Woodford Lakes Golf Course will host its final tee times on Halloween Day, and if that’s not scary to a group of golfers from Frankfort, it is disappointing. Gary Dawson said his baker’s dozen has two standing tee times each weekday for the course at 2260 Lexington Road, and 10 of the 13 became members this year. “We’re old guys,” Dawson said, “so we can’t play every day. Some play Monday, Wednesday and Friday, some play Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday … We’ve got a tee time available, and there’s anywhere from three to eight or nine of us that will play at a time.” Dawson said the Davey Tree Expert Company, hired by course owner Frontier Nursing University to restore and manage the course, has done a great job. The price of joining was “extremely reasonable” and the staff treats them well, he said. “They have got the course in good shape, and we have enjoyed playing out there. It was very disappointing to hear that Frontier terminated the contract …” Dawson said. In a news release dated Oct. 13 that was received by the Sun Monday, Frontier President Dr. Susan Stone said, “We know that many individuals from the community, including some of our own staff, have enjoyed playing rounds at Woodford Lakes. Its closure was a decision not made lightly.” The course formerly known as Cabin Brook Golf Club opened as Woodford Lakes Golf Course Aug. 31, 2018, after a delay of several weeks due to damage from the massive July 20 storm. The release noted extensive upgrades to the course, including a new clubhouse. “FNU hoped that Woodford Lakes would be profitable and a vehicle by which student scholarships could be funded. Careful monitoring of the course’s financial status led the FNU Board of Directors to decide that the course will be closed as of Nov. 1, 2020,” it said. Dawson said he organizes his group’s outings and that occasionally, when he asked for an extra tee time, he was told the course was full. “That’s happened several times, so from my standpoint, they have had a lot of play this year,” he said. Stone said FNU was considering options to the property “that will be less expensive and still add value to our university and the community. We look forward to continuing to be part of the Versailles community and to welcoming students to the campus in 2021.” Monday morning, Dawson said he hadn’t been told whether he and others would be reimbursed a portion of their membership fee. “We don’t play a lot in December, but November we still play a lot of golf. … Our question to Frontier is, ‘Are we going to get some money back – 15 percent maybe back from our membership – because we cannot complete the year?” Dawson said. Monday afternoon, in a statement emailed to the Sun, Angela Bailey, FNU’s chief advancement officer, wrote, “All deposits made for 2021 outings will be refunded in full. A 10 percent refund for 2020 season pass holders is available by mailing the pass to Frontier Nursing University, Attn: Accounting, 2050 Lexington Road, Versailles, KY 40383 no later than Nov. 30.” Dawson said he and his buddies will start playing other courses next month, as they did the two previous years, but he still hopes FNU will, so to speak, change course. “ … Davey’s, on our end, from a customer’s standpoint, was doing a very good job. … Hopefully, they’ll reopen next year,” he said. The closure leaves Woodford County with one golf course, The Woodford Club on McCracken Pike.
FNU closing Woodford Lakes Golf Course Nov. 1
