July 29 — A new owner has reopened the formerly private Georgetown (Mass.) Club to public play and renamed the facility, Black Swan Country Club.
The club’s former principal owner, Peter Wojtkun, filed for bankruptcy last September, two months after the facility began accepting public play in an aborted attempt to boost revenue, according to North Shore Golf magazine. When Wojtkun’s efforts to reorganize the business under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code failed, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court forced it into liquidation and the club suddenly closed its doors to members and employees.
That’s where things stood until earlier this summer. On June 11, Black Swan Country Club LLC of Beverly, Mass., purchased the property from Sovereign Bank for $3.2 million at a foreclosure auction, according to the Boston Globe.
Open for play. The club reopened for public play on June 26, John Murphy, assistant golf pro at the revamped course, confirmed to New England Golf Monthly.
The course had fallen into disrepair but the new owner, Jack Swanburg, invested resources into getting it back in shape, Murphy said. “[He] has put a lot of money and care into the facility and the course,” noted Murphy.
The course, which had gone to seed even before it closed, required a great deal of spiffing up just to make it playable.
Revamped conditions. “The owner totally revamped the bunkers, which were really in rough shape,” Murphy said. “They brought in some white sand and they’re nice to hit out of now.”
Former members get first crack at play, but the public may make tee times six days in advance. Walkers pay $41 on weekdays and $48 on weekends. To attract locals, the club offers an “18 for $18” deal to Georgetown residents: $18 greens fees for 18 holes (cart extra) after 3 p.m. on Mondays.
Semi-private in 2011? While Black Swan will remain a daily-fee course for the rest of the year, Swansburg will consider making it a semi-private course next season.
“It’s strictly public, but with all the interest from members, and a lot of support from them, [Swansburg] will entertain a semi-private ‘Swan’-type membership for next year,” said Murphy. “He’ll discuss that over the winter by sending e-mails to members.”
(Emily Kay is a regular contributor to New England Golf Monthly. Kay also writes the Boston Golf Examiner and National Golf Examiner blogs.)
