Birkdale Golf Club to reopen Thursday after paying $75K tax debt

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — The owner of Birkdale Golf Club told Channel 9 that he has paid his debt to the state and plans to open back up Thursday.

The Huntersville golf course remained closed after it was shut down Tuesday for a tax violation.

Jeff Silverstein of Carolinas Trail Golf Partners said he paid the entire debt with interest, which totaled about $75,000 Wednesday.

Channel 9 contacted the N.C. Department of Revenue and they confirmed the debt has been paid in full.

Silverstein said the keys have been turned back over to him and he plans to open back up Thursday morning.

The Department of Revenue shut it down Tuesday for not paying the taxes. Agents changed the locks on clubhouse doors and told golfers to leave.

"One of the attendants apparently came up and just asked us to leave, that apparently the IRS had moved in and seized the property," said golfer Jamie Mosteller.

Silverstein said the closure was the result of a misunderstanding. Silverstein said the club missed a payment and is wiring the money to authorities.

Channel 9 talked to other people Wednesday who had future events, including a wedding, booked at the club.

Lindsay Ferguson and her fiancé Mark are getting married this October.

They were supposed to spend their big day at the golf club.

The couple heard about the Department of Revenue coming in and shutting it down.

"I got into panic mode," Ferguson said.

The golf club said everything has been resolved and all events will go on as planned.

But Ferguson said she is still concerned.

"We've decided since then that it's not 100 percent that this won't happen again. So we've decided to not have the wedding at Birkdale," Ferguson said.

"It's not my birthday, it's my wedding day and I shouldn't have to sacrifice or be nervous like this on that day," Ferguson said.

The golf club released a statement saying in part, "We apologize to our customers and members for any inconvenience caused by the closure."

Channel 9 asked the head of the company about the specific concerns.

He said the company will speak with customers directly.

WSOC