The first African American-owned 18-hole golf course in America, Freeway Golf Course, located in Sicklerville, New Jersey, is in the process of being sold. At an asking price of $2.4 million dollars, a local developer has made a offer to purchase the property with intentions to reconstruct it and build housing units on the 150-acres.
UPDATE >> HELP SAVE FREEWAY GOLF COURSE: LISTEN LIVE, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2016 AT 11:00 PM (Eastern) when radio talk show host Terrance Taylor speaks with Freeway Golf Course Board Member Joe Thomas on developments surrounding the pending sale of America’s first African American-owned 18-hole golf course. Tune in online at http://tobtr.com/s/8282637. Note: Once the show is completed, you can listen in the following morning. >> TO LISTEN CLICK HERE
Open since 1967, Freeway has been frequented notable golfers including Jim Dent, Lee Elder, Calvin Peete, Charlie Sifford, Jim Thorpe and other prominent individuals. The course is a 6,536-yard Horace Smith design bearing two distinct 9 holes that has played host to the inaugural Sammy Davis Jr. Open, which became the PGA TOUR’s Hartford Open.
Over the years, course maintenance and updates have waned, then following the devastation of Hurricane Sandy, it faced severe flooding. The course has been owned and operated by the Greater Philadelphia Golf and Country Club and headed by President Paulette Copeland-Bolton. Floyd Bagby is listed as manager and Bill Bishop as the golf professional. There are more than 300 shareholders.
Conveniently located near new outlet stores in Gloucester Twp. (NJ) Freeway had the perfect layout for attracting weekend recreational golfers and a round could easily be obtained for around $25. At the writing of this article, the golf calendar on the website was empty and the telephone goes unanswered.
“We here in the local community are trying really hard to keep it as a golf course,” said Keller William Realty, Broker/Manager Jerry McCarthy who lives in the area. “We hope that somebody who does not know about the course being for sale will step-up and take interest in buying it.” McCarty has received five offers on the property, with some buyers seeking financing, grants, and other means to acquire it.
McCarthy says that there is a board meeting today to see what the next steps will be. “So, this property may be back up to sale. The Freeway Golf course family is trying hard to keep this an historic African American golf course” He continues, “I am really surprised that no members of the African American community have not shown any interest in the course. It is listed on all of the MLS listings, golf course owners association and on loopnet.”
Hopefully, word will spread in time for someone to see the opportunity that exists and Freeway Golf Course will continue to operate in service to the community.
“As a community, we should have been in a position to take this on,” said Joe Thomas, an economic and business development representative and Freeway Golf Course board member. “Now, we are back at the end of the line, again. You can bet that non-black America is watching this happen. It’s the end of an era. At Freeway we had our own network; we were able to govern our own course. There must be enough of us (blacks) out here with money, so that we can do something to maintain this national site.”
arris M. Ginyard. (Montford Point Marines Association)
RELATED STORY: Harris M. Ginyard, Founding Member, Freeway Golf Course Dies
According to the African American Golfer’s Digest list of Black-owned, operated and managed golf courses in America, only 13 courses fit this status. “The game of golf is about protecting golf. We have to protect our own or this is what happens. If we can boycott the Oscars, why can’t we all support these courses with a national tournament of our own? Freeway is a national treasure—The death of this course would be like a funeral. But, perhaps it should be our awakening,” said Thomas.
Persons interested may contact:
Jerry Mccarthy
Keller William Realty,
Broker/Manager
jmappraisals@verizon.net
Telephone: 609-634-1729
