The Country Club Dance Hall & Saloon has officially closed its doors.

Word spread quickly this week that The Country Club, which first opened on St. Patrick’s Day back in 2006 on Washington Road, is no longer in business.

Originally known for bringing mainly national country singers to the area, The Country Club in recent years has offered a variety of live music, especially during Masters Week, including a whole lineup of national artists such as Bret Michaels, Lil Jon, Nelly and Snoop Dogg.

A few years ago for Halloween, The Country Club shocked locals by bringing hard rockers, the Velcro Pygmies, to host a zombie-themed costume party with a contest at midnight for cash prizes.

Of course, earlier this year, the Metro Spirit told readers that the Augusta National Golf Club had purchased the Stein Mart shopping center, which is also home to The Country Club.

But the rumor is that the sale of the property wasn’t the reason The Country Club was forced to close.

Slow business is apparently behind the club’s closure.

It’s been a rough month for live music in the Augusta area.

Downtown Augusta was shocked to learn this month that Sky City, the longtime live music venue on Broad Street, is also no longer in business.

After spending nearly a decade bringing well-known national acts and local bands to an increasingly vibrant downtown, the longtime venue that was successfully run by co-owners Coco Rubio, Jayson Rubio and Eric Kinlaw was purchased late last year by new partners, George Claussen and Brian Brittingham.

But after less than a year, Claussen and Brittingham have decided to sell their ownership in the business and Sky City is now closed.

An entirely new business is planned for the former Sky City location.