After nearly 100 years, Minnetonka Country Club now slated to become housing development

After nearly 100 years, the Minnetonka Country Club is closing and expected to become the Twin Cities' next golf course-turned-housing development.

Several developers have expressed interest to city officials about the 116 acres near Lake Minnetonka — the single largest parcel of property in Shorewood — after the country club abruptly announced its closing last month.

No proposal has been submitted yet to Shorewood, but city leaders said they've met with interested developers about the property in the small 7,300-resident suburb.

"It's a big chunk of land in the smack middle of town," City Administrator Bill Joynes said.

The historic golf course, which opened in 1916, suddenly announced in October that it would be closing, citing increased costs of keeping up the clubhouse facilities and golf course upgrades in light of decreasing revenue. On Friday, a rock concert raising money for pancreatic cancer research is billed as the golf course's final public event.

"It's sad," said Mike Woodley, the concert organizer and an Excelsior resident. "I hate to see change. It's historic … and it's beautiful. There's a lot of memories in that place."

The Minnetonka Country Club is one of several golf courses in the Twin Cities that have shut down in recent years, then turned into sprawling housing developments.

Now, the same is likely to happen in Shorewood. The Minnetonka Country Club survived two clubhouse fires over its 98-year history, but it can't weather the financial storm any longer. Owner Bill Witrak declined to comment.

The country club took pride in being one of the oldest continuously active golf courses in Minnesota.

"We were hoping someone would come in and keep it running as a club," said member Chris Junker of Minnetonka, adding that members tried to save the club privately but were notified the club would close Dec. 31. "It's clearly a historic site."

Hennepin County lists the land valuation based on its golf course use at $1.5 million or $2.4 million with the golf course buildings, but the purchase price will depend on its land use. The land is zoned for single-family homes on 1-acre, or 40,000-square-foot, lots.

Joynes said that a developer could seek approval for a planned unit development (PUD), which could mean more homes. Once the city receives a request from the developer, he said it will kick off a process that could take a year or two for approvals from the city and Minnehaha Creek Watershed District.

The City Council is looking to hire a consultant soon who will help the city work with a developer to make sure the project fits in the community, such as ensuring it adds trails or keeps more trees. Whatever housing development is proposed, Zerby said, it may not get approval and start construction until 2016.

In the meantime, Minnetonka High School golfers will have to find a new place by next spring. The Shorewood course 5 miles away was their home course for matches and practices twice a week for at least the past decade.

"We didn't think [the closure] would happen and then, boom it did," said Pat Williams, head coach of the girls' golf team. "The course is a great course. Everybody enjoyed playing it. It's a tough situation we are in."

Kelly Smith • 612-673-4141