About Sam Spatter

Sam Spatter 412-320-7843
Business Writer
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

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Anyone interested in buying a Western Pennsylvania golf course — or two — should take note of an auction scheduled for Dec. 18.

Bids will be taken before 5 p.m. that day for Glengarry Golf Links in Latrobe, a 145-acre course, and The Phoenix at Buffalo Valley, a recently renovated, 167-acre course in Freeport.

The two courses are owned by the Vincent Nese family of Pittsburgh, which has a construction and home-building company and wants to concentrate on that core business, said Mark L. Troen, chief operating officer with Sheldon Good & Co., which is conducting the auction. Nese could not be reached for comment.

The upcoming auctions are generating some worries in the local golf community.

“I am saddened and surprised by the selling of two great public golf courses in the area,” said Julie Puhl, executive administrator of Keystone's Premier Golf Association of Delmont.

Troen said no minimum bids are listed for the properties, and interest has been running strong.

“We've had several hundred hits on the Internet from 10 states and even from Ireland, regarding these golf courses,” said Troen, whose company is based in Chicago.

Glengarry is a 6,287-yard, par-70 course with 50-yard-wide fairways, six lakes and numerous elevation changes, according to promotional materials.

There is a clubhouse, restaurant and grill with indoor and outdoor seating, and a fully stocked pro shop. A 54-lot residential community surrounds the course, with eight remaining lots to be sold.

The Phoenix at Buffalo Valley, previously known as Buffalo Valley Country Club, is a 6,793-yard, par-71 course.

The course reopened in 2011 after a substantial renovation.

Open views of both courses for potential bidders are planned on the next four Tuesdays, starting Nov. 20.

The Glengarry viewing starts at 9 a.m. and the Phoenix at noon on those days, he said. Anyone planning to attend is asked to register at 800-516-0015 or www.Golf​Course.SheldonGood.com.

Sam Spatter is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7843 or sspatter@tribweb.com.

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