Johnson bought out the owners of River Oaks Golf Course

Johnson bought out the owners of River Oaks Golf Course

Johnson bought out the owners of River Oaks Golf Course and changed the name of the course to the Golf Club of Bucyrus. He hopes the changes he plans will keep some of that money in Bucyrus -- and stave off failure.Johnson was 10 percent The Hot News Of Augusta National owner of the course with the last group of owners. He didn't want to see his work over the past seven years go to waste. With the only other option being foreclosure, he decided to buy the course and change its image from the inside out."I live on it now. I grew up living on it," Johnson said. "I felt like, with the right management, we can make a profit. We are really going to try to get some revenue out of the restaurant."To do that, Johnson hired a hometown product to operate the golf facility and a chef to oversee the kitchen.

Randy Blankenship, a 2000 Bucyrus High school graduate, spent five years as an assistant pro at Westbrook Country Club in Mansfield after graduating from the Professional Golfers Career College in Florida.The chef, Cartell Raysor, worked previously at the Warehouse in Marion as a sous chef."It will be mostly comfort food in the restaurant," Johnson said. "We will have steaks, chicken, seafood -- he makes great chicken wings. It will be a lot of American fare. And we are still going to have a golfer's menu for a quick turn.