To stand out in a crowded field, this Scottsdale club has found the right spots to offer a little bit more—and a little bit less. By Joe Barks, Editor For an 11-year-old, Mirabel has seen a lot of the club world—and already has a pretty mature attitude about what it wants to be. After coming…
Putting The Prairie Club on the Map
A well-coordinated strategy has led members and guests from all corners of the country to discover “the Plains truth.” By Joe Barks, Editor The global economy and World Wide Web were supposed to have ended provincialism, and made everyone aware of all parts of the planet, long ago. But Patrick Kilbride, PGA Head Golf Professional…
Keeping Ahead of the Curve at Kiawah Island Golf Resort
When Rory McIlroy took the 2012 PGA Championship by storm, it was just the latest example of how the South Carolina property has stayed up with the latest trends. By Joe Barks, Editor The ongoing marketing challenge for a destination resort is to get new guests to beat a path to an off-the-beaten-path location, and…
Finer with Age
Traditions drawn from the unique Donald Ross course at Monroe Golf Club are now matched with equal elegance inside its clubhouse. Many clubs honor their connections to legendary golf course architects by naming rooms in their clubhouses for them. But these sometimes prove to be gestures made in name only, with little carried through from…
Ensuring a Lasting Heritage
How North Carolina’s Heritage Club has found cost-effective paths to profitable growth. Wake Forest University is named for where it was founded, in Wake Forest, N.C., 15 miles north of Raleigh. The university moved a couple of hours west in 1956 to its present location in Winston-Salem, creating confusion about what’s in the town of…
City Clubs Rising
A host of successful new strategies for long-term growth is leading a market rebound for business, dining and athletic clubs. When the downturn put a damper on both corporate and individual spending, city clubs were challenged more than any others to stay relevant and provide value. To confront that challenge, many in the market segment—which…