Direction of Chatuge Shores Golf Course hotel project
initiative uncertain
By Becky Long
Publisher
The Clay County Rural Development Authority board underwent a major change in the make-up of its board. Three of its five board of directors recently resigned and those spots were filled by members of the county commission board.
The resignations of Steve Hindsman, Scotty Penland and Steve Swanson were accepted after commissioners came out of a closed session following their June 1 meeting.
Commission Chairman Dr. Rob Peck, Vice Chair Randy Nichols and Commissioner Dwight Penland will fill those positions.
When asked for comment regarding the resignations, Peck confirmed the resignations and offered appreciation to the previous RDA board members.
“We appreciate their dedicated service to the Clay County Rural Development Authority (RDA). I can’t speak to the specifics of the individual board members regarding their recent resignations or their rationale for doing so, as I don’t think it would be appropriate for me to comment on their behalf,” said Peck.
“However, it has been suggested that the RDA’s most recent initiative to bring a resort style hotel to the Chatuge Shores Golf Course led to some division and animosity between board members that resulted in a strained working relationship among the group,” Peck continued.
The Rural Development Authority Inc. oversees operations of Chatuge Shores Golf Course which is situated on 151 acres which is titled to the RDA, according to Hindsman. It was built in the mid to late 1960s. In addition to the driving range, pro shop and putting tee, for years the course offered a swimming pool. Efforts to restore it were unsuccessful and the pool eventually closed.
Over the past several years board members have been working to attract investors to build a hotel and transform the golf course into a more upscale, tourist-oriented property that included a multi-story, 65-room hotel.
Hindsman said the hotel project was estimated to generate $1 million in tax revenue in the fifth year of it being built and that the resort would have created about 100 jobs. Noting that a respected real estate firm in Atlanta was in negotiations to find investors for the hotel, Hindsman said he just hopes the project moves forward.
“I’m sure the new board will probably communicate with all the professional organizations that have spent time and money on this project,” Hindsan said. “I’m sure they’ll do the right thing.”
Hindsman had served on the RDA board for the past eight years and had assumed the role of hotel project manager. Whether RDA will continue in the same direction under new leadership is not known.
“Most people do not realize that the RDA is a separate and distinct entity from the Clay County Government. However, it is the Clay County Board of Commissioners who are tasked with appointing board members to the RDA,” Peck said. “The commissioners decided to fill the void created by the resignations rather than bring others into a potentially complicated situation with an uncertain future.“
It is unclear whether the commissioners will retain their seats on a long-term basis.
“Until there is a plan in place for both the immediate and long term stability of the RDA and the Chatuge Shores Golf Course itself we will continue to serve in an interim capacity,” Peck said. “As we work through this process with the remaining RDA members, we are hopeful that together we can help forge a plan that will benefit the greater good of Clay County.”
Hindsman said he just hopes the board continues with the hotel project. “There will never be anything that would positively impact this county than this,” he said. “The only thing I’d like to know is, why would you not do it?”
Scotty Penland was appointed to the board in 2018. He said while the board had made great progress and got the course back into the black, he felt it was time for a change. “It was time for a fresh set of eyes to look at it,” he said. “I kind of felt like we were spinning our wheels on the hotel project.”
Peck, Nichols and Dwight Penland will join remaining RDA Board of Directors, Charles Penland and Tony Wiegold. Both of their terms expires in 2027. Board terms are for five years.