Club and Resort Talks Club and Resort Talks

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Senior Editor Phil Keren speaks with Jennifer Bermingham, Director of Golf Programming for Invited, and a PGA/LPGA member.

June is Women’s Golf Month. Invited, the leading owner-operator of private golf and country clubs, and city clubs in North America, has partnered with the LPGA Foundation to celebrate Women’s Golf Month. Invited has launched numerous women’s golf programs at 120 of its clubs in North America. Bermingham discusses the programs that Invited and the LPGA offer to bring more women to golf. The golf boom during the COVID-19 pandemic gave rise to many positive trends in the game, including the fact that more women than ever are playing golf. Today, according to the 2024 National Golf Foundation report, females account for 26% of on-course participants – the highest proportion on record.

Phil and Editor-In-Chief Rob Thomas also talked about large-scale projects happening at three different clubs around the country. Members of Great Hills Country Club in Austin, Texas recently approved a $22.3 million golf course and clubhouse enhancement project. This plan includes replacing the 50-year-old irrigation system and establishing a Task Force on Golf Course Sustainability and Playability to develop a long-term plan for the golf course. Greens, bunkers and the practice facility will be upgraded. Conceptual plans are also in place to create a quiet dining space, a casual family bistro, a new outdoor bar and a children’s playscape area.

Rob and Phil also highlighted plans for a $35 million renovation of the 46,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse at Glenmoor Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colo. The expansion will increase the clubhouse footprint by approximately 10,000 sq. ft. Glenmoor will build a new pro shop, expand its fitness center, add pickleball courts and include structural upgrades. This project is part of a broader trend at Glenmoor, such as a $4 million pool and patio remodel in 2019 and an $8 million golf course renovation, that included a new irrigation system and updated greens, in 2023.

King’s North at Myrtle Beach (S.C.) National closed earlier this month to begin a comprehensive, two-part, two-year renovation project. Phase one, which will focus entirely on the front nine, includes renovating and restoring the greens, and installing Capillary Concrete bunker liners throughout the layout.

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Rob Thomas speaks with Patricio Misitrano, Co-Founder of The Sports Haus in Norwalk, Conn. The Sports Haus is an indoor club with padel, pickleball and golf sims—the first club to have these three sports under one roof IN THE WORLD!

Misitrano, who formerly directed three platinum clubs, talks about padel and how most clubs are not getting ready for what’s coming. It happened to a lot of clubs with pickleball and it will happen again with padel if GMs, Boards and Directors don’t act proactively.

He also peers into his crystal ball, looking 5-10 years in the future to forecast what’s on the horizon.

Rob and Club + Resort Business Senior Editor Phil Keren discussed projects happening at three different resorts, as well as a club paying tribute to a legendary golfer.

Here is an overview of the three projects Rob and Phil reviewed:
• Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva, Wisc., is marking its 30th anniversary with the opening of fully renovated banquet space and meeting rooms. Overall, the resort offers five large ballrooms, four boardrooms, the ballroom foyer, and public restrooms. The rooms are equipped with modern technology and contemporary designs, while all meeting and event spaces are now open and available for meetings and events.
• Canyon Ranch Austin, in Spicewood, Texas, will begin construction this summer on a 223,739-sq.-ft. resort. The new resort will have guest lodging, a spa, fitness and dining facilities, a medical clinic, and various administrative and support functions. The Spicewood location will be the fifth Canyon Ranch location to open in the U.S.
• Later this year, Horseshoe Bay (Texas) Resort will open a new 3,000 sq. ft. instructional facility called Cap Rock Golf Academy. It will have two indoor bays with Trackman and Toptracer technology, club-fitting services, a club repair room, and a demonstration area with shafts, grips and clubheads.

Phil and Rob concluded their conversation by spotlighting an article written by PMQ Pizza magazine Senior Editor Charlie Pogacar (PMQ is owned by the same company as CRB, WTWH Media). Charlie’s piece shared the story of how Mill Creek Golf Course, a semi-private club in Mebane, N.C., pays tribute to legendary golfer and two-time U.S. Open champion, Payne Stewart.

Stewart died in an airplane accident in October 1999, four months after sinking a par putt on the final hole to win his second U.S. Open title. Pogacar’s piece talks about an event that happened shortly after Stewart’s victory, which connects the late golfer with Mill Creek.

Rob and Phil shared their memories of Stewart, who was known for his unique attire, a brash personality and a fluid swing. Stewart’s bravado softened over time and culminated with him congratulating a young Phil Mickelson on becoming a new father just moments after Stewart sank his winning putt at the 1999 U.S. Open.

On this episode of Club + Resort Talks, Rob Thomas speaks with Keith Scioli, Founder of GOLF LIVE. After the loss of a family member, Scioli developed a deep connection to the game of golf that led to the creation of an innovative solution for instructors and students alike.

In 2019, Scioli was getting ready to go play in a tournament and developed a case of “the shanks.” Naturally, on a Friday night, at a public driving range, there was not an instructor to be found. Then it hit him; “Why can’t I take a virtual golf lesson, now?”

Scioli researched “golf instruction” and discovered that 4 million golfers in the United States take an estimated 22 million in-person golf lessons each year. That data turned out to be the lightbulb moment for him and he began to map out his “virtual solution.”

Keith sent out 200 cold e-mails to PGA Members about his idea. Out of the 200 e-mails, Keith received two responses. One was from a PGA Instructor in Boston, Allan Belden. His comment? “I have no idea what you are really talking about, but it sounds interesting. If you want a guinea pig, here I am.”
COVID-19 hit, and the world of golf instruction shut down. After months, Scioli started getting e-mails from these same PGA pros that had ignored him, “Hey, did you ever build that internet instruction thing?” COVID proved Keith’s assumption was correct. Conducting live, remote golf lessons was no longer a crazy idea.

In time, GOLF LIVE took form to what it is today; a patented, global solution that has been recognized as a Top Tech Golf Startup to Watch in 2024.
· Live, Virtual Video Capture & Replay with Analysis
· Customized Multi-Tier Memberships
· Automatic Lesson Storage
· Video Exchange
· One-to-Many Live Stream Capability
· A Comprehensive Communication and Business Platform

Rob and Senior Editor Phil Keren also discussed a country club starting to use autonomous mowers, a resort that upgraded its food and beverage operations, and a golf course constructing a driving range with Power Tee boxes and Toptracer technology.

Kings Creek Country Club in Rehoboth Beach, Del. has rolled out Husqvarna 550H Epos autonomous mowers for their golf course maintenance. The robotic mowers’ advanced GPS technology and sensors allow them to navigate the golf course with precision and ensure that every inch of the course is perfectly manicured. There are also environmental benefits: By using robotic mowers, the club will lower carbon emissions and reduce noise pollution. The mowers operate on electric power, offering an eco-friendly contribution to a greener future.

Fairfield (Tenn.) Glade Resort in March 2023 hired Bobby Jones Links to manage food and beverage operations. The goal was to improve financial performance and member engagement at Stonehenge Grille and four snack bars. After Bobby Jones Links took over, visitors and revenue increased at Stonehenge, and the member experience improved. “People recognize that the quality of food is better, and the menu offerings are better. It’s been a very positive impact,” says Bruce Cox, one of the board members at Fairfield Glade.

Windham Golf Course in North Windham, Conn. is reopening with a newly upgraded practice range that’s teched out on 16 bays with Power Tee automatic tee boxes, as well as Toptracer’s gamified technology. The golf course routing was modified to accommodate the new range, a process that lasted 20 months. “I’m hoping that with Power Tee, golfers go through the buckets quicker and then want to buy another one and also enjoy some of the new food and beverage offerings we’ve added,” says Tim DeVivo, the course’s owner.

On this episode of Club + Resort Talks, Club + Resort Business Editor-in-Chief Rob Thomas and Senior Phil Keren discuss a recently completed project, one that is nearly finished and two more that are just beginning.

The 18-month revitalization project at LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples, Fla. encompassed 189 of the resort’s guest rooms, the complete rebuild and elevated design enhancements of the famed Beach House, and the restoration of its four beachside pools. Improvements were made to the resort’s beachfront restaurant, beachside lounge, and poolside lounging area. “The completion of this extensive restoration marks a significant milestone for LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort,” says Martin Greenwood, Area Managing Director for the resort.

Previously known as America’s longest golf course, the Pines Course at The International in Bolton, Mass. is on schedule to welcome limited member play this fall. Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw are wrapping up the project they began in 2022. It is believed The Pines will be the first new 18-hole course to open in Massachusetts in more than a decade. The Pines will be one of the region’s few courses to feature fescue grass on tees, fairways and in the rough. Fescue grass courses are typically found in Scotland and Ireland, places where the game was first played.Other final project tasks include installing new bunker sand, edging perimeters of bunkers, trimming and clearing trees, and establishing fairway/rough lines.

After a century of operation, the Swope Memorial golf course in Kansas City plans to close for a year to undergo a $7 million renovation.There is a proposal before Kansas City’s City Council for the project. If approved, plans include rebuilding the tee boxes, cart paths, and greens, installing a new drainage system, and filling the bunkers with firmer sand. Some greens will be less steep, and others will be wider. They will also renumber certain holes to improve the pace of play. A significant number of trees will be removed to improve playability and turf health by increasing sunlight and airflow.

Burning Tree Country Club in Greenwich, Conn. intends to revamp its infrastructure by replacing the old pool building with a modern facility dubbed the Aquatics and Recreation Center. The current paddle tennis building will make way for a new structure and additional features outlined in the proposal include an open-air poolside bar.

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rob Thomas speaks with Jarrett Chirico, Director of Racquets at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas and Founder/President of The Directors Club. In addition to the importance of certifications (he has many (DCA, CRSE, PTR, PPR, PCR, PPTR, SCR, USPTA, PPTA)), Chirico discusses the vision behind The Directors Club and the booming racquets industry as it enjoys its Golden Age. He also looks into his crystal ball and shares what the industry may look like in 5-10 years.

Phil Keren, Senior Editor of Club + Resort Business, joined the podcast to discuss the latest news from across the industry, such as a pair of stories related to the 106th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky. There are 21 PGA of America Professionals from clubs in states across the country playing in the tournament. The Corebridge Financial Team includes Ben Polland, Director of Golf at Shooting Star in Jackson Hole, Wyo., — the winner of the 2024 PGA Professional Championship — and Michael Block, PGA Golf Professional at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club in Mission Viejo, Calif. Block was one of the biggest stories in golf last year when he finished tied for 15th place at the 2023 PGA Championship.

Rob and Phil also talked about a special career-exploration event called PGA WORKS Beyond the Green that took place near the 17th hole at Valhalla Golf Club. At this program, students had the chance to hear industry leaders discuss the wide range of employment opportunities available within the game of golf.

In addition, Phil and Rob highlighted the completion of a $10 million renovation project at The Fairmont Grand Del Mar in San Diego, Calif. These improvements encompassed a revamp of the clubhouse, pool areas, and the addition of a new outdoor activity center to replace a temporary one established during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On this episode of Club + Resort Talks, Senior Editor Phil Keren speaks with Evan Summa, General Manager of Hyperion Field Club in Johnston, Iowa, about the club’s completion of a refurbished clubhouse and an adult-only dining area, the start of a luxury home project, and a comprehensive digital marketing campaign. The finished projects were initiated in response to answers given by club members in a survey conducted in fall of 2022. Summa, who has worked at Hyperion for 12 years and became its leader last year, also highlights the efforts undertaken to make the club more family-friendly.

Phil and Editor-In-Chief Rob Thomas also discussed a golf course in northern Michigan that renovated some of its holes as an homage to legendary golf course architect Donald Ross, a walk-through military exhibit opening next to a Par-3 golf course in Oklahoma, and ownership changing hands at a golf course in Minnesota.