CHICORA — St. Jude Golf Club will soon be no more.

The 87-year-old golf course will not be reopening next year, according to a letter sent by the facility’s ownership to its membership.

Calls to St. Jude owner and president Colin Dunwoody and course superintendent Mike Dunn have not been returned. The facility was closed Monday, with only four golf carts parked outside. The fairways and greens were still being maintained.

“We just played our annual Fall Classic there Sunday and the course was in great shape,” said Tom Wagner, a 30-year member at St. Jude. “I know it’s being taken care of now, but come spring, it won’t take long for weeds and grass to grow in if it’s not being maintained then.

“In the back of my mind ... in all our minds ... we keep hoping something is going to happen, but the facility does not appear to be for sale.”

Dave Parker has been a member for 50 years and said he doesn’t know what the future holds for the property.

“You hear a lot of rumors, but my understanding is the course won’t be sold, that the owners have plans for it,” Fair said.

The Dunwoody family bought the golf course from Richard Fuhrer — who was nearing retirement at the time — in 2007. The course was originally named Ridgeview in 1927. Fuhrer bought it in 1979 and changed the name to St. Jude Golf Club.

As membership numbers fell in recent years, the course became a semi-private facility. St. Jude had approximately 140 members a few years ago.

“There were 30 members there this year and the course wasn’t open to the public,” longtime member Rob Voltz said. “Of course they weren’t going to make any money that way.”

The facility had reportedly been losing money annually over a period of years.

“No one’s shocked that it’s closing,” Wagner said. “It’s the way members were told. Three or four weeks ago, members met with Mr. Dunwoody and we asked if the course was going to be open next year. He said, ‘absolutely.’

“Then we get this letter, along with our bill for the month, saying it won’t be opening again in the spring.”

Parker said most of the St. Jude members are well over 50.

“The 25 to 35-year-olds have kids playing soccer, basketball, baseball ... They’ve become too busy and don’t have time to play golf,” Parker said.

“There’s no swimming pool or tennis courts (at St. Jude). It’s only a golf course. It’s not really a family-oriented place. (Golf) is a tough business right now.”

But that doesn’t make the course’s closing any easier to take.

“It’s been a staple in this community,” 40-year member Ken Fair said. “It was strange walking up that last fairway Sunday. It’s probably the last time we’ll ever be doing it.”

Diane Young, a member for 10 years, said “I feel like I’m losing my best friend.”

“I’d come out here and play nine holes after work quite a bit. It’s so nice out there. It’s stress relief. And I’ve met some great people out there.”

Carol Trainor, a member for nine years who was encouraged to join by Young, echoed those comments.

“The first time I played there, I shot 126,” Trainor recalled. “Diane asked me if I was going to join and I thought, ‘why would I want to do that?’

“But it really is all about the people. I’ve met some great friends there. The rolling terrain of the course, the difficult lies ... I was told that playing there would make me a better golfer. And it has.”

Parker and Wagner live less than two miles from the course. Other members come from farther away.

“Some of us are from the north, the south, some live right there,” Voltz said. “We’re trying to figure out a way we can all continue playing golf together.

“There are a lot of good people there I’m really going to miss.”

Wagner can see the tip of the clubhouse from his porch, a mile away.

“I remember bringing my boys here an hour before dark in the summer,” Wagner said. “I’d hit the ball off the tee, get within 150 yards of the green, give them each one club and a putter and let them hit.

“Steve was about 9, Jeff about 7. My sons grew up and learned life lessons on that course, not just golf. They learned about different personalities and how to deal with people. My wife and I thought that was important.”

Karns City’s high school golf team plays its home matches at St. Jude “so we have to find another course for them,” Wagner said.

Parker finds it difficult to think about St. Jude no longer being there.

“I was really lucky, living so close to such a quality place,” he said. “It’s sad to see it go. I’ll find somewhere else to golf.

“But it’s the people. That’s what I’ll miss more than anything.”