In 2017, golfers will only have one choice when playing a round at Peak ‘n Peak resort.
Scott Enterprises,the owner and operator of the Findley Lake resort, will permanently close the Peek ‘n Peak lower course on Oct. 2. The Erie-based company bought the resort and its two golf courses in 2011.
“We have been affected by the national trend of fewer rounds of golf being played,” said Chris N. Scott, a vice president and co-owner of Scott Enterprises. “The number of rounds (at the lower course) has declined slightly each year and operating two courses is expensive.”
The number of golf courses in the United States declined by 1 percent in 2015 to the 18-hole equivalent of 14,288.5 courses, according to a report by the National Golf Foundation.
The decision to close the course was based on a lack of business, not future plans for the property, Scott said. Scott Enterprises has not decided what to do with the 200-acre property and any announcement probably won’t come until spring.
A “small number” of jobs will be lost when the course doesn’t reopen in the spring, Scott said. Other positions will be transferred elsewhere at the peak.
“We tried a number of things to increase play on the lower course,” Scott said. “we offered twilight and senior specials, but the interest in golf has declined everywhere. … The upper course is doing fairly well, though.”
Peek ‘n Peak will continue to operate the upper course, which hosted a PGA Tour’s Web.com tournament in July.
The par-72 lower course was designed by Ferdinand Garbin and opened in 1973. It is flatter and not considered as challenging as the upper course.
