Arnold Palmer’s first golf course is for sale again

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Arnie’s First” — the first golf course designed by legendary golfer Arnold Palmer — is back up for sale.

Indian Lake Golf Club, just east of Somerset on Indian Lake, went up for sale shortly after the Latrobe native died in September 2016. GCIL Partners, a group of investors, agreed to buy the club last spring and ran it this season as the Golf Club at Indian Lake.

“They were under a lease agreement and operated the course during the 2017 season but notified us at the end of the agreement that they were not going to purchase the club and honor our sales agreement with them,” said club secretary Allison Troy Finui.

Mr. Palmer designed the first nine holes before the course opened in 1967. Nine more holes were added, and the original layout was changed in 1995. The entire 250-acre course is being offered for sale, including a putting green and driving range, pro shop, clubhouse, maintenance building and equipment.

The club said the property was “conservatively appraised” at $1.4 million several years ago.

Board president Clair Gill said club officers have not set an asking price yet but would sell the course for “less than $1 million.”

He said the club is surviving on the hand money from the failed sale and is eager to sell the course quickly. “We just have to make the connection with the right person.”

Their goal remains to have it operate as a golf course.

“We’ve had some amazing volunteer support who have stuck together,” he said, lauding fellow members who are “hanging in there, trying to save Arnie’s First.”

Interested parties may contact Mr. Gill by calling 571- 527-9737.