The Cherokee Run Golf Course will be turned over to the city of Conyers after a federal judge found the leaseholder unable to comply with post-bankrupcy agreements.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court ruled against Cherokee Run Golf Course leaseholder Jong Kyu Kim in court proceedings yesterday and ordered Kim to surrender the property to the city of Conyers as of 9 a.m. on Monday, September 27.

For more than two years, the city of Conyers has been in legal discussions with Kim and Saehan Bank for default matters including failure to pay taxes on the property, failure to pay minimum rent and poor management and maintenance of the golf course. Judge Joyce Bihary ruled that the golf course, furniture, fixtures, equipment and related property would be surrendered to the city of Conyers on Monday, September 27.

The city reportedly indicated its intentions to offer at-will employment to the current employees at Cherokee Run and to work with Kim on commitments regarding banquets and events already booked at the facility in the coming months.

"The city intends to close the course to the public for six to eight weeks in order to rehabilitate the grounds and facilities," said City Manager Tony Lucas. "It is our intent to bring Cherokee Run back up to the standard of greatness for which it was intended for this community and our region."

Upon reopening, the course will remain under the operations of the city as a public, daily-play municipal golf facility. Cherokee Run Golf Course, an Arnold Palmer-designed course opened in 1995, is located next to the Georgia International Horse Park and was built by the city along with the Horse Park. The city owned the land but leased the golf course out to three management companies over the years.

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