Lakeland’s Stonebridge Golf Club up for auction

Lakeland’s Stonebridge Golf Club is scheduled for auction after its owners defaulted on a loan, according to a legal notice.

The auction is scheduled for noon on Feb. 14 at the southwest corner of the D’army Bailey Courthouse.

Golf Nation purchased the golf course for $1.5 million in 2013 after taking out a loan from the Bank of Bartlett.

Mark Lovell, principal owner of the club, said he has “everything under control.”

Lovell said that although the club will be auctioned, tournaments will go forward and Stonebridge will retain its memberships.

He would not say how he had “everything under control” despite the impending auction.

“The golf course will never miss a beat,” Lovell said. “It’s going to stay open.”

Lakeland Vice Mayor Josh Roman said he’s hopeful that another country club will purchase the property and continue to use it as a golf course. He also said he wouldn’t support rezoning the property for residential or commercial use.

“I’d hate to see the city lose that as an asset,” Roman said. “I don’t think we will. I’m very optimistic another golf course operator will come in and see the value in it.”

The course, which winds through a Lakeland neighborhood, was originally built in 1973, according to its website. Its 177-acre property borders the southeast edge of I-40 just northeast of U.S. 64 and is bisected by Davies Plantation Road.

Katherine Burgess covers county government and the suburbs. She can be reached at katherine.burgess@commercialappeal.com or followed on Twitter @kathsburgess.