Wood Wind Golf Club now expected to stay open in 2016

In a change of events, the only non-exclusive golf course in Westfield will remain open in 2016.

Cohoat and O’Neal Management Corp., which sent an email to various course customers Sept. 8 saying its lease had not been renewed for next year, announced last week that it will continue to run the facility in 2016.

The company has operated the Wood Wind Golf Club for five years. The notification in September said that the property could cease to continue as a golf course, but it would remain open under Cohoat and O’Neal through the end of the year.

The golf course, located at 2302 W. 161st St., is open to the public for a daily fee and offers annual memberships. Golf leagues for men, women and seniors and a teaching academy are available. In addition, it hosts weddings and banquets.

RN Thompson owns the property.

“The owners love the golf course, respect the community and continue to work with us and the broader community to find the best long term plan for Wood Wind,” Cohoat and O’Neal said in the Oct. 28 message. “… We express our appreciation for the owner commitment to the facility and the wonderful community support.”

The course, which opened in 1990, was designed by Ron Kern and Gary Kern.

Earlier this year, developer George Sweet introduced plans to turn the course into a 315-unit subdivision but the project appears to have stalled. The proposed 210-acre development along Towne Road between 161st and 156th streets would have included houses ranging in price from $300,000 to $1 million.

A group of Westfield residents had been fighting to keep the golf course open. A Facebook page titled “Westfield Citizens Against Development at Wood Wind” has 575 “likes” and an online petition at Change.org has more than 1,000 signatures.

Cohoat and O’Neal are hosting an open house at the golf course at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The notification sent last week said that management will answer questions and provide details on the next season.