Auction at Oak Lake Golf Course in Upper Burrell draws hundreds

Hundreds of buyers turned out Saturday for a public auction at Oak Lake Golf Course in Upper Burrell, bidding on grounds equipment, commercial kitchen items, a fleet of 50 golf carts — even a box of tees.

The big ticket item — 113 acres of land — is still in play as the realtor and owner have to negotiate over the price with five serious potential buyers, according to Sandy Alderfer, the real estate agent for the property and president of Tranzon Alderfer, a national real estate auction company.

He expects a decision on a potential sale in the next week or so.

The auction and last week’s closure of the 18-hole golf course is a planned exit for the Conley family, who have owned the golf course for nearly five decades and wanted to do something different, Alderfer said.

The buildings, golf course and land have a tax assessment market value of about $1.07 million, according to the Westmoreland County tax assessment office.

Saturday’s auction drew more than 400 people of which 200 were registered bidders, according to Mark Ferry Auctioneers. Buyers came from three other states including West Virginia, Ohio and Indiana.

“We’re pleased with the way the day went,” said Jodi Conley, one of the owners, who was working in the clubhouse serving hots dogs and kielbasa sandwiches.

The golf course parking lot overflowed with cars as a large crowd assembled around large mowers and other equipment. A light drizzle didn’t stop the crowd of buyers.

Dina Hieber of Cheswick came just to buy a golf cart.

She won the bid for a $2,000 Yamaha 2003 golf cart. Hieber liked that it was powered by regular gasoline. She paid what she thought was the market rate for the cart.

“That’s all anybody drives at camp,” said Hieber, who has a camp in Slippery Rock.

Clark Keller bought a couple of commercial riding lawn mowers for his private property.

“I’ve got lots of hills and a lot to cut,” said Keller, who owns 46 acres in Allegheny Township.