Chesapeake golf course shuts down abruptly

Cahoon Plantation Golf Course in Chesapeake abruptly shut down Monday, leaving residents unclear why it closed and where that leaves their golf course community.

A “closed” sign was placed at the entrance to the parking lot of the course, which is adjacent to Eagle Pointe at Cahoon Plantation, a community for residents 55 or older.

According to Chesapeake residents, the shutdown of the Cahoon Golf Course came suddenly over the weekend and residents living in Cahoon Plantation say, it’s not just about the golf. Instead, they are concerned about what the sudden closure will do for their bottom line.

On its website, Cahoon Golf Course boasts the smoothest and greenest playing surface available in the Williamsburg, Virginia Beach and Outer Banks area.

Residents living in and around Cahoon Plantation told 10 On Your Side they’ve heard of the struggles, a committee has been monitoring the situation for more than a year. However, they say the timing caught them a bit off guard.

“We are very shocked that it’s closing when we moved here we thought it would be here forever,” said resident Sherri Williams. “It will affect the property values around here so we are very shocked that it’s coming now.”

Sherri and Terry Williams have lived near the golf course for three years. Ideally, they say they would like to see the golf course stay.

“If the city could see their way to make it an open green space for the city, that would be acceptable to me. We just hate to see it revert to something that’s unmaintained, unkept and an eye sore,” said Terry Williams.

The owner’s son says he does not know what the next step is as the close is still very fresh. Residents 10 On Your Side spoke to say a development is not what they’d like to see in its place.

Eagle Point homeowner Wade Ridgley said residents are anxious to hear plans for what might happen to the property. Many residents, like himself, moved to the community for the amenity of having a golf course in their back yards, he said.

“I’ve lived in Chesapeake for over 40 years, Great Bridge for 36 of those years. My whole goal, when I retired, was to live, work and play golf …” he said. “It was a dream come true for me.”

Eagle Pointe Condo Association Board of Directors President Rosa Holava said the board was not aware the course would be closed before it occurred.

It’s not the first time the future of the course has been uncertain. Two years ago, Virginia Beach-based developer Bishard Development Corp. planned to buy the course and build houses and retail space on the property, which already holds hundreds of homes.

But the company backed off those plans in July 2016 after residents in the surrounding communities opposed the plans.

Lowery said a closing was rumored among players for some time.

“We all knew it was a possibility but had no idea that it would happen right after we played a round of golf,” he said.

Lowery said he spoke with course management and was told the course wasn’t making money and the closing was a business decision. The closing leaves Chesapeake with just two public golf courses: the nearby Chesapeake Golf Club and Battlefield Golf Club off Centerville Turnpike.

Chesapeake VA Eagle Pointe at Cahoon Plantation in Chesapeake VA  is an active adult community that enjoys a prime location in Southside Hampton Roads and a wide variety of on-site amenities. Eagle Pointe is an age-qualified community for active adults 55 years of age and better. Only one of the property owners has to be 55 or older and children coming home from college for the holidays or for summer vacation are very welcome. The community offers a variety of residences, including single-family homes and attached villas. The spacious community clubhouse contains many amenities that appeal to active adults, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hobby and game rooms.

Read about other 55+ active adult communities in Hampton Roads here

Psst,  Mr Williamsburg is a different sort of real estate agent.

This post was authored by local resident and REALTOR, John Womeldorf. John is known around town as Mr. Williamsburg, for both his extensive knowledge of the Williamsburg/ Hampton Roads/ Richmond VA area and his expertise helping buyers and sellers in the local real estate market.

If you are a homeowner searching for someone innovative to sell your home I would love to share my thoughts on marketing. You can read some of the stories I have written about the homes I have sold here.

Find out the value of your existing home here

Additionally, I have helped hundreds of folks find their dream home/ community and would love to help you find yours in Williamsburg, Yorktown, New Kent, VA Beach, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Isle of Wight Poquoson as well as Richmond. Read reviews about me here

If you are researching neighborhoods you can read about other neighborhoods in the area here

Let me help you find your dream home/ neighborhood –Fill out this form and I will get back to you with suggestions.

You can reach me by phone at  1-757-254-8136  or email  [email protected]

I look forward to serving your real estate needs!