Albany Herald

ALBANY — Synovus Bank, the parent company of SB&T, is planning to sell River Point Golf Club, LLC., at public auction July 3, even as golf club officials work to resolve the course’s debt issues.

According to a legal advertisement which ran this weekend in The Albany Herald, the bank is attempting to collect $1.3 million reportedly owed them, and will auction the property off on the steps of the Dougherty County Courthouse July 3.

Officials at Riverpoint said Monday that they’re working to resolve the problems with the bank but that they’ve yet to have their debt deal accepted.

“Indeed, Synovus Bank has called the note due on River Pointe Golf Club. We have made an offer to Synovus Bank to settle the debt,” said Jos Bekkers, the owner of River Point. “As of Today, Synovus has not accepted our offer. If no settlement is made, River Pointe Golf Club will be filing Chapter 11 with the bankruptcy court before July 3rd.

“Regardless of the outcome of the negotiations, there will be no auction of the golf course on July 3rd and golf course operations will be as usual,” Bekkers contends.

Bekkers said that all pre-planned events and tournaments will continue as scheduled and the course’s Pirate Camps for kids will continue.

“The members as well as management feels it will be in the best interest of all parties involved if Synovus accepts the debt settlement offer made,” Bekkers wrote.

According to the Dougherty County Tax Department, the money owed by the golf club to the bank isn’t the only indication that the course is having financial struggles.

Tax Director Denver Hooten says that golf club is currently delinquent in its 2011 property tax bills by more than $33,000.

According to its website, River Point is an 18-hole, semi-private golf course that was designed in 1995 and has been named the Best Albany-area golf course by the readers of the Albany Herald for the last four years.

The course has been called one of the best in the state by Atlanta Golf Magazine and is the home course to PGA pro Sonny Skinner.

River Point came up in discussions at the Dougherty County Commission meeting Monday, but for a much different reason.

The Dougherty County Commission is considering joining the city commission in extending sewer lines along Philema Road to the Lee County line, a move that would allow people who live in the River Pointe subdivision and the golf club itself, to rid themselves of septic tanks and tap into the municipal sewer system.