In the movie Caddyshack (1980), loutish real estate developer Al Czervik made an unforgettable proclamation before teeing it up at Bushwood Country Club:
“I tell ya, golf courses and cemeteries are the biggest wastes of prime real estate.”
This time, reality isn’t imitating art. This time, it’s a country club that appears to be ceding to developers, and it’s a sad ending to one of north Arlington’s oldest institutions.
Rolling Hills Country Club, Arlington’s oldest country club, is seeking to sell its property to Dallas-based Provident Realty Advisors. In the course’s place, the private developer plans to build more than 200 single-family homes — provided the Arlington City Council agrees to a zoning change.
The 96-acre country club at the corner of North Cooper Street and East Lamar Boulevard just off Interstate 30 has operated for 68 years. It has hosted tournaments such as the 2015 Texas Women’s Open.
Membership numbers have waned in the past few years, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Membership fell from 500 to 83 as members aged, stopped playing golf, or went on to the fabulous clubhouse in the sky.
The Tarrant Appraisal District valued the property at more than $12 million.
Where will members now tee it up?
The city has municipal courses, of course. But some prefer the country club vibe, and the nearest country club option is Shady Valley Country Club, in southwest Arlington, near Pantego. Already, Shady Valley is rolling out the welcome mat for former Rolling Hills members.
Carol Selman, Shady Valley Country Club membership director, said she’d gotten several inquiries from Rolling Hills members interested in joining.
“I told everyone that even if your home club is closing, we’re here to give you guys a new home, and take good care of you,” Selman said. “Some already have moved this way, and we have set up complimentary tee times.”
The club is expected to stay open through July.
“Everybody hates to see it go away,” club member Chuck McCoy told the Star-Telegram. “It’s a really nice green space for everybody that lives in the area, but I think with like everything, you know, things have a life and this one may have run it.”
