DJ DeVictor, one of the two managers who resurrected the Fairways of Canton Golf Club, announced today that he has sold his interest in the company to partner David Miller.

"The last year was quite an experience for me and my family with our involvement at Fairways of Canton Golf Club," DeVictor wrote in an email to Canton-Sixes Patch. "A couple of things have come up in the last week and it brought to my attention the need to notify you that I have sold my interest in the Company to David Miller, effective January 31, 2012." 

It was just this past August that city leaders and other dignitaries gathered for the official grand reopening of the beleaguered course. Citing a lack of customers, the original developer of the course walked away from the project during the summer of 2010 and turned over the keys to the bank. The city, which was left with the land, put the course on the market in September of that year.

Only DeVictor and Miller made an offer. But their $300,000 bid didn't come close to the $10 million that the Fairways was worth. When no one else expressed interest, city officials realized they were better off just leasing the property to somebody.

After some amendments to the contract, DeVictor, Miller and the city agreed to a 15-year lease that gave the duo's Next Generation Golf company the option to purchase the course after the second year. In the first 10 years of the lease, there will be no payments to the city. Starting in year 11, Canton gets an escalating percentage from net profits over the next five years.

At the time, Canton-Sixes Patch asked DeVictor why people should believe that he wouldn't abandon the project like the original developer?

"We're looking at this as a long term investment," he said in December 2010. "We're not looking at this as a short-term money maker.

"There's other golf courses that have been vacant and closed down that we wouldn't look at because they're in the wrong location. But things are moving this way. This market will come on stronger than most."

DeVictor said today that Next Generation Golf is still the operating entity and "is committed for the long haul. David Miller will do a great job in carrying on the torch and in fact has been running the golf course since August of 2011. As a minority partner I opted to accept Dave’s offer."

DeVictor, who lives in Hickory Flat, said the move will allow him time to focus on his business, DVL Design Group. The Roswell company specializes in land planning, golf course design and landscape architecture.

"I am still a member (of Fairways) and look forward to enjoying and watching further growth in the Club’s development," he said.

He referred all other questions to Miller, who couldn't be reached for comment.

Stay tuned to Canton-Sixes Patch for updates on this breaking news story.