The North Barrington, Ill., property, which opened in 1989 as Wynstone Golf Club, is now under the ownership of nine families that are working to make the club a “respectful, family-centered environment.” The investors paid off $6 million in debt as part of a deal with equity members, and 70 new members have been added since the takeover.
Nine families now control The Club at Wynstone, part of a gated subdivision in North Barrington, Ill., the Arlington Heights, Ill., Daily Herald reported.
The only private Jack Nicklaus-designed course in Illinois opened as Wynstone Golf Club in 1989, the Daily Herald reported.
At a celebration marking the new ownership group Wednesday, Wynstone Chairman Daniel Murphy said the renamed club will be a “friendly, inclusive, comfortable and respectful family-centered environment” for all members, their families and guests who golf, dine, swim or socialize there, the Daily Herald reported.
The investors paid off about $6 million in debt as part of a deal with equity members that closed June 30, Murphy said, noting that 70 new members have been added since the takeover, the Daily Herald reported.
Gone are the days when only a husband could be listed as a club member. One of the first moves by the The Club at Wynstone was to make both spouses members, Murphy said. In addition, Wynstone’s terrace grill near the golf course no longer is just for men. It’s now open to all members and their families, the Daily Herald reported.
“It really changed the vibrancy of our club and it kind of takes us to the vision of the future that says if we’re going to be family-focused, family-centered, we’re going to stay relevant with what members need,” Murphy said.
Wynstone isn’t the only private club in the country that wants to grow or retain members by removing perceived stodginess after encountering financial problems. Indianapolis’ 95-year-old Broadmoor Country Club began to make changes after taking a significant loss in 2013. Child care service and lifting a ban on jeans in Broadmoor’s clubhouse were a couple of moves made in an effort to appeal to golf’s changing demographics, the Daily Herald reported.
“Clubs that are not aware or simply don’t adapt are doomed for failure,” said Broadmoor General Manager Matt Vaught. “You can make small changes like dress code and baby-sitting, but you must go further without alienating the older demographic to expect lasting results. This can be a delicate balance, but industry analytics show that the millennial golfer has much different needs and expectations than the previous generations.”
Todd Froehle, a principal and vice president of operations for Arnold Palmer Golf Management, said he’s seeing the private clubs become more inclusive. Palmer Golf Management was hired to oversee The Club at Wynstone’s operations, the Daily Herald reported.
“What you see in today’s world are junior tees, you see events and more family-focused couples activities that produce value for the whole family,” Froehle said. “And then, when it comes to the inside of the clubhouse and the social atmosphere, again, it’s designed to be more inclusive.”
As part of what The Club at Wynstone calls a new business model, membership dues include the entire family. There are no initiation or special assessment fees, with membership capped at 250, the Daily Herald reported.
JoAnn Murphy, wife of The Club at Wynstone’s chairman, said she’s enjoying the more welcoming atmosphere. “It’s really open to the family,” she said. “Everyone feels equal and they feel like they matter.”
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