The Road Back

For several years, the Houston (Texas) Racquet Club (HRC) has used its “Insider Podcast” program to help its staff members—and club members as well—learn more about each other beyond their roles at the club. “There are some unbelievable life stories [among our staff]” that the podcasts highlight, says Chief Operating Officer Thomas Preuml. In this…

In this episode of C+RB’s video series, Principal Owner Brian Rigsby, PGA, discusses how creatively incorporating a new “54” short course within the playing corridors of the Fort Myers, Fla. property’s 18-hole championship course has spurred increased member interest and activity and helped the club “get in line with what we need to be current.”

In this episode of C+RB’s video series, Rolf Eckert, General Manager of the Lake Wylie, S.C. club, describes how he and his team “powered through” 2020 to bring about significant and successful change—including breaking a la carte dining records, opening six new pickleball courts that have been “full every day,” starting a popular new “Smoke…

In this episode of C+RB’s video series, Kevin Maust, PGA, Head Golf Professional at Weymouth CC in Medina, Ohio, describes how the Arcis Golf property has transformed a 10-acre practice range into a 9-hole short course that gives members the opportunity to extend play throughout the winter months. The course has already proved to be…

Wycliffe Golf & Country Club in Wellington, Fla. had plans in the works for several years to upgrade its employee breakroom, which needed to be tripled in size to properly serve its growing staff. The club decided to accelerate the breakroom project while operations were slowed by the pandemic. In this episode of C+RB’s video…

In this episode of C+RB’s video series, Fitness Director Brian Coker and Program Manager Ashley Lane—who created an eight-week training regimen to help participants prepare for a pair of intraclub swim, bike and run triathlons—describe how the races were planned and executed safely, and how momentum has been built for even bigger versions in coming…

In this episode of C+RB’s video series, Haissam Baityeh, Chief Operating Officer of the South Carolina club, describes how an innovative and cost-effective renovation approach led to a doubling of average daily attendance at the pool, a more than 100% boost in snack-bar drink revenue, and a 70% increase in overall food-and-beverage sales. It also…

For several years, the leadership of The Country Club of Buffalo (N.Y.) sought to bridge the disconnect between the club’s golf season and other recreational activities it offered for the fall and winter, including paddle tennis and sporting-clay shooting. This year, after the pandemic prompted higher demand for all outdoor activities, the first “Tin Man”…

Members and staff at The Club at the Dunes, a Troon Privé property in Naples, Fla., were just beginning to get full enjoyment from new facilities and amenities brought about through a $10.4 million club redesign when the pandemic brought things to a sudden halt. When activity resumed, the club’s workforce had a much different…

Over $40 million was spent in 2000 to build The Club at Pasadera in Monterey, Calif. and its Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. But while the property and facilities drew immediate acclaim, the club went on a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs that included several ownership changes before a member-led group acquired it in…

When Prestonwood CC in Cary, N.C. launched a new website and mobile app in February, department heads were prepared to encounter resistance from members who had made in-person reservations for decades. Then COVID-19 hit, and as this episode of C+RB’s video series describes, the pandemic, along with some hard work and hand-holding by the staff,…

In this episode of C+RB’s video series, Joel Purpur, Golf Course Superintendent at Park Ridge (Ill.) Country Club, discusses how an extensive bunker renovation project that had been planned for two years was rescheduled to be completed during the earliest weeks of the pandemic. Moving up the timetable kept Park Ridge’s entire maintenance crew employed…

This episode of C+RB’s video series looks at how Lancaster (Pa.) CC only had to press “pause” briefly this year for its comprehensive, $20 million infrastructure and expansion project that it has branded as “A Defining Moment” in the club’s 120-year history. COO/GM Ryan Granruth and Director of Membership Andrea Zimmerman describe how careful planning…

This episode of C+RB’s video series looks at how Western Racquet Club of Elm Grove, Wis. hit the ground running after emerging from a stay-at-home mandate that forced it to shut down for eight weeks and reduce its on-site staff from 50 to 5, After maintaining its connection with members through a wide range of…

In this episode of C+RB’s video series, Matt Grayson, Director of Athletics at Ansley Golf Club, discusses the club’s success in creating a new intraclub tennis program after Atlanta’s extremely popular citywide league was shut down due to coronavirus concerns. Ansley’s new program has not only seen equal member participation as for league play, it’s…