Mosaic Clubs and Resorts is no stranger to the saying, “make new friends but keep the old.” The company will continue to manage Bear Creek Golf Club on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, retaining its responsibility for the club’s golf and business operations, as well as its membership and dining.

Bear Creek is a private, 18-hole course designed by Rees Jones. It opened in 1980 and underwent extensive renovations under Jones’ supervision in 2006.

Mosaic is the co-venture of former Troon Golf CEO Hud Hinton and the founders of Affiniti Golf Partners, Whitney Crouse and Steve Willy. The three renamed and rebranded Affiniti to form Mosaic in August 2013. Crouse in particular claims a longstanding connection to Hilton Head Island.

“It is an honor for us to assist Bear Creek, a club that boasts a very active membership and great golf course,” said Crouse in a statement. “It will be particularly rewarding for us to be back on Hilton Head Island and have Mosaic serve as stewards of this great club, one that I loved to play when I lived on the island.”

The company’s focus remains on private and resort facilities in prestigious locations, a profile that Bear Creek fits well. Although its holdings are primarily located in the southeastern United States, Mosaic has begun to expand abroad with the acquisition of the Sur Mer Resort on the Grand Bahama Island.   

But despite its newly minted wanderlust, Mosaic seems to feel right at home in the South, having been recently retained as the management company for two Georgia properties as well.

Mosaic will continue to manage the Golf Club of Georgia, which features two Arthur Hill designed courses that have won several awards. The club has previously been the site of a multitude of championship tournaments, including the United States Collegiate Championship and the Nationwide Championship.

Another one of the company’s Georgia-based projects is providing marketing and communications services to the Canyon Ridge Golf Club.

In total, Mosaic’s execs have overseen over 200 properties worldwide with 21 properties in its current portfolio  

Mosaic Clubs and Resorts is no stranger to the saying, “make new friends but keep the old.” The company will continue to manage Bear Creek Golf Club on Hilton Head Island in South Carolina, retaining its responsibility for the club’s golf and business operations, as well as its membership and dining.

Bear Creek is a private, 18-hole course designed by Rees Jones. It opened in 1980 and underwent extensive renovations under Jones’ supervision in 2006.

Mosaic is the co-venture of former Troon Golf CEO Hud Hinton and the founders of Affiniti Golf Partners, Whitney Crouse and Steve Willy. The three renamed and rebranded Affiniti to form Mosaic in August 2013. Crouse in particular claims a longstanding connection to Hilton Head Island.

“It is an honor for us to assist Bear Creek, a club that boasts a very active membership and great golf course,” said Crouse in a statement. “It will be particularly rewarding for us to be back on Hilton Head Island and have Mosaic serve as stewards of this great club, one that I loved to play when I lived on the island.”

The company’s focus remains on private and resort facilities in prestigious locations, a profile that Bear Creek fits well. Although its holdings are primarily located in the southeastern United States, Mosaic has begun to expand abroad with the acquisition of the Sur Mer Resort on the Grand Bahama Island.   

But despite its newly minted wanderlust, Mosaic seems to feel right at home in the South, having been recently retained as the management company for two Georgia properties as well.

Mosaic will continue to manage the Golf Club of Georgia, which features two Arthur Hill designed courses that have won several awards. The club has previously been the site of a multitude of championship tournaments, including the United States Collegiate Championship and the Nationwide Championship.

Another one of the company’s Georgia-based projects is providing marketing and communications services to the Canyon Ridge Golf Club.

In total, Mosaic’s execs have overseen over 200 properties worldwide with 21 properties in its current portfolio  

Troon Golf has a new financial backer. Kohlberg & Company, a private equity firm, has acquired a majority of the company’s stock, replacing Starwood Capital and Goldman Sachs as majority shareholders.

Greg Norman’s organization, Great White Shark Enterprises, is an investor in Kohlberg & Company and Norman, along with principals of Kohlberg & Company, will join the Troon board of directors.

Dana Garmany, who founded Troon in 1990, will continue to lead the company as its chairman and CEO. 

“The team is really happy about this,” Garmany said. “We went through a competitive process to find the right group. They are a financial investor. They do these things through their fund in order to make money and that fits perfectly with what we want to do.”

Garmany said he expects Kohlberg to stay invested in the company for the next five to seven years, a much shorter time span that the prior financial backers. Starwood invested into Troon in 1996 and Goldman Sachs in 1999. Goldman had divested all other properties in its fund, except for Troon, and was looking for an exit.

“[Goldman] would have left in 2006 or 2007, but then the crash came,” Garmany said. “This investment was doing well, but was the only thing left in their fund.”

Troon dropped to around 170 courses in late 2008, as new developments dried up across the globe. But the company has steadily grown since then, primarily by adding private clubs. It currently operates 207 18-hole equivalent courses.

Garmany said he originally looked for an investor to just replace Goldman Sachs. But in October he started looking for a fund to replace both Goldman and Starwood.

Garmany said he and other senior management have about he same percent of ownership as they did when Goldman and Starwood were the primary investors.

Jerome Kohlberg, who had been a founding partner in Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, founded Kohlberg & Company in 1987. The company focuses on middle market investments where it can work with senior management  to grow the business.

Garmany said most growth would likely be through private clubs. Roughly one-third of its portfolio are private clubs.

“We may look at consolidation of small companies,” Garmany said. “[But] We don’t plan to acquire assets. We will stay a management platform.”

Garmany said Kohlberg’s short-term investment matches his timeframe — allowing the company to grow fast, with the possibility that he will then step aside.

Garmany, who previously battled cancer, stepped down as CEO in 2010, only to resume the position a year later when his replacement, Hud Hinton, did not work out.

IMG Golf is further expanding its reach in Vietnam with a new contract to provide management consulting services to Sky Lake Golf Resort in Hanoi.

The relatively new resort opened in 2012, and features two 18-hole courses — the Lake Course is currently open, while the Sky Course will open before the end of the year. Future plans for the property include a variety of accommodations, a golf academy, and recreational facilities.

IMG Golf has been active in Vietnam since the 1990’s. It currently manages four other properties in the country and is in the process of designing several more. Though Sky Lake is its first contract in Hanoi, the company announced in 2011 that it would design a golf course in the area for Vietnamese developer, Geleximco.

The company has recently seen major growth in other parts of Asia as well, adding courses in China to make it the third largest golf course management company on the continent.

Vice President of IMG Golf Course Services in the Asia-Pacific region, Paul Burley, is confident that this history and experience will help make Sky Lake a success as well.

“IMG knows Vietnam well and we have an excellent track record of providing our industry leading golf course management services,” Burley said. “I am certain our extensive experience of managing high quality clubs in the region will help produce one of the premier golf resorts in South East Asia.”

The company is a division of IMG, a worldwide management group that represents brands, organizations, and celebrities across a variety of industries. IMG Golf was founded in 1960 by Mark McCormack, with Arnold Palmer as his first client.

Golf Maintenance Solutions has quietly built itself into one of the largest maintenance companies in the U.S., with more than 70 contracts throughout the United States.

The Carefree, Ariz.-based company recently added Capital City Country Club in Tallahassee, Florida, its sixth full-service contract for maintenance services.

In addition to full service maintenance, the company offers advisory services and project management. An estimated 45 to 50 of its contracts are for advisory services.  It has added 10 to 15 contracts in the past year.

Dean Wochaski and Bill Nauroth founded GMS in 2003 to fill a void for mid-market courses looking for agronomics specialists. The company works with a course’s existing maintenance teams, and provides agronomic planning, construction, and more.

The company currently has contracts with properties in 26 states and in South America.

Nauroth has 24 years of experience in the industry, with expertise in new constructions as well as renovations, and oversees courses in the West. Wochaski has 28 years of experience and oversees the Eastern region. Steve Schendel, a vice president with 26 years of experience, handles the Midwest.  David Downing II, a past president of the GCSAA, has 31 years of experience and oversees the Southeast.

Blake Walker is about to be the new big man on campus in the golf industry. The veteran buyer is in the process of closing on the acquisition of 48 golf courses from CNL Lifestyle Properties.

Walker, who previously ran Pegasus Golf Partners and oversaw acquisitions for ClubCorp, has been CEO and managing partner for Texas-based Arcis Equity Partners since January 2013. Backed by funds from Fortress Investment Group, a $65 billion investment management firm, Arcis began buying golf courses from the outset. In 2013, it acquired the 63-hole BrightStar Golf Group portfolio, which includes TPC Snoqualmie Ridge and The Club at Pradera.

But the CNL acquisition will make that deal seem very small in comparison. The sales price has been set at $320 million, with the final number depending on receivables and operational fees and expenses.

“Blake Walker has gone from a small player to one of the most powerful people in golf [with this deal]” said Steve Ekovich, managing director of the National Golf & Resort Properties Group at Marcus & Millichap and a close observer of acquisitions in the golf industry.

For CNL, the price is consistent with its estimated net asset value of the portfolio. CNL reported that net cash from the deal would be around $208 million, after repayment of approximately $89.9 million in debt.

It is unclear whether Walker and Arcis approached CNL first or whether CNL sought a buyer. But CNL did report in an SEC filing that it hired a global investment banking and advisory firm to assist with a possible sale in March.

Most of the CNL courses are currently in long-term leases with Fore Golf Partners. Eagle Golf Management also manages some. CNL, as a real estate investment trust, was precluded by law from managing courses. 

The W. C. Bradley Co. has hired Mosaic Clubs & Resorts to manage its Maple Ridge Golf Club, a semi-private club tucked in the Chattahoochee Valley on the northern edge of Columbus, Ga.

“The Maple Ridge family has the highest expectations for Mosaic’s ability to enhance the overall club experience for our members and guests,” said Mat Swift, president and COO of W. C. Bradley Co., the Columbus-based developer of the Maple Ridge community. “Maple Ridge has long been recognized as the best place to live in Columbus and with Mosaic’s help it will continue to be the best place to gather, play, share a meal and nurture friendships.”

Architect Mike Young designed Maple Ridge and it opened in 1993 as the centerpiece of the 700-acre Maple Ridge master-planned development. The 6,586-yard, par 72 course underwent a significant renovation in 2005 by architect Craig Shriner and 1987 Masters Champion, Larry Mize, a longtime Columbus resident.

Mize began the renovation by analyzing the playing characteristics of every hole, hitting shots from various strategic positions and making recommendations for enhancing the golf experience. Shriner then took over, re-designing or moving several greens, adding tee boxes and re-routing a few holes.

“Mosaic is very gratified to add such an outstanding club to our roster of managed properties around the country,” said Mosaic President Steve Willy. “We certainly will strive to maintain proper stewardship of Maple Ridge as it enters its third decade of welcoming the people of Columbus to the club.”

Mosaic, previously Affiniti Golf Partners, is an Atlanta-based golf management company whose partners have broad experience building, owning, and operating more than 200 clubs worldwide. The company currently manages private, resort, and daily fee clubs in the southeast and the Bahamas, with more than 1,400 employees.

KemperSports announced the addition of two courses in July, Colwood Golf Course, in Portland, Ore., and Apple Ridge Country Club in Mahwah, N.J. Colwood Golf Course is the company’s second golf course in Portland. It also manages the City of Portland’s Heron Lakes Golf Course.

Colwood is currently being renovated from an 18-hole course into a 9-hole, par-3 course and driving range. Half of the course was rezoned for industrial use in 2013, and the City of Portland acquired the remaining land in March for $5 million.

“We are proud to bring a large portion of the Colwood Golf Course and natural area into public ownership, and KemperSports is the right company to manage the course,” said Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “It is land which represents significant environmental and recreational opportunities for the entire City of Portland.”

Situated amid open parkland and forested and wetland areas that protect the Columbia Slough in Northeast Portland, Colwood Golf Course and the surrounding property are the cornerstone of a long-term restoration project that will reshape the existing landscape into an important public natural area. The plan calls for a wetlands restoration project in order to preserve the natural landscape while focusing on improving water quality.

The Portland non-profit group First Tee will be offering classes for youth in the near future. Portland Public Golf, part of Portland Parks & Recreation, is working with a non-profit partner on hiring local workers from the Cully neighborhood, where the course is located.

The Trust for Public Land is the national non-profit that managed the complex deal to transfer Colwood Golf Course to the City of Portland, calling the transfer a “win-win situation.” PP&R will manage more than one-third of the restored land as a natural area, protecting wildlife and water quality. 

KemperSports also recently announced it was selected to manage Apple Ridge Country Club in Mahwah, N.J. 

Apple Ridge Country Club was developed in 1966 as a private club by the Carlough family on their family-owned apple orchard. The Club offers unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline. 

Designed by Hal C. Purdy, the 18-hole, par-71 golf course recently went through a significant renovation that included new bunkers throughout the course and additional tee space to add length to the course.  

The club also has event and banquet locations as well as indoor and outdoor dining space. 


“Apple Ridge Country Club has a strong history and membership,” said KemperSports CEO Steve Skinner. “We look forward to working with the Apple Ridge team to enhance the membership offerings and amenities and deliver a great member and guest experience.”

ClubCorp announced on Aug. 13 it is acquiring Sequoia Golf for $265 million, making it the largest owner of golf courses in the world, and the second-largest management company.

The publicly traded ClubCorp, which already manages 110 golf facilities with a combined 140 18-hole equivalent golf courses, will add 30 owned, three leased and 17 managed properties to its portfolio. When the acquisition is complete, it will operate 157 facilities with 194 18-hole equivalent courses. It will own 174 18-hole equivalent courses, 15 more than Japan's Accordia Golf, which was the leader in ownership.

Only Troon, with 207 18-hole equivalent courses, is larger. But Troon is a third-party operator. ClubCorp owns the bulk of its properties, and with this acquisition it will enter the third-party management business. 

"ClubCorp has historically shied away from management" said Eric Affeldt, CEO of ClubCorp. "We said if we would enter [that market] it would be thorugh an acquisition like this. This gives us the ability to compete with Troon or KemperSports."

Sequoia’s adjusted EBITDA was $24.4 million for the 12 months that ended on June 30. Its revenue was $98.4 million, meaning it was earning a 25 percent profit in a time when many golf courses are struggling. But Sequoia had $10.5 million in interest expense.

Joe Guerra, President and founder of Sequoia Golf, said the acquisition is a reflection of the strength of the private club market segment that continues to thrive and grow.

"We have seen net growth in every cluster for two years in a row," he said about his company's financial performance. "Memberships are up and members are playing more golf than they ever have."

He said the negative press about private clubs is based on broken clubs that were either ill conceived or are poorly run.

"We go into those clubs and fix them," he said. "We have a very sustainable, competitive advantage, as does ClubCorp."

Industry experts said the $265 million sale price appeared to be at market rates.

“This was a great opportunity for ClubCorp to buy at the bottom of the market and ride the appreciation up and a good opportunity for Joe Guerra to get rid of the burden of a high debt load and recapitalize the portfolio,” said Steven Ekovich, managing director of National Golf & Resort Properties Group at Marcus & Millichap. 

Guerra founded Sequoia Golf with his brother Ken in 2002 with funding from Parthenon Capital, which has worked with the company since its inception. Guerra had previously worked at American Golf, where he had been co-president prior to its acquisition by Goldman Sachs.

Sequoia’s first acquisition was the $55 million purchase of seven Canongate properties in south Atlanta from the Patten Seed Company. The company grew through acquisitions, building tight clusters in Atlanta, Houston and most recently Denver. It more recently began to take on third-party management deals.

But Parthenon Capital was looking for an exit strategy and that forced Guerra to look at all finance options. Guerra said he began looking at all finance options in September 2013, and did not know what to expect, as golf had a poor reputation in the finance industry. He said ClubCorp going public a year ago provided transparency on fianncials, which has helped other investors better understand the golf industry. 

Guerra will serve as a senior advisor to help ensure a smooth transition for members and employees. Beyond that, he has no plans but is open to continuing to work with ClubCorp. 

Eric Affeldt said there will be some redundancy in skill sets and that the company wants to put the best team on the field. the company expects to save $4.5 to $6 million a year oin cost synergies. 

ClubCorp has been aggressive on the acquisition front, as it looks to grow its revenue base at a time when its existing private clubs are showing more moderate growth. Membership is growing by only 1 percent with revenue up a healthier 4 percent. 

Affeldt said ClubCorp will continue to be active in looking at acquisitions and it still has $135 million in capacity for further deals. 

The Sequoia acquisition gives ClubCorp 27,000 additional memberships, and new markets in Denver and Chicago. It will also be the dominant operator among private clubs in Atlanta and Houston. It will operate 35 clubs in Atlanta, up form 8, and 19 in Houston, up from 12. 

“Sequoia Golf aligns perfectly with our business model,” said Eric Affledt, ClubCorp’s president and CEO. “It is a strong membership business that, like ours, generates nearly 50 percent of its revenue from membership dues. Sequoia Golf will strengthen and expand our cluster strategy to familiar markets, and give us a portfolio that stands to benefit from additional revenue and adjusted EBITDA growth through reinvention. This acquisition adds shareholder value and is expected to be accretive in year one.”

Affeldt said that when it adds new clubs to its portfolio those clubs usually see a jump in membership because of the greater value of the network. Guerra added that within the markets, there are few, if any, clubs that compete with each other. 

ClubCorp intends to invest into capital projects during the next two years to improve Sequoia’s golf courses and practice facilities, and to create or update indoor and outdoor dining and social gathering facilities, and add family-friendly pool amenities and enhance fitness facilities. 

Guerra said Sequoia was hampered in recent years by a lack of capital, and that ClubCorp should be able to make investments into amenities and services that will have an immediate pay off. Affeldt said the company will speak to members to determine the best use of those funds. 

Landscapes Unlimited — the mother company to Landscapes Golf Group — has decided to drop the the secondary name and brand its entire company under the Landscapes Unlimited name. The company currently owns or operates more than 50 properties in 24 states, as well as in China. Landscapes Golf Group also provided clients with golf consulting services and tailored club solution services. The company is responsible for the construction and renovation of more than 1,200 golf courses.

"Our club solutions and management services business has been growing steadily in the past several years under the Landscapes Golf Group brand. However, we felt we were leaving something on the table by not taking full advantage of the name and reputation for quality that we have built at Landscapes Unlimited over the past 38 years," said Bill Kubly, Landscapes Unlimited's founder and CEO.

The company will retain its golf course real estate portfolio under Landscapes Golf Group, LLC.

"We really felt the need to separate the two business activities because they both require a full-time focus and different operational strategies," Kubly said.


Michael Jenkins, who has led Landscapes Golf Group for the past 15 years, will remain in charge of the golf course real estate assets, as well as participate in the strategic direction and business development of the entire company. 

"Not many people realize it but Mike was Landscape's CFO for 10 years before he took on the company's strategic mission to grow the golf investment and management services business. He personifies the essence of Landscapes Unlimited and has and will continue to support and represent all facets of our business," Kubly said.

Tom Everett, who initially started his career with the company as a general manager 20 years ago, has served as the Vice President of Golf Operations. He will continue this career as the president of Landscapes Management Company.

As part of the reorganization of Landscapes Unlimiteds golf management business, Bryce Juedes has been promoted to Landscapes Management Company's Vice President, focusing on developing and executing the strategic plan for this business and leading its accounting and finance team. 

Mark Mattingly will be returning to Landscapes Unlimited as Landscapes Management Company's Vice President of Business Development. He will spearhead all new business development initiatives and activities for Landscapes Management Company.

ValleyCrest Golf Maintenance announced several new agreements to provide golf course maintenance services to courses throughout the country. The new clients include Fairmount Golf Course in Riverside, California, Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley, California, Longshore Club Park in Westport, Connecticut, and Daytona Beach Golf Club in Daytona Beach, Florida.

Daytona Beach Club features 36-holes total arranged as two distinct, 18-hole tests. The South course is an original Donald Ross designed course is typical of his style large fairways, landing areas and testing greens. The North course, which was originally built in 1968 and renovated in 1997, is a more challenging game of golf perfect for the club’s more experiences members.

Fairmount Golf Course of Riverside California was also announced in August. The 9-hole public course was established in 1936, and is designed to challenge experienced golfers but also serve as a learning course for younger golfers.

Squaw Creek Club Resort and ValleyCrest Golf Maintenance announced their partnership in April. ValleyCrest Golf Maintenance will now provide grounds and course services to the 18-hole links-style championship course, located at the base of Olympic Valley near Lake Tahoe, California. The course was designed by golf course architect Robert Trent Jones, Jr. as a unique course located amongst preserved wetlands.

The Longshore Club Park in Westport, Connecticut started their contract with ValleyCrest at the start of this year. The course, which is owned by the Town of Westport, is an 18-hole recently renovated course with greens complex and plenty of bunkers, challenging a golfer to use a range of clubs when playing this course.

ValleyCrest Golf Maintenance is a division of Valley Crest Companies — a Maintenance, development and tree care business based out of Calabasas, California. ValleyCrest Golf Maintenance provides golf and agronomy services for more than 70 golf properties in 15 states.

Troon Golf announced its largest deal in several years with the addition of eight golf courses at Hot Springs Village in Arkansas. With the contract, the world’s largest management company expanded its profile to 215 18-hole equivalent golf courses.

Hot Springs Village is a 26,000 acre community located in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. It has nine golf courses total, one of which is privately owned. The community also features 11 recreational lakes, 30 miles of nature trails, 13 tennis courts, pools and more.

“We are extremely pleased to become part of the Troon family of destinations,” Hot Springs Village’s Chief Operating Officer David Twiggs said. “Hot Springs Village committed to changing its business models in 2013 when I was brought in to restructure the 26,000 acre community into both a leading tourism destination and a great place to live work and play. Troon was our first choice as the top golf business talent internationally and we look forward to expanding our relationship as we enhance our golf experience and bring many more recreational opportunities to the region.”

The eight courses include Balboa Golf Course, Coronado Golf Course, Cortez Golf Course, DeSoto Golf Course, Granada Golf Course, Isabella Golf Course, Magellan Golf Course and Ponce de Leon Golf Course. 

National Golf Management has closed a deal to manage TPC Myrtle Beach, bringing its portfolio to 23 courses. 

National Golf Management was formed in March 2012, with the merger of Myrtle Beach National and Burroughs & Chapin. At the time, it operated 23 of the region’s 90 courses, and owned 15 of those courses. President Bob Mauragas said the company’s goal was to be better and not necessarily bigger. It said it would grow slowly, focusing on courses in the Myrtle Beach area in need of capital help.

TPC Myrtle Beach is the first addition to the portfolio since the merger. National Golf Management will oversee all aspects of managing TPC Myrtle Beach including overseeing operations, sales, marketing and more.

“Our ultimate goal is to provide visitors of Myrtle Beach and local Grand Strand golfers with the highest standards,” Mauragas said. “The addition of TPC Myrtle Beach to our portfolio is consistent with our strategic plan to assemble a collection of premium courses and we are excited to begin working with them.”

The PGA Tour-affiliated TPC network includes more than 30 courses, including TPC Myrtle Beach. PGA owns most of the TPC branded courses, but local businessmen Chip Smith and Danny Young own TPC Myrtle Beach.

“We have been contemplating this decision for quite some time,” Smith said in a press release. “Given the current market conditions, we feel the timing is right to align TPC Myrtle Beach with National Golf Management. They know the market, and have the experience and resources to increase rounds and revenues, while assuring a great experience for our guests.”

Tom Fazio and Lanny Wadkins designed TPC Myrtle Beach, which opened in 1999. At the time, it was the 100th course in Myrtle Beach. It has hosted the Senior Tour Championship and the final round of the World Amateur Handicap Championship. 

Troon has locked in two new management contracts in Dubai and Kazakhstan, thus expanding its reach to 29 countries. The company announced plans in early September to manage Buraby Golf Resort near Astana, Kazakhstan and Arabian Ranches Golf Club in Dubai.

The Burabay Golf Resort is scheduled for completion in late 2015, making it the 41st venue under the Troon International Division. Kazakhstan has supported the development of the course in order to increase tourism related to an upcoming 2017 international expo that is focused around the theme of :Future Energy.”

The new resort will be located along the northern shoreline of Lake Shuchie, a part of Astana’s Lake District. Several of the holes will wind along the lakeshore. In-Sung, an acclaimed Korean architecture firm, is designing the 18-hole golf course. The Buraby Golf Resort property also has two nearby marinas, 15 chalets and two artificial lagoons.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Burabay Golf Resort to our international portfolio,” said Bruce Glasco, chief operating officer and managing director of Troon International Division. “This will be an exciting addition to golf in the country and the first golf resort to be built there. With unique developments of this nature, there are real opportunities to grow and heighten Kazakhstan’s position on the golfing map.”

This is Troon’s second development in the region, along with The National Azerbaijan Golf Club located across the Caspian Sea, which has been in operation for one year. It hosted the European Challenge Tour’s elite.

Troon has also been chosen to oversee golf operations at Arabian Ranches Golf Club, making it the company’s eighth property in the Middle East. Troon has managed another Dubai course, The Address Montgomerie Dubai, since 2001 and hopes to bring similar success to its second course in the Emirate.

Arabian Ranches Golf Club opened in 2004 under the consultancy of Troon and golf course architect Ian Baker-Finch, in association with Nicklaus Design and Orient Irrigation. The18-hole course utilizes the natural landscape of the desert environment of sand, shrubs and bushes juxtaposed with lush greens and fairways. The golf club includes a Spanish Colonial-style clubhouse with 11 bedrooms. It’s the first venue in the region to offer guest rooms within the property.

“This is a truly stunning venue and we’re excited to have been chosen to manage what is set to be an exciting new era for golf here at Arabian Ranches,” Glasco said. “We’ve worked closely with Emaar over the years and we’re delighted that such an organization has put its faith in Troon. This is ultimately a testament to the reputation and performance of our team in the Middle East, who have maintained consistently high-standards for golfers, while installing confidence amongst the ownership groups.”

Troon, headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., is the world’s largest golf management company, with more than 220 courses. Dana Garmany founded the company in 1990 with a single golf course and has overseen its rapid expansion during the last 24 years. 

Arcis Equity Partners announced Oct. 1 that it is recapitalizing Eagle Golf, the 20th largest management company in the world. Blake Walker, CEO and managing partner of Arcis, will serve as chairman and CEO of Eagle Golf, while Joe Munsch will continue to run the day-to-day operations as president.

Eagle, which operates 29 golf courses, will take on the management of properties acquired by Arcis as part of its imminent purchase of CNL Lifestyle Properties’ golf portfolio. CNL announced Arcis would acquire its 48 golf courses in June for $320 million.

Including the investments in Eagle and CNL, Arcis has invested in 73 golf assets throughout the United States during the past 14 months. The combined portfolio will include such notable courses as Cowboys Golf Club, Raven Golf Club – Phoenix, Tatum Ranch Golf Club, and Ruffled Feathers Golf Club. 

“With Arcis’ support, Eagle is now poised to expand its reach throughout the United States and into the private club market,” Munsch said. “Arcis’ investments over the past 14 months are a testament to its commitment to both golf and value creation.”

Eagle Golf, previously known as Evergreen Alliance Golf Ltd., managed as many as 88.5 courses before it started shedding contracts and leases in 2010. That included 43 CNL-owned courses that Eagle leased for 20 years, starting in 2009. It exited many of those leases, including 22 that Fore Golf Partners took over in May 2012.

Munsch, a 35-year veteran of the public golf and private club industry, acquired Eagle in 2008. Prior to that, he held senior-level positions with some of the biggest players in the business, including ClubCorp, Golf Enterprises Inc. and American Golf Corp.

“Eagle presents an exciting opportunity to back a high quality management team and to continue making investments in the golf sector,” Walker said. “Eagle is a best-in-class operator with an established track record and strong customer relationships. Going forward, Arcis will continue to invest to support the growth of Eagle’s existing business and to develop a broader, full-service management platform.”

Arcis did not disclose terms of the deal. Arcis is backed by funds from Fortress Investment Group, a $65 billion investment management firm. One of Walker’s first purchases was the 63-hole Brightstar Golf Group Portfolio. 

GGG of Myrtle Beach, S.C., owner of the Classic Golf Group management company, has sold its last three courses in Myrtle Beach to a group of Chinese investors for approximately $11 million. The final documents for the sale of Burning Ridge Golf Course in Conway, Indian Wells Golf Course in Garden City Beach and Founders Club at Pawleys Island were signed on Sept. 25, 2014. Myrtle Beach Online reported both the ownership group and management company will now disband after being a part of the Myrtle Beach community for 50 years.

The buyer, Yiqian Funding, was represented by Manhattan attorney Nick Dou, Mr. Dan of the Chinese parent company and Keller Williams Realty agent Jane Zheng.

This marks the eighth course purchased by Chinese buyers in Myrtle Beach in the last 15 months, Myrtle Beach Onlinereported. Three of the investors met with GGG Myrtle Beach and Classic Golf Group during the sales process and some have also met with Myrtle Beach Mayor John Rhodes.

“They want to invest in Myrtle Beach,” Classic Golf Group General Manager Rick Taylor told the publication. “They want to be part of the community. They like Myrtle Beach and want to be part of it.”

Taylor will work for the emerging management company called Founders Group on these three courses and possibly more. Taylor told the online publication that the buyers are expected to make investments in the three courses and that all course employees will retain their jobs.

“They’re very conscientious of people having jobs,” Taylor said. “They don’t want anybody to leave. They want us to have a relationship with them and want everybody to feel as much at home as they are now.”

Based on existing zoning, the new owners have the option of redeveloping some of the land at all three courses into single-family housing, though the courses would remain open during that time.

The majority of land at Founders Club and Burning Ridge is zoned for single-family homes with a minimum of 10,000-square-foot lot sizes. Indian Wells has similar requirements with a minimum lot size of 6,000-square feet. Rezoning requests have not been made. 

The buyers hope the purchase will lead to additional Chinese golf tourism, a recent trend in the industry. According to Taylor, the investors have sales contracts for other Strand courses that may emerge soon.

“They feel they have an avenue in China to bring people here,” Taylor said. “[Marketing cooperative Myrtle Beach] Golf Holiday has been doing a lot of work with China, trying to attract them to come to the Myrtle Beach area, and they believe that also. That’s probably as big a strategy as they have.”

In June 2013, a businessman that goes by the name of Mr. Pan purchased the Sea Trail Resort in Sunset Beach, N.C., for $8.5 million. Mr. Pan is described as a successful businessman with several real estate ventures in China. His full name was not disclosed in the proceedings.

In March 2014, Shengwen Lan purchased the Crown Park Golf Club in Longs, S.C., for an estimated price of between $1.5 million and $2 million. Three months later the husband and wife restaurant owners Chun Lan and Shi Lin Zou acquired Black Bear Golf Club, also in Longs, for approximately $1.5 million.

“Rick will probably be looking over 10 golf courses in the very near future,” GGG Partner Ed Jerdon told the Myrtle Beach Online.

Jerdon is the last living partner of GGG Myrtle Beach and is in the Myrtle Beach Golf Hall of Fame.

The GGG courses operated independently prior being leased and managed by the Links Group from 1989-2001. In 2001, The Links Group filed for bankruptcy, leading to the official formation of GGG and Classic Golf Group. At it’s peak, Classic Golf Group managed a total of five courses, according to Myrtle Beach Online. 

Jerdon is stepping away from the Myrtle Beach Golf Industry for the first time in 50 years.

“I think I’ll kick back and take a look to see what things look like,” Jerdon said. “I enjoyed construction, but it was completely different; it was a relief from construction. We had a good time and we managed to have good partners and we never had any conflicts. That makes for a pleasant journey.”

Troon has announced three deals — in California, New York and Arizona — that further expand the world’s largest portfolio of managed courses.

It announced a partnership with Aviara Golf Club at Park Hyatt Aviara Resort in Carlsbad, Calif.

Aviara Golf Club, designed by Arnold Palmer, has been ranked as one of the best resort golf courses in the U.S. It is the current host of the LPGA Kia Classic. The Kia Classic will return to Aviara Golf Club in 2015 for the event’s sixth year.

“We are very pleased to be a part of the Troon network and are confident this relationship will be an extraordinary benefit to our members and guests at the Aviara Golf Club,” added Scott Allen, Park Hyatt Aviara Resort general manager.

Centennial Golf Club in Carmel, N.Y, also selected Troon to manage its golf course.

Centennial Golf Club features a 27-hole championship course designed by Larry Nelson, a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame and winner of the U.S. Open and two PGA Championships. The 340-acre layout includes three nine-hole courses, Meadows, Lakes and Fairways.

“Centennial Golf Club is a fantastic facility offering a complete golf experience with 27 outstanding holes, popular restaurant and catering amenities and a practice facility that is second to none,” stated John Easterbrook, executive vice president, operations, Troon. “We are happy to expand Troon’s presence in New York and to immediately make a positive impact on the operations at Centennial.”

Centennial Golf Club includes a double-ended driving range and an extensive short-game area designed by Dave Pelz complements bunkered target greens. Centennial  hosts Dave Pelz Golf Schools from May through September.

“Since the day we opened Centennial Golf Club, our goal has been to deliver a premium golf experience on the same level with the country's most prestigious private clubs,” stated David Leibowits, Centennial Golf Club. “Troon is the leading management company for premier golf clubs and we are confident their experience and resources will provide tremendous benefits as the club moves in a new and exciting direction.”

Troon’s private club division, Troon Privé, was selected to manage Blackstone Country Club at Vistancia, located in the Northwest Valley of Phoenix, Arizona.

Located in Peoria, approximately 30 minutes northwest of downtown Phoenix, Blackstone Country Club at Vistancia features a 30,000- square-foot, Hacienda-style clubhouse, home to casual and formal dining, 24-hour state-of-the-art fitness center, lighted tennis courts for recreational and tournament play, resort-style pool with private cabanas, lap pool and children’s play area. The Jim Engh-designed championship golf course was voted the “#2 Private Golf Course in Arizona” this year by Ranking Arizona Magazine.

"We selected Troon Privé to manage the prestigious Blackstone Country Club due to their superb success and long history of managing premium private golf and country clubs throughout the country," said Mark Hammons, vice president/general manager of Vistancia. "Troon Privé is an ideal partner to elevate the club to new levels of hospitality, which aligns with our vision for the club and ensures the finest quality experience for membership. We are extremely excited about the future of Blackstone Country Club."

Blackstone Country Club offers several membership options including equity golf, non-equity golf and social memberships along with junior golf and corporate memberships. Residence in Blackstone or Vistancia is not required for club membership. 

"We are enthusiastic about the opportunities that Troon Privé brings to our members for strengthening our culture of hospitality, enhancing our level of service and the private club experience," said Bill Griffon, general manager of Blackstone Country Club.

KemperSports has acquired the White Pines Golf Dome, an indoor golf facility in Chicago.  The Dome, located at the White Pines Golf Course in Bensenville, Ill., will open its doors for the winter golf season on Saturday, November 1, at 7 a.m. KemperSports purchased the Dome from long-time owner and operator Mike Munro, and will operate the Dome through a partnership with the Bensenville Park District.  

A staple of winter golf in the Chicagoland area for more than 20 years, White Pines Golf Dome delivers ideal winter practice conditions with 48 hitting stalls on two levels, a 45-ft. contoured putting green, a golf simulator station and private and group instruction opportunities from a stable of PGA professionals. The heated dome is also known for the depth of its range – allowing for golfers to hit at targets more than 100 yards away. 

KemperSports is planning to enhance the Dome experience, including launching a season-long points-based loyalty program that delivers added benefits, member rates and promotions for returning guests.

The addition of White Pines Golf Dome to the KemperSports portfolio gives the company 15 properties under management 

Billy Casper Golf has promoted Alex Elmore from Chief Operating Officer to President of the company. Elmore, 46, is a 10-year BCG veteran

“We are experiencing unprecedented growth opportunities as Billy Casper Golf helps re-shape and strengthen the $68 billion golf industry,” said Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO of BCG.  “Alex Elmore’s leadership will expand our core business of golf operations and integrate new businesses in technology, branding, turf management and cause marketing to our portfolio.”

Elmore was instrumental in BCG’s 2013 merger with Kitson and Partners Clubs accounting for 13 new golf properties.  That same year, he managed the company’s acquisition of Women on Course, the nation’s leading golf-lifestyle networking organization that has increased participation by more than 400 percent in one year under BCG management.“As much as we have accomplished the past few years building the best operating platform in the history of golf, Billy Casper Golf is firmly on the path of even greater near- and long-term growth,” Elmore said.  “Our database touches one of every eight active golfers in America, giving us both extraordinary influence in the marketplace and responsibility for the sustainability of golf.”

Billy Casper Golf is the largest management company in the U.S. and fourth largest worldwide. 

Elmore’s promotion coincides with Executive Vice President Joe Goodrich’s increased involvement with BCG’s aggressive strategy to acquire public and private golf properties, as well as course-management companies. He will also direct its burgeoning private club division, player-development initiatives, retailing best practices and other programming unique to BCG.Recently named Golf Inc. magazine’s sixth most powerful person in golf, Hill will continue guiding BCG, expanding its holdings and serving on boards of organizations dedicated to growing the game.

Billy Casper Golf (will take over management of the Lake Presidential Golf Club in Upper Marlboro, MD, which ranks No. 3 on Golfweek’s 2014 “Best Courses You Can Play” state-by-state list.

Headquartered in nearby Northern Virginia, BCG will turnkey all facets of the public-access Lake Presidential Golf Club operation, including course and property maintenance, staffing and training, clubhouse activities, merchandising, golf instruction, marketing and public relations, special events and financial management.

“We are bringing several new programs to the club to build on its stellar reputation and cement it as a ‘must play’ for Mid-Atlantic golfers,” said Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO of BCG. 

Lake Presidential is owned by Ryko Development. It was developed by Landmark Land Company and opened in 2008. It has an 11,000 square-foot clubhouse, which includes a pro shop and a banquet hall that can accommodate 150 guests.

It is less than 45 minutes from Washington D.C. and one hour south of Baltimore. The 18-hole, par-72, 7,230-yard layout winds its way through wooded terrain and rich, natural expanses. 

The course has an indoor-outdoor training facility that is home to the TaylorMade Performance Lab – one of only 12 in the world. PGA professionals use the MATT (Motion Analysis Technology by TaylorMade) System for high-speed cameras and motion-capture technology that produces three-dimensional images of golfers’ swings.  A short-game practice area features a bunker, large putting green and spacious, all-grass driving range.