By KENNY WALTER
Staff Writer
FORT MONMOUTH — For the second time in recent years, an attempt to secure a buyer for the Suneagles Golf Course on Fort Monmouth has failed.
Eatontown Mayor Dennis Connelly said during the Feb. 10 Borough Council meeting that the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority’s request for offers to purchase (RFOTP) did not yield any significant interest from developers.
“On Feb. 5 the Suneagles Golf Course had the expiration of their RFOTP,” Connelly said. “They had one [bid] submitted, and unfortunately the one submitted that they did have, wasn’t in full compliance with the RFOTP so it was rejected.”
Located in the Eatontown section of Fort Monmouth, the 171-acre parcel of land includes the original 18-hole golf course designed by famed golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast, the historic Gibbs Hall, which is a 37,125-square-foot club house/catering facility that can accommodate over 650 people, along with Joe’s Sports Bar, the Megil Housing area and a maintenance facility. The property also includes an in-ground swimming pool, tennis courts and a pro-shop.
In recent years, Atlantic Golf Management has leased and operated the facility.
According to the Fort Monmouth Reuse and Redevelopment Plan, the property is designated to remain as a golf course with a conference center, and a 150-room hotel and conference center would be constructed at the Megil Housing area.
Connelly said the borough’s Fort Monmouth ad-hoc committee and council will discuss in the future the possibility of changing plans on what is sought for the golf course.
“We are going to meet to go over what the borough’s desires are with that property,” he said. “The conference center concept has been out twice — it has failed twice so it looks like something we may need to address.”