Merrill Hills has been sold to The Legend

Published on: 6/7/2013

The Legend has entered into an agreement to purchase Merrill Hills Country Club, Legend owner Jack Gaudion said Friday.

According to a report filed by Town of Waukesha Planner Roger Dupler, Merrill Hills Country Club will be renamed The Legend at Merrill Hills.

Gaudion said the transaction is set to close within two weeks.

And according to Town of Waukesha agenda items for its joint meeting of the Plan Commission and Town Board next Thursday, Gaudion is petitioning to seek approval of a conditional use to allow a public commercial golf course with banquet and related facilities at The Legend at Merrill Hills LLC.

The Plan Commission will then discuss and take action on the conditional use and plan of operation after the hearing. 

After the Town Board takes a vote on the Plan Commission's recommendation, it will look at approving a Class B combination fermented malt beverage and liquor license and a cigarette and tobacco license for The Legend at Merrill Hills, at W270 S3425 Merrill Hills Road.

According to a source, there was a vote on the sale earlier this week. 

A letter had been sent out to members of the Merrill Hills Country Club in April saying The Legend Club had put in a preliminary offer to buy its club.

The letter also indicated that because Merrill Hills, due to financial difficulties, couldn't restructure its loan with the bank, the club began looking at offers. 

But a meeting scheduled at Merrill Hills in May where members were to vote on the sale of the country club was canceled due to the transaction's financial support hitting a roadblock, a source said.

However, the vote was back on this week.

"The voting members voted overwhelmingly to approve the sale," Gaudion said in an email.

Gaudion's The Legend Club is a privately-owned, non-equity club that was founded in 2003 when The Legend at Brandybrook opened in Wales.

In 2007, The Legend purchased The Legend at Bergamont in Oregon, Wis., and in 2009 The Legend signed the purchase for Bristlecone Pines Golf Club in Hartland renaming that course The Legend at Bristlecone giving its members access to three golf courses, its clubhouses, pools and tennis facilities.

The Plan Commission and Town Board meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at Town Hall, W250 S3567 Center Road.