The Week That Was, october 27, 2019

     Just weeks after an anticipated sale fell through, LPGA International has been sold to Charlie Staples’ Fore Golf Partners. The prominent but financially challenged golf venue in Daytona Beach, Florida – it’s “bled money for decades,” according to the Daytona Beach News-Journal – changed hands for $3.45 million, which the newspaper helpfully notes was “more than double” the $1.5 million that Consolidated-Tomoka Land Company paid for the property in 2017. The price is what Consolidated-Tomoka expected to receive from C-Bons International Golf Group Inc., an entity with Chinese roots that had hoped to buy LPGA International in July. For its money, Manassas, Virginia-based Fore Golf gets a pair of 18-hole golf courses (one designed by Rees Jones, the other by Arthur Hills) and related golf and recreational amenities. (Not the headquarters of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, however.) LPGA International is now the premier property in Fore Golf’s portfolio, which consists of eight other properties in Florida and one each in Maryland and Virginia. Staples’ company, which describes itself as “an experienced boutique company that specializes in challenging turnarounds,” reportedly has “big plans” for its latest acquisition, beginning with overdue capital improvements.

     Surplus Transactions, All-Florida Edition – Speaking of Fore Golf Partners, the firm has accepted $2.9 million for River Hills Country Club, a 20-year-old venue in suburban Tampa. River Hills, which features an 18-hole, Joe Lee-designed course, now belongs to the homeowners in the accompanying community, who plan to invest more than $2 million more in upgrades. . . . A judge has ruled that homeowners in University Park Country Club, outside Sarasota, are within their rights to spend $16.75 million on the 27-hole, Ron Garl-designed complex in their community. The homeowners, who enjoy “the quintessential country club lifestyle,” are also getting about 100 acres of undeveloped land as part of the purchase. . . . Two local businessmen figure to assume the ground lease on Amelia River Golf Course, an 18-hole, Tom Jackson-designed layout on Amelia Island. If all proceeds as expected, the main goals for Tom Miller and Steve Pickett will be “making some improvements and getting the locals back.”

     Once again, the 370 members of Rolling Road Golf Club, a century-old venue outside Baltimore, are considering a possible relocation – one that would, in the words of their president, “re-establish Rolling Road as a premier facility in Maryland.” No timetables have been set, and many obstacles still need to be overcome, but the club, the home of a course designed by Willie Park, Jr., could move to new digs on 206 nearby acres owned by the state’s department of natural resources. The club is working with a company that would presumably fund the relocation in exchange for the opportunity to develop the club’s 90 acres outside Ellicott City, a popular suburb. Rolling Road has been down this road before, as the Baltimore Sun reports that it’s been “weighing options to relocate since the early 2000s,” mostly because its current property is so cramped. The proposed new location is roomy enough to accommodate a driving range, a swimming pool, a bigger clubhouse, and other amenities, all of which would presumably enable it to attract new members. The fact that a piece of golf history would be lost doesn’t appear to be a concern at this time.

     Pipeline Overflow, All-British Edition – City officials in Blackpool, a place once described as “England’s unhealthiest town,” are weighing a development plan that would raze nine holes from their 18-hole, Alister MacKenzie-designed golf course. The lost half of Blackpool Golf Course, which has operated since 1925, would be replaced with houses and a recreational attraction. . . . In response to what a local newspaper calls “societal lifestyle changes and the changing needs of their customers,” an events center outside Waterford City, Ireland (County Kilkenny) plans to halve the size of its golf course. Mountain View, which opened it 18-hole layout in 1996, promises to create “a superb nine-hole course.” . . . In a search for financial sustainability, elected officials in Birmingham, England may chop their Hilltop Golf Course in half. The existing 18-hole track, which is said to be “failing due to its design, location, competition from other golf courses as well as competition from other leisure activities,” was designed by one of the Hawtrees, probably Martin, and opened in 1979.

     Duly Noted – While the mainstream golf media may be excited by the prospect of architects Michael Clayton, Mike DeVries, and Frank Pont teaming up to create exquisite new golf courses, it’s worth noting that, throughout history, the golf industry’s biggest design stars have been solo practitioners. So I’m wondering: Is the newly unveiled CDP Golf Design a show of strength or a sign of weakness? . . . If you’re wondering why Clublink is so eager to redevelop some of its golf properties (currently Glen Abbey Golf Club in suburban Toronto and Kanata Golf & Country Club in suburban Ottawa), it’s because its membership base is eroding. The company, which owns roughly 40 venues in Ontario, Quebec, and Florida, nowadays has fewer than 15,000 members (down from a peak of 17,500), and the pre-tax profits from its Canadian operations are said to be down by 25 percent. . . . The hype machine has been rolled out in service of the PGA of America’s partly taxpayer-funded golf complex in Frisco, Texas. The city’s mayor thinks it’ll “transform the entire sport of golf,” while Beau Welling, one of the architects, believes it’ll have “a major impact on our wonderful game not only here in Texas but across the country.” Not to be outdone, the group’s CEO declares that the venue will become both “the modern home of American golf” and the “Silicon Valley of golf.”

     In compliance with recently issued European laws regarding data collection, I’ve been asked to provide a statement about my use of the data that’s collected about those of you who read the World Golf Report. So here’s what I have to say on the subject: I don’t collect any data, and I don’t put any cookies into your computer. That being said, here’s some language that Google, the company that maintains this slice of cyberspace, would probably approve of: “We and our partners use cookies on this site to improve our service, perform analytics, personalize advertising, measure advertising performance, and remember website preferences. By using the site, you consent to these cookies.”