Developing Story: Billionaire entrepreneur buys Errol Golf Course lands

After years of broken promises, overgrown fairways, and the collective frustration of an entire community, Errol Estate Golf & Country Club has quietly changed hands.

On July 24th, the Orlando Business Journal reported, and Orange County property records confirmed the sale of the 380-acre former golf course to Driven Apopka LLC, a Florida-based entity registered to Michael Repole, the billionaire entrepreneur behind BodyArmor and Vitaminwater.

Related: Nelson: City not positioned to buy or bail out Errol or RSR golf course lands.

Driven Apopka LLC paid $4.25 million for the property, below the $6.3 million offer made to the City of Apopka in May 2025 by 5th Hole Investments, the former owners of the golf course lands.

"We are happy to move on," said Andrew Kelin of 5th Hole Investments. "It's a challenging property to own, but there are a lot of opportunities for it. Hopefully, the new owner's property rights are respected and the land can be put to better use."

Related: Déjà vu all over again: Is the City assisting Rock Springs Ridge in buying its golf course lands?

The sale includes nine parcels covering the full footprint of the former golf course, which has remained dormant since closing in 2018. For longtime Errol residents, this marks another turning point in a saga that has lasted years.

Despite the credibility of the new owner, there are still questions.

Related: 5th Hole Investments proposes $6.3 million sale of Errol Estate Golf Course property to Apopka.

The property remains zoned for mixed-use development, and while its proximity to State Road 429 and U.S. Highway 441 makes it attractive for redevelopment, challenges abound. Environmental remediation, zoning hurdles, and the not-so-small matter of public trust will all play a role in what comes next.

In 2024, marketing materials indicated that only 170 acres of the property are usable. Yet even that reduced footprint represents one of Apopka's largest contiguous development opportunities, with no official plans announced and no word yet from Repole or his representatives, the fate of Errol once again hangs in the balance. 

When asked, Klein said he did not know Repole's intention for the Errol property.

This developing story will be updated in future editions of The Apopka Voice.