Marshall Buying Donald Ross Designed-Metacomet From Faxon Team - Golf Legacy to End
Friday, February 28, 2020
Marshall Development has formally announced that the company has entered into a purchase and sale agreement to buy the Metacoment Golf Course, the historic Donald Ross 1901 facility.
According to a statement from the company sent to GoLocal, "Marshall plans to redevelop the site into an exciting first-class mixed-use property that will bolster both commerce and community in the upper bay. In the coming months, a vision for the property will be unveiled - a vision that will further strengthen East Providence and Rhode Island’s economy through investment, job creation and the development of a vibrant center of activity in one of the state’s top communities."
The company has not disclosed the purchase price. Faxon and his investors purchased the club just a year ago for approximately $2.3 million.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTRoss was one of the preeminent course designers in history.
Presently, the course is owned by a group of investors led by Brad Faxon, the PGA player. They announced last week to the members of the private club that this summer would be the final season for the historic property.
On Wednesday, GoLocal reported:
“I am extremely surprised and horrified that a Donald Ross course could be lost this way, and that a player of Brad Faxon’s reputation could be any part of it," said golf historian Chris Buie in an interview with GoLocalProv.
Buie is arguably the leading expert on Ross and the author of the 2017 book, “The Life and Times of Donald Ross.”
Ross designed or redesigned approximately 400 golf courses and is ranked as one of the greatest course designers in golf history.
“You lose a Donald Ross course and you don’t get it back,” said Buie.
Golf historian Tony Parker told GoLocal that he knows of only one other time recently of a Ross course being developed into housing.
“There was a Donald Ross course in St. Augustine, Florida called the Ponce de Leon Golf Course, built in 1916. It was sold by the county in 2003 I think for redevelopment. There is now a subdivision named Madeira on the property," said Parker.
About 60 of the courses have been lost over the past 120 years, but none of the experts could remember a scenario like this that involved a top-level PGA golfer.
About Marshall Development LLC/Marshall Properties, Inc.
The Marshall Family has been developing real estate projects in Rhode Island for over 30 years. Lianne and John Marshall, a sister/brother team, are responsible for over $300 million dollars of real estate activity consisting of notable projects throughout, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Florida. Their portfolio includes owning, developing and managing, medical and Class A office buildings, multi-family residential/apartment buildings, hotels, commercial, retail, military housing, and storage facilities.
Related Articles
- NEW: Kevin Silva Wins 110th RI Amateur at Metacomet
- NEW: Metacomet in “Financial Difficulties” Say Faxon and Others, Club May Be Sold for Development
- Golf Historians “Horrified” Donald Ross’ Metacomet to be Developed, Surprised Faxon Is Part of It
