Ballamor Golf Club in Egg Harbor, N.J., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and its owner has announced that the private club will open to public play after the first of the year.
Chip Ottinger Sr., who also owns Scotland Run Golf Club in Williamstown, N.J., purchased Ballamor from original developer Patrick Delaney in May of this year, but said the club has been unable to generate the additional new members necessary to make it viable to continue as a private club. Ballamor, opened in 2001, was one of 12 18-hole courses to open in Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties between 1991 and 2004.
Club management has indicated that current members will be reimbursed a portion of their initial membership deposits ranging from $500 to $13,500, as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.
The club plans to charge greens fees for public play ranging from $50 in the off-season to peak rates of $100. The club will continue to sell memberships as well, with associate memberships starting at $495.