Willow Springs Country Club was not a part of the PGA Tour calendar, ever. It was mostly known for hosting local and state events. But it still held a lot of history and tradition for the locals. One that will be cherished long after the course is shut down.

As per the latest reports on The Wilson Times, the Willow Springs Country Club in North Carolina has been sold by owners Jimmy Gurkin and his wife, Paula. And the new owners are planning to convert it to a home development site. The course will be closed by the end of this year, and locals are not happy about it.

Gurkin, himself, was in the golf course management business. So, needless to say, the course meant a lot to him. “I worked hard for 37 years and spent a lot of time out here. I hate to see it be plowed up,” said the 78-year-old former owner.

The club was established in 1910, but first opened in 1915 as the Wilson Country Club. Its golf course is designed by Willard Byrd. It was only in 1974 when the trio of Wilson businessmen, H.M. Matthis, Henry Brewer, and Harold Lee, purchased the club that it was renamed to Willow Springs. The Gurkins purchased the club from their family in 1989 after their passing.

Sitting 3.5 miles outside Wilson, North Carolina, it has seen many owners over the years. As a Wilson native said, “A lot is to be said about a golf course that has been around 110 years. You hate to see it when something like that goes by the wayside.” Most locals are quite attached to the club.

Take Butch O’Briant, for example. The veteran, a local golf legend, has been a member of this club. Speaking about the future, he sounded dismayed. “It’s 120 acres I fell in love with. But I guess all good things must end at some point.”

On the other hand, local amateur golfer Dickie Fulford also had a lot to say. A regular at the club, he shared, “I obviously didn’t like [Willow Springs no longer existing]. It’s tough. I credit being a member out there for being able to compete at any course. I was ready. I loved [the course].”

Other regulars also had a lot of memories to share about the club. They talked about the challenges on each hole of the par-71 golf course. And it’s not just the fairways that will get destroyed once the club is shut down.

The golf course is not the only thing that kept them from coming back to the golf club. There was a lot more that was offered at the Willow Springs Country Club.

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What made the Willow Springs Country Club special for the Wilson locals?

It’s not just the 6,650-yard golf course that you can enjoy in the club. It also offers a variety of other amenities for its members and visitors. You have tennis courts, badminton courts, fitness rooms, water activities, restaurants, cafes, a kids club, and a banquet space to host events.

It had also experienced a lot of history over the years. The club opened during the First World War. It also witnessed World War II. While it may not have hosted a PGA Tour event, Willow Springs was the venue for a few U.S. Open qualifiers.

Willow Springs also hosted the Golden Leaf Invitational, which often attracted top golf icons in addition to amateurs from across the state. After years of wear and tear, it was renovated in 2005 by acclaimed architect John LaFoy. 20 years later, they have decided to shut it down completely.

Quite naturally, the closure of this course is being considered the end of an era. Wilson native Jay Pittman, a junior champion and now a golf professional, said that the golf scene in the area will now be a lot different. They are also hoping for a new course to be opened, but only time will tell if their wish will be granted or not.