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Eastern Time (GMT-5:00) | Lottery winner buys golf course After the Big Win: Lottery winner buys golf course52 Rating:LA PORTE CITY, Ia. — Recent lottery winner Wally Markham isn't just a member of his local country club — he owns it. Markham, 65, won the Iowa Lottery Hot Lotto jackpot in November, netting about $3.5 million after taxes. The retiree invested most of his winnings, but first set aside enough to buy the faltering La Porte City Country Club. Markham was already a member of the country club and even volunteered there, mowing the greens and doing odd jobs. "It was going downhill, and they were financially in trouble," said Markham, who worked 36 years at the John Deere plant in Waterloo. The purchase was finalized in April. Markham has been working since then to fix it up, resurfacing the golf paths, adding two new heat pumps and refurbishing the patio. More upgrades and new landscaping are also planned. Markham declined to say how much money he has put into the country club, which celebrated its reopening Saturday. "It's just a nice place," Markham said. "The city of La Porte should be happy with what they've got. The only reason I bought it was for them. They have a lot of people that like to play golf." Nancy Riley, the former assistant manager whom Markham has hired to run the country club, said he's doing a great service for the community. "Any small country club is struggling because it takes a lot to run a country club, with fertilizer and equipment and all," she said. Riley said Markham dreams of building a new country club, although he said he's not quite ready for that. "Someday, maybe," he said. "I'm not ready to spend a million dollars yet." AP We'd love to see your comments here! Register for a FREE membership — it takes just a few moments — and you'll be able to post comments here and on any of our forums. If you're already a member, you can Log In to post a comment. 16 comments. Last comment 1 year ago by . S.E.Iowa United States Member #120520 December 21, 2011 534 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 14, 2012, 8:53 am - IP Logged | |
Pasture pool. When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it. ~Clarence Darrow There ought to be one day - just one - when there is open season on senators. ~Will Rogers | | |
da bronx,city island,n.y. United States Member #30895 January 17, 2006 310 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 14, 2012, 1:12 pm - IP Logged | |
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Oklahoma United States Member #82920 November 12, 2009 3466 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 14, 2012, 1:49 pm - IP Logged | |
Win BIG everyone..... I Love Pink & Green....1908 | | |
Ridge Runner - Oracle of the Appalachians Way back up in them dadgum hills, son! United States Member #74415 April 28, 2009 12453 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 14, 2012, 4:33 pm - IP Logged | |
I like when nice guys like Mr Markham win. I hope he wins again. I'll never forget old whats-his-name...
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Housekeeper MICHIGAN United States Member #82269 October 28, 2009 13150 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 14, 2012, 8:16 pm - IP Logged | |
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da bronx,city island,n.y. United States Member #30895 January 17, 2006 310 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 14, 2012, 8:53 pm - IP Logged | |
I like when nice guys like Mr Markham win. I hope he wins again. 
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United States Member #124626 March 16, 2012 1423 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 14, 2012, 10:23 pm - IP Logged | |
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Eatontown, NJ United States Member #119687 November 29, 2011 317 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 14, 2012, 11:40 pm - IP Logged | |
Since I love golf, this story sings to me. I was curious about what the course looks like and I found a picture of Wally riding a tractor at his new golf course. It is a 9-hole course. Good on ya, mate! 
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Nothing Good Happens After Midnight Licking County, OH United States Member #120858 December 28, 2011 293 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 15, 2012, 7:54 am - IP Logged | |
Congrats to Wally! I love to golf, just don't seem to have the time. Of course, when my numbers come in, I will be golfing more. Don't know if I would buy a course, but definitely golfing more. Life's Too Short To Be Unhappy  | | |
Dutchess , NY United States Member #121976 January 21, 2012 1351 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 15, 2012, 1:40 pm - IP Logged | |
Wally looks very happy. One day i will do what he did. I know where there's a little go cart track in need of help that me and the nephews could tear up. and make your last check bounce.
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new york United States Member #123028 February 11, 2012 124 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 15, 2012, 3:29 pm - IP Logged | |
good for him now he can play golf and call it work | | |
United States Member #13375 March 30, 2005 2171 Posts Offline | | Posted: May 15, 2012, 7:38 pm - IP Logged | |
Since I love golf, this story sings to me. I was curious about what the course looks like and I found a picture of Wally riding a tractor at his new golf course. It is a 9-hole course. Good on ya, mate!
Don't know that I'd take up golf, but I'm interested in knowing the model of that vehicle.  In neo-conned Amerika, bank robs you.
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be the name of a convenience store, not a govnoment agency. | | |
North Jersey United States Member #5812 July 18, 2004 15786 Posts Online | | Posted: May 15, 2012, 7:44 pm - IP Logged | |
Great story. Wally is a heck of a man to do for his community instead of himself. My hats off to him...! “There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him.” | | |
egg harbor twp.south jersey shore United States Member #112990 June 29, 2011 2521 Posts Online | | Posted: May 15, 2012, 8:14 pm - IP Logged | |
Don't know that I'd take up golf, but I'm interested in knowing the model of that vehicle. May be a john deere 7500 fairway mower, hard to tell from the angle of the pic. Extraordinary Popular Delusions & the Madness of Crowds -- Charles Mackay LL.D. | | |
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