Indian Creek Golf Course in Loomis listed for sale

Loomis' only golf course was put up for sale recently, signifying the end of a 40-year family business and a slew of possibilities for land-hungry developers.The owners of Indian Creek Golf Course, located off Barton Road in south Loomis, listed the 50-acre golf course, clubhouse, pro shop and driving range, plus 40 surrounding acres, for sale on April 20. The family is asking $7 million. Indian Creek is owned and operated by the five children of James and Jane Clark: Jan Clark, Kathy Nash and Peter Nash, who run the business, and Tom Nash and Bill Clark, silent partners.With Peter and Kathy Nash approaching retirement age, the family felt it was time to sell."It was an emotional decision," admitted Jan Clark, who works as the business manager. "I grew up in the house by the sixth hole and have so many memories of running down the course, or onto 'my rock,' or into the woods nearby. This is like a doctor operating on his own child."Short holes, peaceful ponds and a relaxed, country atmosphere have drawn crowds from the foothills and the Sacramento Valley to the nine-hole course since the mid-1960s, when it was built by Jan Clark's father, then-professional golfer James Clark. When the siblings took over the business after the death of their mother, Jane Clark, in 1996, it was run down and there was some debt. According to Jan Clark, they banded together, reorganized their management style and poured "every penny we had into it." Today, the course's success is apparent. Indian Creek tied with two other courses for No. 14 on the Sacramento Business Journal's list of largest local public courses in 2004. Around 60,000 rounds of golf are played there each year, Jan Clark said."This business has never been so successful," she said, adding that the men's and women's clubs have more than 100 members each, from as far away as Shingle Springs, Grass Valley and Lincoln. "We're at the top of our game right now."But a place is only as good as its employees, and Indian Creek's main employees are growing weary.For Peter Nash, who works as course supervisor, and Kathy Nash, in charge of administration, giving up ownership of the course represents a new life, and a chance to do other things."I've been here for 33 years so I'm ready for a break," Peter Nash said. "My wife is from Samoa, so we plan to take a trip to New Zealand soon. We want to do more traveling." Kathy Nash's interests, on the other hand, lie in honing her skills in creating computer-enhanced photography. "I'm really looking forward to having more time for it," she said.The land itself represents an enormous value in Loomis. It is zoned residential/agricultural, with a requirement for lots no smaller than 4.6 acres. A provision in the general plan would allow the town government to increase the housing density to protect the open space, if it desired.According to John Ziegler, real estate sales representative at ReMax Gold in Loomis, Indian Creek is one of the largest properties to go up for sale in recent history."There was an 82-acre parcel on Laird Road south of Wells that went for $2 million several years ago," Ziegler said. "But there just hasn't been a lot of large properties for sale recently."Ziegler said the $7 million price tag may ward off some potential buyers, since only about 40 acres at Indian Creek are available to develop. One thing he could confirm, however, was the impact the sale will have on the local community."There are so many people who love that golf course. It's a part of Loomis," he said. "It's going to break a lot of hearts around here when it sells."At least a few regulars at Indian Creek are already voicing those sentiments. "It sucks," stated Jimmy Hendrickson, of Rio Linda, after taking a shot from the green last Thursday.His friend, Bob Carter of Roseville, agreed."We're not happy," Carter said. "We've been coming here for 20 years and we play three times a week. It's a convenient and inexpensive place for us to play golf."From the Clark/Nash perspective, of course, the ideal buyer would be one dedicated to preserving the land as it is and continuing to operate the golf course. Jan Clark said she and Peter Nash would consider sticking around to help the transition for the new owner go smoothly.And because they're not desperate for money, they can afford to be a little picky."We are looking for a buyer who sees that this is something very special and appreciates what we have here in Loomis," she said. "This is my mom's legacy. We don't feel rushed."Sarah Langford can be reached at sarahl@goldcountrymedia.com.