While many golf courses and private clubs continue to struggle, a number of golf facilities have turned money-losing or struggling operations into big money-makers in recent years.
Golf Inc. will recognize ten such facilities as 2016’s Most Improved Golf Courses, which will appear in its November/December issue. This is the first time the magazine will honor golf facilities for turning around their operations.
Honorees hail from seven different states across the U.S., with three in Florida. The competition was open to facilities from across the globe, but most nominations were U.S. facilities.
“Each of the honorees has had impressive success and has a great story to tell,” said Jack Crittenden, Editor In Chief of Golf Inc. “These are the kind of case studies that make one believe in the future of golf.”
Several of the honorees underwent major course or clubhouse renovations, which sparked remarkable financial turnarounds. But all supplemented the renovations with programming and other operational changes to take advantage of the capital investments.
“It shows that wise investment can indeed turn a struggling course into a winner,” Crittenden said.
Golf Inc. will honor a first-, second- and third-place for both public and private, along with honorable mentions.
A related story will highlight some of the consultants behind the turnarounds, as well as the top advisors from the past year.
Private clubs
Beloit Club, Wisc.
Cedar Rapids Country Club, Iowa
Newport Beach Country Club, Calif.
PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The Wanderers Club, Wellington, Fla.
Public courses
Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Fort Myers, Fla.
Mistwood Golf Club, Romeoville, Ill.
Quail Ridge Golf Club, Ada, Mich.
Tapatio Springs Resort Course, Boerne, Texas
The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge, Monroe, N.Y.
Consultants/Advisors
Randy Addison, Addison Law Firm
Matthew Galvin, Morningstar Golf & Hospitality
Todd Miller, Law Office of Todd Miller
Quinn Smith, QNorth Golf
Heidi Voss, Bauer Voss Consulting