Persimmon Hills Golf Course

Persimmon Hills Golf Course was sold at an auction Saturday to a retired businessman from Oklahoma City and a Tennessee physician.

Larry Smith said he and his son, Dr. Preston Smith of Knoxville, Tenn., bought the 18 hole golf course for $330,000.

Larry Smith, 62, will take over the operation Dec. 3. Smith said he moved to Oklahoma City from Illinois about three years ago.

He's owned several businesses including oil-change businesses and a delivery service for upscale automobiles, he said. He also has worked as a golf course superintendent, Smith said.

The golf course is about one mile west of downtown Meeker and one mile south of U.S. 62 off Persimmon Hill Road.

Persimmon Hills owner Rusty Denney told The Oklahoman he and his wife, Susie Denney, wanted to sell the golf course so they could spend more time with their three sons.

Published in The Oklahoman

Golf Course Owner Seeks Deannexation

Persimmon Hills owner has been battling town officials for more than a year over his plans to develop the land around his golf course. While the town board of trustees approved the plans for his 56-home subdivision, they denied Smith's request to provide the water and sewer infrastructure to connect his development.

"If they can't provide the services, they should deannex us," Smith said.

The golf course is about one mile west of downtown Meeker and one mile south of U.S. 62 off Persimmon Hill Road. It was annexed into the city limits in 1994.

The golf course was in the city limits when Smith purchased the course in December 2004 from its developers, Rusty Denney and his wife, Jackie Denney, of Prague.

Smith's lawsuit was filed in June in Lincoln County District Court. The lawsuit claims town officials didn't have the legal authority to annex the property, because in 1994 it was not contiguous with the town limits. It also states there is no evidence that town officials followed the proper legal procedure for annexing land.

Published in The Oklahoman