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Chambers Bay Getting Hotel, Clubhouse?

Thursday, January 21, 2010 Comments
Washington's Chambers Bay is hosting the 2015 U.S. Open (and before that, the 2011 U.S. Amateur), so there is no time like the present to build a proper clubhouse, hotel and other accoutrements the place will need to host a big-time event.

James Burkhouse is a former University Place, Wash., resident, who as a youth played on the beach near the gravel mine that eventually became the site of Chambers Bay. He is now president of Ventur-Hospitality, a hotel and resort development company based in Bruno, Calif., that has the contract to build a clubhouse, a hotel, a retail center and other facilities at Chambers Bay. Burkhouse is still trying to secure financing for the project.

The Tacoma News-Tribune has a story about Burkhouse and the Chambers Bay project here.

-- G.R.
Posted by Geoff Russell
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Papago: Arizona GA "bit off more than it could chew"

Thursday, September 17, 2009 Comments
Sounds as though what had become a messy situation at Papagp Golf Course in Phoenix is about to boil over. The Arizona Republic has the story here.

To summarize, Papago, one of the better public golf facilities in the country, underwent a big renovation project two years ago. That project was overseen by Arizona Golf Management LLC, which is part of the Arizona Golf Foundation, which is the tax-exempt arm of the Arizona Golf Association. As part of the deal, the AGF took over operation of the facility.

Key parts of the project -- such as the construction of a new clubhouse -- have not taken place. Several longtime Papago employees have been laid off. Revenues at the course are down (not surprising, considering the economy) and payments on the $9 million loan on the project are starting to come due. According to the story, the Arizona GA president, Frank Shipman, said the AGF has begun "the process of withdrawing from day-to-day operation of the course."

From the Arizona Republic story: "Randy Joly, who served as president of the Papago Men's Golf Association in the mid 1990s and is currently on the AGA's board of governors, said he believes the AGA 'bit off more than it could chew. Some poor choices were made in terms of the architect. Poor choices were made by AGA management in terms of what they thought the course could be, and what they thought the city could do.' "

--G.R.

Posted by Geoff Russell
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Spending On Seabrook

Saturday, February 21, 2009 Comments

Golfoceanwindsno16 At at time when many if not most clubs are tightening the reigns on spending, South Carolina's Seabrook Island is moving ahead with a $30 million makeover. Here is a report on the project in today's Charleston Post and Courier.

The club already has two highly regarded golf courses: Crooked Oaks, a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design, and Ocean Winds, a William Byrd layout (pictured). Neither is open to the public. You have to be a club member or resort guest to play them.

As part of its "Horizon Plan" Seabrook Island is adding a 36,000-square-foot clubhouse, a 15,000-square-foot beach club and a 24,000-square-foot community center with a gym, among other things.

The old adage goes "you have to spend money to make money." Does that still apply in 2009? We'll see.

-- P.F.

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Indian Wells Feels The Pinch

Thursday, January 22, 2009 Comments

Iwgr0082 Facing a budget crunch, Indian Wells, Calif., has to lay off 16 employees, reports the Desert Sun. Fourteen of these jobs are maintenance positions at the city-owned Indian Wells Golf Resort. General manager Jeff Lessig blames a "declining number of golfers" for the cuts.

Meanwhile, Indian Wells just opened a new, 53,000-square-foot clubhouse -- a Jetson-esque structure that overlooks its two golf courses. I got a tour of the place as they were putting the finishing touches on it last year. Though it won't suit everyone's tastes (particularly those who consider themselves traditionalists), it is dazzling. Lessig is quoted as saying the new restaurant and bar are exceeding revenue projections and are averaging 13,000 customers a month.

Now if only they could get more of those people out on their golf courses....

-- P.F.

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