Waiting out the storm at SK 4/16

[Sore Thumbs]

Heard that the other day. Good news for Branson area. 

[crazy4fishin]

You guys will have some serious courses in the area! I may have to start bringing my clubs when I come down - it will be interesting to see what kind of layout he comes up with.

I sure hope they have "forward tees" though.....for those days that I am not feeling it 

[vernon]

17 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Just for you Vernon.

http://www.stltoday.com/sports/golf/tiger-woods-to-design-new-golf-course-near-branson/article_3743a9ab-57b7-527d-b4f8-e339910b9fc1.html

Well, that's great I guess but we already had a Payne Stewart "tribute" course that used to be called Payne Stewart Golf Course for cryin' out loud. Wonder how much Johnny had to pay the Stewart "estate" to resurrect the name for this facility since the "original" is now known as Branson Hills?  

I mean, I guess it's great for the area and golfers and all but the politics and money aspect of it is all a little phony and disheartening to me. The first golf course  was pretty cool until money became more important than memoralizing the guy that was supposed to be the "inspiration" for the whole deal in the first place. 

Poor naive me. I actually thought they cared about furthering the Payne Stewart legacy in the area.

This time for sure though. Until of course it becomes Tiger Woods Golf Course at Bass Pro Shops Branson.  Maybe all of the memorabilia from the first course is still stashed away in a warehouse somewhere locally so they won't have to bother Payne's widow Tracy to come up with a bunch more for the Tiger/Johnny version.

I apologize to all of you that couldn't care less about golf much less where it's played. 

That's all I have to say about that......

 

[Champ188]

It used to be that two people could find a couple of tee times in Branson for around $100 before Johnny got ahold of everything. Bought up both Branson Creek and Murder Rock, jacking up fees to ridiculous levels, and now is on track to further sink his greedy teeth into the area golf pie.

But I'm sure we'll soon be hearing how good ol' Johnny has done so much for the game of golf. Move over King Arnie, we're gonna need space for a new display in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

[96 CHAMP]

I'm not much of a golf player but it's apparent much of everything seems to be for the well off any more. Everything goes up except for wages.

[vernon]

22 hours ago, Champ188 said:

It used to be that two people could find a couple of tee times in Branson for around $100 before Johnny got ahold of everything. Bought up both Branson Creek and Murder Rock, jacking up fees to ridiculous levels, and now is on track to further sink his greedy teeth into the area golf pie.

But I'm sure we'll soon be hearing how good ol' Johnny has done so much for the game of golf. Move over King Arnie, we're gonna need space for a new display in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

He's just compelled to "give something back" I guess.

Not sure what I'd do if I actually lived down there.  Fish more I guess which certainly isn't a bad thing.

We don't mind springing for a couple of hundred bucks on our vacation trips down there but beyond that, I'd be golf poor pretty quick.

Locally, we pay $220 per month for the two of us and that's for unlimited golf with cart and driving range and can play our choice of eleven courses - several of which are highly rated in the KC area.  

That's about $20 more than ONE round for two people at Johnny World.

Oh well.  You can either afford and justify it or you can't I guess.

Personally, I'd prefer to play a bit cheaper and just learn to deal with a couple less water falls........

[Champ188]

That's a heckuva deal you've got ... $220 for both of you? Wow!

[vernon]

25 minutes ago, Champ188 said:

That's a heckuva deal you've got ... $220 for both of you? Wow!

A company called Great Life out of Iowa is buying up struggling golf courses faster than you can shake a stick and our "primary" course, Falcon Ridge, was acquired last August.  Their business model is pretty outside the box - they promote fitness centers at all of their golf courses and 24 hour access to the fitness centers is also included in the membership.  Last year they bought the Arnold Palmer course, Osage National, at Lake of the Ozarks and we can play there for $30 whenever we're in the area.

Equally "different" is they are attempting to take most of their courses private.  Their goal is to achieve a membership of 400 and, when they do, they go 100% private with no more public access.  Anyone that wants to join after that has to pony up a 5K initiation - existing members are exempt.  So far, they've achieved the magic number at two pretty prominent facilities that were previously open to the public and they're doing great.  One, in fact, is currently constructing a 7 million dollar clubhouse with all of the old "country club" amenities - pool, tennis, locker rooms, etc. that's supposed to open this summer.  The other one already had a giant clubhouse with pool and tennis.

Our place has attracted 300 members since last August and they're anticipating going private by mid summer.  

Contrary to Johnny World, they're focusing on larger numbers of folks that will commit long term at a great price rather than the volatile business of high dollar daily greens fees.  And the volume of revenue created by multiple facilities protects them somewhat from the dangers of member defections at any one club which is what obsoleted so many private clubs in the past.

We'll see but so far, so good.

[Champ188]

Can you draw these people a map to Bella Vista? And tell them lunch is on me. Troon Golf has already taken over gol operations in Hot Springs Village and it is high time that our totally inept POA turned the BV courses over to some golf experts.

[vernon]

18 hours ago, Champ188 said:

Can you draw these people a map to Bella Vista? And tell them lunch is on me. Troon Golf has already taken over gol operations in Hot Springs Village and it is high time that our totally inept POA turned the BV courses over to some golf experts.

Ha!  I'll be happy to pass the word along but I do know that one of the "secrets" to their success is pretty much focusing on facilities that are either on the verge of failure or have already gone under.  Buy low sell...........

And, as I said, only time will tell.  Members at places run by Troon Golf and Kemper have plenty of horror stories to tell as well.  As I alluded to above the former Branson Creek is a prime example.

The golf industry is just such a volatile and unpredictable business.  

Heck, it makes fishing resorts and the guide business look like a lead pipe cinch sure thing!

And I no longer would have the attitude or aptitude for either of 'em.

Tuff gigs both.