EDA narrows buyer field, selects offer for Superior National Golf Course
The Cook County/Grand Marais Economic Development Authority has narrowed the field of prospective buyers in the sale of Superior National Golf Course.
Since listing the golf course for sale in March for $2.9 million, the EDA has received nearly 50 inquiries from interested buyers. The EDA is working with SVN Northco, a commercial real estate firm, and Mike Larson, who is serving as a liaison, to facilitate the sale of the golf course. Larson is the president of the Superior National Board of Governors and has an extensive history with the golf course.
During the Aug. 26 EDA meeting, EDA President Peter Clissold said that of the 50 inquiries, SVN Northco has conducted 12 “deep dives” with prospective buyers.
In recent weeks, the EDA has received three offers from the narrowed field of 12 prospective buyers. The offers have ranged between $1.5 million and $1.8 million.
Clissold said during the meeting that the EDA golf committee had recommended a counteroffer of $1.85 million, which was accepted by two of the three buyers who had submitted an offer.
After further discussions, the EDA golf committee then selected the preferred buyer of the two remaining parties. The preferred prospective buyer, Clissold said, is Brady Hatcher, owner of Golden Eagle Golf Course in Brainerd, Minn.
Hatcher is the co-founder and CEO of Switchback Medical, a medical device development and manufacturing business in Brooklyn Park, Minn.
Hatcher has expressed interest in hiring SVN Northco to manage the Superior National Golf Course if the purchase is approved and accepted, Clissold said. SVN Northco has been the management company for Golden Eagle Golf Course for over a decade.
The sale of the Superior National Golf Course includes a deed restriction set by the EDA that the property must remain a golf course. The deed restriction states, “The Grantee, by acceptance of this deed, covenants and agrees that the property shall be used exclusively as a 27-hole golf course and for uses customarily incidental to golf course operations, including but not limited to a clubhouse, pro shop, driving range, restaurant/snack bar, and maintenance facilities. Any use inconsistent with golf course operations is expressly prohibited. This restriction shall run with the land, binding the Grantee and all successors, heirs, assigns, and transferees. If this covenant is violated the Grantor may declare a breach of this covenant and seek a judicial decree from the district court declaring a forfeiture and a cancellation of this deed.”
One of the next steps in the process for the EDA is to finalize the details of the purchase agreement, receive approval of the sale from the Cook County Board of Commissioners, completion of public notice and a public hearing, and have the EDA Board vote on the final approval of the sale, among other tasks.
One of the other steps will include notifying the Nelson family of the recent prospective buyer’s offers. The Superior National Golf Course covenants include a first right of refusal for the sale of the property to the Nelson family. In 1986, George Nelson, Jr. and his family donated 320 acres of land to the citizens of Cook County to support the construction of a public golf course to complement local lodging, hospitality, and outdoor recreation. The original transfer of property included a covenant stating that the Nelson family was to be notified and offered first right of refusal in the event of a sale.
The EDA Board voted to approve a resolution allowing the EDA golf committee to continue with necessary tasks and explore and initiate negotiations with a prospective buyer for the sale of the Superior National Golf Course.
Discussions among the EDA Board and the Cook County Board of Commissioners to sell the 213-acre golf course have been ongoing for nearly two years. In late summer and early fall of 2024, the EDA officially decided to sell the 27-hole public golf course.
Kalli Hawkins August 28, 2025
