The new owner of the Brookhaven Country Club Wednesday offered aglimpse of her vision for improving the facility, including ideasfor a resort type spa and other amenities for boosting membershipand attracting visitors from surrounding areas.

“It’s exciting. I’m thrilled to come in,” said Rosemary Barbour,who was the high bidder in a Tuesday auction for the property onceowned by former WorldCom CEO Bernie Ebbers.

Barbour is owner of Alcatec, a Jackson-based government contractcompany that handles facility maintenance and related tasks.Company officials were at the club Wednesday to assess the facilityand see what renovations are needed, she said.

“It’s a beautiful facility you have,” said Barbour, mentioning adesire to spruce up the golf course, tennis courts, swimming pooland other areas.

One new possibility for the club is a destination spa that candraw people from Jackson, Vicksburg and other areas.

Barbour discussed the resort-style service along with improvingthe club’s other offerings to provide recreational opportunitiesfor the entire family. She mentioned a recent trip to the AlluvianHotel and Spa in Greenwood as a model of her vision. The Alluvianhas something for everyone, except a golf course, she said.

“We hope this brings new customers from surroundingcommunities,” said Barbour, who is making her first venture intocountry club ownership.

Barbour also mentioned working with a catering company for theclub. While the company would not necessarily operate a restaurant,she indicated it could operate a grill and offer other cateringservices.

“We are working both sides,” Barbour said about recreation andfood service possibilities.

Barbour cited the importance of recreational opportunities froman economic development standpoint.

Part of that, Barbour indicated, is proper management of thegolf course. She expressed plans to talk to the club’s golf pro andmembers about ideas for bettering the facility.

“I want to include everybody and get opinions from everybodyabout what they think will improve the property,” Barbour said.

Barbour visited with club staff Wednesday afternoon. Earlier,she said no immediate staff-related changes were planned.

“We’re not looking at making any decisions with staff at thistime,” she said.

Barbour did not have a timetable or dollar estimate regardingplans for the course. She indicated those factors would depend onwhat is found in the current assessment and evaluation of theproperty, although she pointed out a need for upgrades to theclub’s main building.

“The building needs a little TLC,” she said.

Among other ideas for the club are attracting more golftournaments and a teen center to enhance the recreational areaaround the club’s pool. Paul Breazeale, a Jackson CPA working withBarbour as an investment advisor, was impressed with the club’sgolf facilities.

“There are so many positives about the course,” he said speakingof the future opportunities for the property.

Barbour’s bid for the club was $810,000. Initially, there wereseven bidders on the property, but one withdrew his offer, aspokesman for the company handling the sale said Tuesday.

The other top, but losing bidders, included local investor JeffWilson and a construction company that planned to convert theproperty into a multi-unit housing facility.

Breazeale said he expected the transfer of the title to happenaround June 29. In the meantime, he and Barbour are working onother issues related to the property transfer and assuming controlof the facility.