In a last minute deal on Thursday, a $3 million bid from the Kalispel Tribe to purchase the members-only Spokane Country Club, which would combine the club’s amenities, including the golf course, with its Airway Heights, Washington Northern Quest Resort and Casino operations, was accepted.
Last month club members chose M Club Holdings Inc., founded by PGA star Phil Mickelson, as its preferred buyer during an informal vote. The $2.8 million M Club bid was among the four bids offered for the 18-hole members-only golf club along the Little Spokane River that were originally considered by members in a two-fold effort to settle a pending bankruptcy auction for a 2013 filing, as well as maintain some semblance of the club’s 117-year history of exclusivity. In addition to being the lowest bid the M Club Holdings offer came with decidedly cost-prohibitive conditions including guarantees of upfront fees, as well as monthly dues of $475 to be paid by a club membership of 250, a membership which the club did not even possess.
The Mickelson group offer was withdrawn earlier in the month and according to club attorney, Barry Davidson, members accepted the Kalispel Tribe’s bid for the club which would include the absorption of some future liabilities, closing costs, and effectively end a five-year discrimination suit won by four women who sued the club and along with their attorney, Mary Schultz, were owed $1.9 million by the club as per court documents.
In addition to taking care of the club’s debt, the Kalispel Tribe pledged to honor the club’s 117-year history, maintain the golf course’s top shape, and accord preferential status to the club’s 275 plus corporate and individual members. Davidson said, “The Kalispel Tribe is a good community citizen, and it was clear that the membership would continue to be able to call the course home,” based on a statement at spokesman.com.
An approval hearing for the sale of the Spokane Country Club to the Kalispel Tribe, located in Cusick, Washington, will take place later in the month.