A group attempting to buy Kokopelli Golf Club in Marion says the course will be forced to close, and they say the blame lies with the Federal Government.
Just as plans had been reached to sell Kokopelli to local buyers the Office of Foreign Asset Controls intervened. For the past 15 months the government has frozen the property.
The government claims a partner in the current ownership group has ties to Zimbabwe's controversial leader Robert Mugabe. The partner is accused of money laundering and selling arms to the African President.
All this has stalled the deal and a multi-million dollar expansion.
Michael Koller, one of the potential buyers, says that he had plans to redevelop the property to bring jobs and housing to Marion. But with the transition looking bleak, that leaves several without a job, and a place to play golf.
Besides being a tourist hot spot, local golf teams like John A. Logan and Marion High School use Kokopelli along with nearly 200 club members.
In the next several days all funds are expected to run out, and Unless something major happens Kokopelli's last day of business will be the 13th of February. All events and course play will be cancelled after that.
