The Sonoma Golf Club will not be part of the sail of the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa.

Sonoma Golf Club is not up for sale

The historic Sonoma Golf Club isn't part of the proposed sale of nearby Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn, the club's management company said Wednesday.

Both properties are owned by a Texas real estate holding company that defaulted earlier this year on a $55 million loan for the 228-room luxury hotel and spa.

Crescent Real Estate Holdings has put Sonoma Mission Inn on the market for about $100 million, according to Bloomberg News.

But the golf course isn't included in the sale, said Jim Bartlett of Highlands Management Group, the Scottsdale, Ariz., company that manages Sonoma Golf Club and has a minority interest in the business.

"We're going to continue to manage the course," said Bartlett.

The exclusive private golf course on Arnold Drive hosted the PGA Champions Tour Charles Schwab Cup Championship from 2003 to 2009.

It opened in 1928 as Sonoma Mission Inn Golf and Country Club, an offshoot of the nearby resort. Inn guests still enjoy golfing privileges there.

The 18-hole course has seen famous players including Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Ken Venturi and Tom Watson.

The 177-acre golf club is a joint venture between Crescent Real Estate and Highlands, which develops and manages residential communities built around golf courses.

Sonoma Mission Inn is a separate partnership between Crescent and Fairmont Hotels. Crescent bought the hotel in 1996, and Fairmont acquired a 20 percent stake in 2002 when it took over management duties.

Crescent Real Estate spokesman John Goff didn't return calls seeking comment.

Sonoma Mission Inn is Sonoma County's top grossing hotel property, according to county tourism officials. Built in 1927, it features gourmet restaurants, lush gardens and a European-style spa.

Sonoma County's hospitality sector was hit hard by the economic downturn, falling more than 10 percent in 2009. Business has improved since then, but it's still not back to pre-recession levels.

Several Sonoma County hotels have gone into foreclosure or bankruptcy in the past two years.

Sonoma Mission Inn's owners defaulted on a $55 million note due last Feb. 1. They've hired an Atlanta-based hotel brokerage to sell the property, Bloomberg reported Oct. 6.

Operations at Sonoma Mission Inn won't be affected by the sale, Fairmont representatives said.

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