extend the contract for another five years.” “Business is doing well. The golf has steadily increased.

“The closing of the courses always leads people to us. There are a lot of leagues now compared to the past. “That’s what we want: a steady, predictable business.”

Arrowhead may become a residence in the future. DeOrio stated that 70 acres of the 100-acre golf course are suitable for housing.

Two municipal golf courses are located between Sanctuary and Arrowhead, including Raintree from the City of Green. Raintree is managed by Indigo Golf Partners for Green. Recent contract extensions bind them until 2026.

Green Mayor Gerard Neugebauer stated that Raintree was so busy with golfers, the closing of Sanctuary won’t make much difference.

Neugebauer stated, “I did not think that what happened at Sanctuary would be imminent.” It doesn’t surprise, however, because of the land’s attractiveness for other uses in this region. This is part of a growing trend in golf.

Raintree had 39,900 rounds played last year. This year, it is just as strong. We’ll fill the course as long as it is sunny.

We’ve had more rainfall this year. Weather is not the cause of any weakness. Demand is high.

Bryan Sweitzer said that the closings of Spring Valley, owned by his family, have not had as much impact on demand as he had hoped.

Sweitzer stated, “People think we are out of the way and we are not.” “I live near Arrowhead in North Canton. I take 13 minutes to walk down from my home.

The people who play with us come back. The number of people who discover us is low, compared to the number courses that closed.

Maybe that will change. “I tell people to take a look.”

With Sanctuary closing, it is likely that more people will look.

Reach Steve at [email protected] On Twitter: @sdoerschukREP