Subscribe by RSS
Red Barn Golf Course trying to be a good neighbor
Red Barn Golf Course owner, Richard Barnes, addressed the Rockton Village Board at the Oct. 15, 2024 meeting.
Barnes stated “With the Village declaring the Red Barn Driving Range a public nuisance, the board action of tripling the nuisance ordinance to $750 per incidence, and the neighboring condo association going on the news, the Red Barn is losing 27 percent of range revenue and must find another profitable avenue for the seven acres.”
Barnes proposed an option to put multi-family units on the seven acres to improve its’ profitability and help solve the area’s housing crisis.
Barnes is part of the Rag-Barn Real Estate, LLC. ownership, which purchased the golf course in May, 2021.
Back in January 2022, Barnes presented plans for a design review to the village of Rockton to add Toptracer Technology to the driving range, which were unanimously approved.
Barnes also submitted a request for elevations for a covered driving range to support Toptracer to the Villages Planning Commission on Jan. 12, 2022, which was also fully approved.
This past month, Barnes’ comments during the public comment portion of the meeting stemmed from a two year communication with residents in the Summit Condo Association in Rockton who have requested that action be taken to keep their property safe from errant golf balls, and failed negotiations with attorneys on both sides that the range is not a public nuisance and is a civil matter.
The Village Board History
On Oct. 17, of 2023 Dick Stasica, resident of the Summit Condos, addressed the Village Board about his concerns regarding the Red Barn Golf Course.
Stasica stated that he and a few other residents of the Summit Condos met with the Administration Committee back in July and explained their concerns about golf balls damaging their property and breaking windows since the Toptracer simulator was added to the golf course.
Stasica asked that the Village Board eliminate the Toptracer or add additional safety measures (such as a net or only allowing irons instead of drivers).
Stasica added that the owner of the Red Barn has told them that he isn’t responsible for broken windows. Stasica also suggested that the Village enforce the nuisance ordinance, which would allow the Red Barn to be fined.
Village President John Peterson advised Stasica that the Village Board would discuss this further and decide what should be done to remedy the situation.
Stacia returned in December with Condo Association President Paul Grossen. Each expressed many of the same concerns. Both have also met with Village President John Peterson at different times.
At the Village meeting on Tuesday evening June 18 ,2024 trustees voted to amend the Villages nuisance ordinances. ‘
Village Attorney Aaron Szeto cited a couple of examples:
“This adds an additional act, such as throwing or casting any stone at another property. This can be a golf course situation to anything to the detriment of that property. We will be allowed 10 days after the vote is approved to mediate in a situation if we are needed.
“The condo association has applied several times to our insurance company to pay for damages,” Barnes said.
All claims were denied based on the fact that the Condos were built approximately 40 years after the driving range, thus, there is an assumption of risk building next to an existing driving range.
Red Barn Golf Course was built in the 1950’s as a nine-hole executive golf course complete with a full driving range. It was formerly a part of the Wagon Wheel Resort that sits on 55 acres of rolling hills.
The concrete pad and Toptracer shelter was added in fall 2021.
On the property are four outbuildings; a storage barn, storage shed, maintenance garage, and a newly remodeled clubhouse with bar and eatery with a full liquor license and permission to sell reheated food. Also included on the property is all the equipment needed to operate the golf course.
Red Barn previously operated under the direction of PGA professional Marianne Kaiser since 1996. Kaiser has now retired. Tim Storm was a co-owner until the sale to Barnes and his wife.
The course utilizes a “Toptracer Technology by Topgolf” tracking system, which is under contract through the year 2026.
A history of the Red Barn Golf Course and The Summit Condominium Association
Red Barn GC and Driving range has been in existence for over 70 years, the Condo’s replaced the Wagon Wheel Resort Airstrip. The condos were built around 2001.
Course representatives and members of the Condominium Association have met three times over the past two years, Summer 2023, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024
The Red Barn GC has taken action after every meeting.
Condo Association asked for a quote but then declined to put up a permanent solution – 50’ tall net even after the Red Barn proposed a 3’ permanent easement to avoid electrical boxes on the Condo’s property and offered to pay for a portion of the net.
Summer Action taken in 2023 by Red Barn Golf Course:
Directional Tee Markers were added to the Grass Tee area of the Range.
Toptracer added an ‘over the net feature’ to track balls hit out of the property,
Implemented a rental agreement on Toptracer with a three-strike policy, these rules were put in place:
The First Ball that is hit out of the property- the screen message pops up for the player to adjust aim, second Ball – Verbal Warning and screen message, and third Ball – Bay is shut down, and they are told to leave.
Increased signage “not to hit towards condo, and golfer is liable for damages.”
Additional Supervision of the range – enforcing the three-strike rule including the grass tee area.
Started a Condo call log to track when Condo members called or visited with concerns,
Added security fence to keep balls from rolling out of the property.
Fall Action 2023
Agreed net was a permanent solution and upon Condo Association request – Red Barn received a quote from Dach Fencing Co.
Condo asked for a Golf Professional assessment of our internal net setting direction of grass tee golfers – Range Servant’s golf professional, with over 50 years of Range experience, provided a Letter stating the internal net had no bearing on golfers aim, golfers aim for the Flags/Targets and a certain percentage of balls are going to be miss-hit by golfers.
Moved White Flag (180-yard target) to center of the range.
Spring Action 2024: Moved Yellow Flag (270 Yard Marker) 10 yards due west,
Peak time Supervision was added to the Range to enforce policies.
Under current ownership, the number range balls hit have increased 3-4 times over previous ownership. Errant shots still happen a small percentage of the time so then errant balls are hit 3-4 times more than previous ownership,” Barnes said.
After a private meeting with the Village President and Attorney, Red Barn was asked for immediate action and adopted a zero tolerance range policy in July of 2024. Barnes updated the Toptracer Rental Agreement and placed signage on the range reading, “Effective Immediately, “The Village of Rockton has kindly asked for No Balls hit in the Condo property. RBGC has responded by offering them a change to a Zero Tolerance Policy:
Any ball hit over our security fence, you will be asked to leave the range without a refund, so aim right!
If you need assistance in controlling your swing so you don’t hit errant shots left, please reach out to our teaching professional Brandon Fridh.
Both Fridth’s phone number and the villages complete the sign.
Several Golfers have been escorted off the Range since the ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy took effect.
Barnes says, “These are golfers that will not come back to the course and with the word spreading about the ‘Zero Tolerance’ policy, many other golfers are not returning to the driving range. Thus, the loss in Business.”
“The Toptracer Technology will not cause a ball to go any further, it is a tracking system, so the Condos argument that it is due to Toptracer is incorrect. We increased play and the percentage of errant shots have stayed the same. “ Barnes said.
“The Toptracer is a video camera system and does nothing to enhance ball flight, just records it.”
“Since this sign was posted and the false news story, I have lost a considerable amount of business,” Barnes said. “There is no guarantee that errant shots won’t happen.”
Rockford golf courses each implemented an errant shot page on their websites stating that errant shots happen, and it is not the Course’s liability.
Barnes is hoping to recoup a portion of his revenue. He is working with Village Planning and Development Administrator Tricia Diduch to take steps toward building the proposed units, with the type of unit to be determined. He is also working with a finance company and a builder with hopes to start the building process in 2027.
“I don’t want to see a 70-year tradition come to an end, ” Barnes said. But only the Village can reverse the effects of their actions by allowing the errant shot issue to be handled as a civil matter and not a public one.”
