Jasper Country Club closing after December 31

On Wednesday morning last week the Board of Directors of the Jasper Country Club decided to cease operations at the country club at the end of the year.

The decision was forced when the owner of the real estate, Club Management of Dubois County, Inc., notified the board it would be terminating their lease with them effective December 31. The closure affects the restaurants, Mimi’s and 19th Hole, as well as the clubhouse.

A letter to the members of the country club notified them of the boards’ decisions and the efforts considered to continue operations. According to the letter, the Board of Club Management considered “raising additional capital, borrowing, or selling the real state to continue to operate.”

The letter states the country club will continue to operate normally through the year. Memberships paid to that point will not be affected, however, the letter states, those members that have prepaid dues past December 31 will be reimbursed.

Current members are being offered special memberships at Sultan’s Run Golf Club. The plan will give members of the country club full membership with Sultan’s Run at a lower rate than the current Jasper Country Club membership.

John Chappell,  Attorney with Bingham, Greenbaum Doll, represents both boards in the matter. “Basically the Board of Club Management in looking at various strategic opportunities and alternatives, as they do each year, decided this year to not renew the lease that had been in place for some time with the Jasper Country Club,” Chapell said. “Then the Board of the Country Club met and decided to cease operations at the end of the year since they weren’t going to have a golf course or club to operate.”

Chappell stated he was unaware of any financial problems either corporation was having however, according to the letter board was searching out funds through investments, borrowing or the sale of real estate.

According to the Jasper Country Club website, Club Management of Dubois County formed in the early 80’s in response to financial challenges the club faced in the late 70’s to early 80’s. From that, the Jasper Country Club corporation was organized to run the club operations.