'A blue-chip deal': County officials approve sale of Menomonee Falls Wanaki Golf Course to private golf operator

After the Waukesha County Board unanimously approved the sale of the financially stricken Wanaki Golf Course to a private golf operator June 23, Joe Vachuska, co-founder of the Save Wanaki Group, was all smiles.

"We saved it," he said. "Eleven months ago, we had like a zero chance of doing that."

The Storm family — who have owned and operated golf courses in the greater Milwaukee area for 68 years — will be the new owner and operator of the 148-acre golf course.

The Storm family owns and operates Brookfield Hills, Mequon's Missing Links and Delafield's St. John's Northwestern Golf Course. It also owns Storm's Golf Range in Brookfield.

"This (purchasing Wanaki) is a blue-chip deal," said Tim Sullivan representing the Storm family.

Wanaki upgrades

Sullivan said the Storm family is ready to do the repairs needed and will maintain the golf course to the best of their ability.

Dale Shaver, director of the Waukesha County Department of Parks and Land Use, said that significant infrastructure repairs and upgrades at the course are estimated at more than $645,000.

Alex Jaworski of the Storm family said the group's first tasks will be to get a liquor license and expand the clubhouse. "We want to do a whole new level of food," he said. He also said the group plans to improve the grounds and lighting.

Jaworski and Sullivan said that despite the changes, they want to keep the golf course much as it is.

"It is a beautiful golf course. It will just be a better version of Wanaki," said Sullivan.

Financial challenges

The county, Jaworski and Sullivan all declined to detail the financial aspects of the deal with the county. According to the Save Wanaki Facebook page, there were nine bids, including some golf course developers and a few residential developers.

Wanaki was listed at $1.52 million — about $10,270 per acre — which includes the 18-hole golf course and equipment, maintenance facilities, carts and storage facilities, putting green and clubhouse with pro shop, bar and grill, locker rooms and restrooms.  

The course was set to close at the end of the 2019 season after County Executive Paul Farrow did not include funding in the 2020 budget. The course had deficits ranging from $41,000 to $243,000 over the last decade, said Shaver.

"I know that the county can't run it. Everyone wants it as a golf course," said County Supervisor Timothy Dondlinger, who represents residents near Wanaki.

Grassroots organizing

After resident protests and a 6,000-signature petition, county supervisors voted to keep the course under county operation for one more year when they passed the 2020 budget in November.

"I must have read and sent over hundreds, if not thousands of emails (to the county)," said Vachuska.  

When county officials passed the budget to operate Wanaki for the additional year, they planned to get proposals to lease Wanaki for golf operations to continue with no county financial burdens. One company sent in a proposal, said Nicole Armendariz, Waukesha County press secretary.  But she said the county rejected it because the company had asked for a commitment of county funds.

The next step, Armendariz said, was to try to sell Wanaki.

If there was no sale as a golf course by June 30, the county would have had to sell the property for the highest price and best use, said Armendariz.

The Save Wanaki group said the county received nine proposals by the June 15 deadline. She declined to provide details of any of those offers.

The Save Wanaki group did one last email campaign to urge the county not to approve the sale to a residential developer, but only to a golf course operator, because of fear that a residential developer would not be concerned with long-term sustainability of the property.

"This was one situation where a solution worked for the taxpayers, constituents, golfers and everyone," said Waukesha County Board Chairman Paul Decker.

Cathy Kozlowicz can be reached at 262-361-9132 or cathy.kozlowicz@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KozlowiczCathy.