Club and Resort Talks

Joe Smith, General Manager/COO of Countryside Golf and Country Club in Naples, Fla. joined the podcast to talk about everything happening at the club. Countryside celebrated the groundbreaking of its $14 million club renovation project, aptly named “Countryside 2.0,” in January. This project marks a significant milestone for the community, further enhancing the exceptional lifestyle residents and members have enjoyed for more than 35 years.

Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of Club + Resort Business, also touched upon some recent news from across the industry, including:

Las Vegas, Nev.-based Siena Golf Holdings LLC purchased Siena Golf Club in Summerlin, Nev. for $17M. The club, which is part of a 2,100-home, 55-plus community, was originally constructed in 2000.

Pivotal Group acquired the Hilton Phoenix (Ariz.) Resort at the Peak for $100M with plans to add new amenities, including a spa, fitness center, and an adult pool to complement the existing family pool and lazy river. A full renovation of the resort’s 432 rooms is also planned, likely to begin in the summer when tourism in Phoenix slows due to the heat.

Lastly, it’s getting to be award season and a pair of courses have been named ‘Course of the Year!’ The Michigan Golf Course Association bestowed the honor upon Harbor Shores Resort in Benton Harbor, Mich. The award honors a member course that meets four criteria: Unique characteristics of the course; exceptional quality of ownership and management; outstanding contribution to its community; and significant contribution to the game.

Pawleys Plantation Golf & Country Club in Pawley’s Island, S.C., succeeds Rivers Edge as the Myrtle Beach Area Golf Course Owners Association’s 2024 Course of the Year. Founders Group International contracted with Nicklaus Design Group and its Design Associate Troy Vincent to lead a 2023 renovation that modernized the facility.

Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of Club + Resort Business and host of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, sat down with Gilles Gangon, Director of Sales at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. A close personal friend of Pete Dye, Gilles was the longtime Director of Golf Operations at the acclaimed resort before taking on his new role. He has some VERY entertaining stories to share … as well as news on the upcoming renovation of Teeth of the Dog.

Also in the news … After a two-and-a-half-year intensive course renovation, San Juan Oaks Golf Club in Hollister, Calif., has reopened for daily-fee play. Developer Third Millennium Partners has overseen the project from start to finish, with insights from golf architect Gene Bates—designer of the original course in 1996, along with PGA TOUR golfer and World Golf Hall of Fame member Fred Couples—who returned to modernize the layout in January 2022.

The comprehensive restoration involved regrassing the entire course, including tees and fairways with perennial ryegrass, 007XL bentgrass on the greens and new drought-resistant Bermuda grass on the practice range. Installation of a new pump station and irrigation system reduces overwatering and achieves better playing conditions.

A sinkhole at Bunker Hill Golf Course in Dubuque, Iowa, first appearing in May 2023, has raised concerns among local residents and golfers.

The sinkhole, located near the 17th hole, measures 11 feet deep and exposes a limestone shelf, indicating a collapse into an underlying mineshaft. The golf course is situated above an old limestone mine, a common feature in the area, and sinkholes are not uncommon in the region due to the topography and historical mining activity.

The City of Dubuque’s Leisure Services Department, in collaboration with the engineering department, is actively working on a solution. Officials have confirmed that the depth of the sinkhole has remained stable, and the city is preparing to hire an outside company to repair it. The area has been fenced off and covered with plywood to ensure safety, and the city advises people to avoid the site.

The Club at Olde Cypress in Naples, Fla. has enlisted Clive Daniel Hospitality for a renovation project. In partnership with Stock Development and Humphrey & Rosal Architects, Clive Daniel Hospitality is revitalizing the clubhouse to provide a refreshed, modernized experience for its members and guests.

The renovation, which includes the expansion of both the bar and dining areas, will open the back of the dining space to panoramic views of the lake and golf course. The exterior will also see a transformation, with the addition of ample seating on the upper and lower terraces, and a newly constructed, covered exterior bar.

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Will Young, PGA Head Golf Professional at Hartford Golf Club in Wisconsin talks about the rise of his presence on TikTok and gives some advice to other club professionals considering the platform.

Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of Club + Resort Business, also takes a look at the latest news from across the industry.

The new short game practice area at Indian Hills Country Club in Bowling Green, Ky. allows golfers to practice their putting on a dedicated green, with additional fairway space to hone their chipping and pitching skills. The short game area is dedicated to Bob McLean, a long-time superintendent at the club and one of the key figures behind its design.

PTI Golf removed a total of 12 acres of turf at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nev. and replaced it with natural desert vegetation. The Southern Nevada Water Authority recently lowered the water budget in the Las Vegas Valley with a 33 percent reduction in allotted water. The most efficient way to meet that threshold is to remove turf.

The Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland, Fla. will kick off a golf course renovation in April 2025. During the project, crews will rebuild all 18 greens to their original size/shape and resurface with Tifeagle Bermuda grass. The agronomy team at the facility will make select drainage, irrigation, tee box, and bunker improvements, as well.

Concert Golf Partners has upgraded the wells, pumps, irrigation, clubhouse roof, windows, doors, kitchen equipment, and HVAC at The Club at Pasadera in Monterey, Calif. The upcoming second phase of upgrades will include $1 million of renovations planned for the hacienda-style clubhouse, including an expanded outdoor seating area, wine lockers, and more.

A five-month, $2.5 million dollar restoration of the King & Bear Golf Course at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Fla. involved resurfacing all 18 greens, as well as the putting and chipping areas, with TifEagle Bermuda grass. Improvements also included significant upgrades to the irrigation and drainage systems to promote water conservation, enhance turf health, and provide optimal playing conditions throughout the year.

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rob Thomas speaks with Mike Karnath, CCM, CCE, General Manager / COO of Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg, N.Y. Wanakah Country Club is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year and recently had a Gala, Family BBQ, and donor appreciation party. Earlier in the year the club hosted a kickoff event, “A Taste Through Time,” held the New York State Men’s Amateur Championship, approved a $5.6 million irrigation and bunker project to ensure the club’s long-term viability, and invested in the club this year with a major pool renovation, and the addition of three new pickleball courts.

Thomas also discussed some recent news taking place across the industry, including the reopened Estates Course at the Arizona Biltmore Golf Club, an overhaul of King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, and the sales of Plantation Palms Golf Club and Salem Glen Country Club.

The Arizona Biltmore Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz. reopened its Estates Course after close to 6,000 trees, hedges and bushes were added and numerous playability improvements were made in the last 60 days.

Architect Brandon Johnson is overseeing a two-year, two-part project (the back nine will enjoy an overhaul in the summer of 2025) on King’s North at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) National. Owners target an early October reopening.

Leisure Investment Properties Group facilitated the sales of Plantation Palms Golf Club in Land O’ Lakes, Fla., and Salem Glen Country Club in Clemmons, N.C. Both new ownership groups plan substantial renovations to enhance their offerings and community appeal.

On the latest episode of Club + Resort Talks, Senior Editor Phil Keren visited with Eric Peterson, General Manager of Cragun’s Resort, Golf & Conference and Cragun’s Legacy Golf Courses in Brainerd, Minn. Peterson talked about his facility recently hosting the CRMC Championship, a PGA Tour Americas event. The four-day tournament in late August and early September was won by Denmark native Frederik Kjettrup with a score of 24-under par. This was the third consecutive year that Cragun’s served as host of the CRMC Championship, which happened on the resort’s Dutch course. Peterson gave an overview of the work that he and his staff did to prepare the golf course and other areas of the property for the professional tournament. As of now, Cragun’s will host the CRMC Championship for at least the next three years.

Phil and Editor-In-Chief Rob Thomas also talked about industry news stories happening in Nebraska, Washington D.C. and Illinois.

GrayBull Club in Maxwell, Neb. has opened to its members and their guests. Course construction began in June 2022 with strategic play in mind. The course was completed in August and measures up to 7,181 yards. The club offers a unique selling point: tee times are spaced at least 15 minutes apart to ensure a relaxed pace of play and excellent turf conditions.

The stay-and-play experience at GrayBull includes luxury on-site lodging with 60 beds on-site. There are 13 Executive Cottages and two Owners Cottages, all of which include four master suites and common spaces for entertainment. A limited number of cottages opened in August, and the remaining cottage construction will be finished in early 2025.

Rock Creek Park Golf Course in Washington, D.C. is undergoing a major rehabilitation project that is being led by the National Park Service (NPS) and the nonprofit National Links Trust (NLT). The work aims to enhance the course while also improving the park’s natural resources. While the project intends to remove more than 1,000 trees, including both invasive and unhealthy species, the NPS and NLT emphasize that the plan will replant more trees than are removed, focusing on native species to ensure the health of the park’s ecosystem. Efforts are also being made to reduce the golf course’s carbon footprint. The project awaits approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which will hold a public hearing to address concerns and consider the plan’s future.

Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa in Galena, Ill., recently launched its Integrative Group Wellness Programming to transform corporate meetings, retreats, and team-building activities into rejuvenating wellness experiences. At the heart of these new offerings is the award-winning Stonedrift Spa, a 12,000 sq. ft. wellness destination that anchors the resort’s extensive group wellness activities. The activities offered at the resort include: guided walking, hiking, and nature tours; group yoga, fitness, and stretch sessions; and mindfulness and meditation workshops.

On this episode of Club + Resort Talks, Senior Editor Phil Keren interviews Rich Wade, Director of Squash and Padel at The Philadelphia Cricket Club, about the club’s padel offerings. Wade gives a primer on padel, discusses why the club decided to offer the sport, and reviews the padel programs and leagues that are available.

Phil and Editor-In-Chief Rob Thomas also reviewed news stories happening with clubs in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina, and New York.

The market for golf courses is experiencing a significant upswing, as seen in the recent listings and sales of properties that are in different stages of development and ownership. Rob and Phil examined two examples that highlight this trend: the Hershey’s Mill Golf Club in Chester County, Pa., listed for $9.9 million, and the Candlewood Valley Country Club in New Milford, Conn., sold for $2.5 million.

Phil and Rob also highlighted the improvements to the fairways, greens and bunkers at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Ga. in a restoration that was led by designer Andrew Green. The reopening of the course coincided with the club hosting the TOUR Championship.

Rob and Phil also looked at two new amenities being offered at Lake Toxaway Country Club, a private club in western North Carolina — a stand-alone Golf Academy (in addition to their Tom Fazio Learning Center) and The Nest, which includes a climbing wall. The all-new Golf Academy, located at the Tom Fazio Learning Center, opened in May and is a full-service, comprehensive player development program with swing analysis, custom golf club fitting services, training programs, and golf instruction with the club’s PGA professionals.

Phil and Rob spotlighted Glens Falls Country Club’s plans to add two outdoor paddleball courts to their existing three. The club in Queensbury, N.Y. earlier this year added six pickleball courts and is renovating the tee boxes, fairways, and greens on the golf course.

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rob Thomas speaks with Monique “Mo” Gesualdi, PGA and LPGA Director of Instruction at St. John’s Golf & Country Club in St. Augustine, Fla. Coach Mo was recently awarded the 2024 Troon Coach of the Year. She talks about her journey to becoming a golf coach and the health challenges she had to overcome in her 20s.

Coach Mo emphasizes the importance of a holistic coaching approach that considers the physical, mental, emotional and nutritional aspects of a player. As a former high-level junior golfer herself, she believes she can relate to her students and guide them through the challenges they face.

She also talks about her podcast, The Coach Mo Podcast, which features interviews with people from the golf industry. Coach Mo concludes the interview by expressing her excitement about the future of golf, with more girls and women getting involved in the sport.

Rob and Senior Editor Phil Keren also discussed Phil’s just-concluded trip to Cragun’s Resort and Cragun’s Legacy Courses in Brainerd, Minn. The 84-year-old destination offers two golf courses — the Lehman 18 and the Dutch 27 — and a Par 3 course, as well as opportunities to enjoy fishing, kayaking, boating and other water sports, as well as land pursuits such as tennis, pickleball, beach volleyball, biking and hiking. Phil and a group of golf writers visited Cragun’s and accompanied groups that played both courses. Each course was designed by the Lehman Design Group, headed by former World No.1 PGA Tour player Tom Lehman, a Minnesota native. The Dutch 27 has a pair of 9-hole layouts (Blue and White) that can be played today, and a third 9 (Red) that is expected to open for play in May 2025.

The resort has a staff of more than 300 employees, offers 300 rooms, suites, cabins and homes to rent, and 62,000 sq. ft. of multi-function conference and exhibit space. On an annual basis, Cragun’s records 100,000 guest nights, which equates to 40,000 unique guests. The resort hosts about 200 corporate or association groups and anywhere from 25 to 40 weddings each year. Phil will have a story about Cragun’s for the September issue of Club + Resort Business.

Phil and Rob also discussed projects happening at resorts in Arizona and California.

The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Gainey Ranch is nearing the completion of its $115 million renovation and will soon be rebranded as the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort. This project, expected to conclude in the coming weeks, will mark the debut of the first Grand Hyatt hotel in Arizona. The resort will feature six new restaurants, all developed in partnership with celebrity chef Richard Blais. These will include a modern Italian chophouse, a Southwestern grill, and two different poolside concepts.

In addition to the new dining options, the Grand Hyatt Scottsdale Resort will unveil its fully renovated meeting space in October. This includes the 14,000-sq.-ft. Vaquero Ballroom and 52,000 sq. ft. of existing indoor and outdoor function space. By January 2025, the resort will open its expanded Arizona Ballroom, nearly tripling its size to 25,000 sq. ft., aiming to become a premier venue for meetings and events in the region.

Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif. will once again host the PGA Tour’s Napa tournament, now renamed the Procore Championship Sept. 12-15. During the last couple of years, a lot of infrastructure improvement has happened at the site, including the introduction of 130 new golf carts, a $1.5 million investment in turf maintenance equipment, the conversion of 9.8 miles of asphalt cart paths into concrete paths, and the expansion of the driving range by 9,000 sq. ft.

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Senior Editor Phil Keren speaks with Andy Hughett, General Manager of Whitmoor Country Club in Weldon Spring, Mo., and Chrisitan Dunn, Director of Corporate Development at Concert Golf Partners, about Whitmoor leaders’ efforts to offer a family-friendly venue. Concert Golf Partners acquired Whitmoor CC from the Whitaker family in late 2022.

Hughett shared an overview of the club’s amenities, talked about the steps the club has taken to provide a family-friendly environment, and discussed the feedback he’s received from members. He also cast a spotlight on how Concert Golf Partners has supported the club’s efforts. Dunn talked about how his company helps clubs like Whitmoor meet its goals.

Phil and Editor-In-Chief Rob Thomas also discussed the unfortunate news of a couple golf courses closing, but also highlighted major projects happening in both Texas and Pennsylvania.

Blue Fox Run, a 27-hole course in Avon, Conn., and Primm Valley Golf Course, just outside of Las Vegas, have both closed and are for sale. Blue Fox Run’s future is precarious, with the auction listing highlighting potential alternative uses such as agriculture, sparking fears that the land could be repurposed. Primm Valley, opened in 1998 and designed by renowned golf architect Tom Fazio, was once a popular destination for golfers. Its closure and sale reflect larger economic and developmental pressures in that geographic area.

Jeffersonville Golf Club, owned by West Norriton Township, Pa. (a Philadelphia suburb), is undergoing significant changes. The club invested $11 million-plus in new facilities, including an 18,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse, which has a pro shop, banquet hall, bar, golf simulators, and a restaurant named The Burgess Restaurant and Bar.

Several significant reinvestment initiatives are beginning at TPC-Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, where a redesign effort will be led by golf legend Lanny Wadkins. The course’s fairways, tees and rough will now feature TifTuf, which is a sturdier grass that stays green deep into the winter months and re-greens earlier than other varieties. The greens will be converted to ultradwarf Bermuda, which will deliver consistent speeds throughout the year and reduce varying fluctuations in play. The existing 20-year-old irrigation system will be replaced with 2,000 new sprinkler heads and a more efficient pump station that will maximize the amount of water distributed in a shorter period of time.

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Rob Thomas speaks with Robin Shelton, PGA Master Professional and General Manager of Newport Beach Country Club, and Bianca Gillett, the club’s Director of Fitness and Recreation. The trio discuss the celebrated club’s newest edition—an outdoor fitness center called “The Cove.”

Gillett shares the space’s unique features and amenities, how it integrates with the existing facilities at Newport Beach Country Club, and what types of fitness programs and classes will be offered. Shelton touches upon construction costs, the expected return on investment, and how “The Cove” will contribute to the club’s member retention rates.

Rob and Senior Editor Phil Keren opened the podcast by talking about Phil’s recent visit to Glenmoor Country Club in Canton, Ohio to cover the Northern Ohio PGA HOPE Cup. PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is a program that provides free golf lessons to veterans and active duty military service members. In the Glenmoor event, 15 teams, each consisting of four veterans and a PGA Professional, competed in a 9-hole scramble. The winning team was led by PGA Professional Kevin Sullivan and consisted of veterans Tom Brown, Rob Sutton, Jason Wallingford, and Jim Morrison. Special guests at the event were former Ohio State University Head Football Coach Jim Tressel and PGA Professional and TV host Jimmy Hanlin.

Phil and Rob also discussed an enhancement project happening at Brown Deer Park Golf Course in Milwaukee, Wis. Money from the American Rescue Plan Act is being used to fund the construction of a new practice facility that will include a 23,500-sq.-ft. putting green, a 1,500-sq.-ft. practice bunker, and 5,300 sq. ft. of asphalt cart paths. The facility will be located just west of the current driving range near the clubhouse. The project will replace a small practice bunker and a concrete pad from previous years with the new putting green and practice bunker. The existing putting green between the clubhouse and the driving range will remain.

Rob and Phil also highlighted an interesting discovery made by golf course workers at Omni Homestead Resort in Hot Springs, Va. The resort features two classic courses, one being the Old Course, established in 1892 and lined with mature oaks and maples. Throughout the year, workers clear dead and fallen trees, which they chop into firewood for the resort. This routine task took an unexpected turn when a thick piece of oak was split open, revealing two golf balls embedded in the wood. While both balls were encrusted with dirt and sap, one exhibited distinctive characteristics of an antique golf ball, including a square dimple pattern that was popular around a century ago. Further examination by an expert will be needed to learn more. Victoria Nenno, Senior Historian at the USGA Golf Museum and Library, suggested the diamond or mesh (square) pattern most likely dates between 1910 and 1930, indicating it is probably a rubber-core ball.

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Club + Resort Business Editor-in-Chief Rob Thomas speaks with Erik Whitehead, Membership Director at Myakka Golf Club in Myakka City, Fla. Miakka Golf Club, a private club currently being built by Dana Fry and Jason Straka with consultation from PGA veteran Paul Azinger, is located near Sarasota, construction is well under way and preview play is expected to begin the fall of 2025.

The course is being built on more than 1,100 acres of land and will feature an Australian Sandbelt design (Royal Melbourne, Kingston Heath, etc). They also have created a 600 acre sod farm to grow their own zoysia grasses.

Rob and Senior Editor Phil Keren also discussed projects happening in Florida, Arizona and California.

Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla. this past week officially unveiled its 110,000-sq.-ft., fully renovated, two-story Lifestyle Center. The facility includes a 96,000 sq.-ft. Aquatic Complex, 20,000 sq. ft. of fitness studios, with state-of-the-art technology for spin, aerobics, Pilates and core training. The expansion includes a fully renovated spa, cabana shop, poker room, card room, game lounge, locker rooms/lounge, and business center.

Rob and Phil shared thoughts about the renovation of the Mountainview Golf Course that was completed at SaddleBrooke Two, a master-planned community located north of Tucson, Ariz. The project focused on replacing the old irrigation system, improved drainage, bunkers complexes, turf reduction and improvements as well as adding new tees to the 27-year-old course.

Phil and Rob also reviewed the ongoing reconstruction of the original 18 holes of the 27-hole golf course at the private North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, Calif. Every feature and component of the Valley and Oaks courses has been reimagined by Jackson Kahn Design. Enhancements include: tee-to-green layout changes with fair challenges for all levels of play; new greens ranging from 3,400 to 11,000-plus sq. ft.; and Sand-soil mixtures optimizing moisture characteristics and drainage.

Rob and Phil highlighted a groundbreaking ceremony for a new golf clubhouse being constructed as part of a new, master-planned resort-style new home community located on Lake Anna in Louisa County, Va. The fully-built development is expected to contribute significantly to Louisa County’s economy, with an estimated annual impact of $6.5 million. This figure includes $5 million from property taxes and more than $1.5 million from transient occupancy taxes. Additionally, the project will generate more than 200 full-time jobs and 150 construction and skilled trade positions during the development phase.