Club + Resort Business

  • Home
  • Management
  • Membership + Marketing
  • Design + Renovation
  • Chef
  • Golf
  • Webinars
  • Model Clubs
  • Info
    • People
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Leaders in Clubs and Resorts
      • 2025 C+RB Leaders in the Club Industry
      • 2024 C+RB Leaders in the Club Industry
      • 2023 C+RB Leaders in the Club Industry
      • 2022 C+RB Leaders in the Club Industry Winners
    • C+RB Playbooks
      • Culinary Playbook
      • Kitchen Equipment and Design Playbook
      • Maintenance Employees Playbook
      • Technology Playbook
    • Digital Issues
    • Sponsored Content
    • Videos
      • Unboxing Videos
    • Chef to Chef Conference
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe

Hunter’s Creek GC Finds Strength in Numbers

By Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief, Club + Resort Business | August 18, 2011

Increased buying power and shared best practices are just two advantages to being a part of a management company.

In today’s hyper-competitive business world, it’s nice to know you don’t have to go it alone.

According to C.W. Woods, General Manager of Hunter’s Creek Golf Club in Orlando, Fla., the benefits of being under the OB Sports name are wide-ranging.

“With management company expertise, we immediately have credibility with vendors, lenders and customers,” he said. “We also are provided an increased support group with experts in all areas (marketing, agronomy, human resources, operations, etc.). We often times can tap into marketing / cross promotional opportunities, shared resources, national account savings / buying power … ultimately creating increased profit for our owner.

“Not to mention we are able to share best practices and what is working from the other courses in the system: special promotions, multi-play rounds, e-mail campaigns, etc.,” Woods added.

Hunter’s Creek Golf Club

Location: Orlando, Fla.
Management Company: OB Sports
Membership: Resort/Daily Fee
Annual Golf Rounds: 35,0000
Clubhouse Amenities: Full Restaurant, Bar and Grille, Shower facilities, Banquet/Meeting Space
Outdoor Amenities: 2000 sq. ft event pavilion
Clubhouse size: 4000 sq. ft

Buying Groups

Hunter’s Creek has national account pricing and benefits from bulk purchasing that translates into lower operating costs for our club such as: golf course equipment, seed, golf cars, apparel, golf accessories, golf balls and equipment, website design / hosting, and credit card processing.

“National account savings in agronomy, equipment, seed, fertilizer provide us with the ability to do more while spending less,” says Woods. “In cluster markets, shared equipment and resources are further utilized.

“Also, OB Sports has in-house graphic design, printing and marketing that reduces our marketing expenditures and makes us better marketers,” he added.

The corporate level adds additional marketing advantages and support, as well.

“Our corporate marketing team is always there to help share best practices and what is working at other clubs, other markets, etc.,” Woods says. “Many times there are co-op/shared marketing opportunities we can participate in if it makes sense for the property – reducing advertising expenditures.”

OB Sports has a proprietary guide of proven technics to build the club database and clubs also have access to an in-house creative director for design of logos, ads, brochures, flyers and, e-mail marketing. If clubs have a need for national advertising, OB Sports secures preferred pricing on advertising and marketing opportunities, too.

The financial benefits don’t end there, according to Woods.

“OB Sports offers centralized accounting and financial support (i.e. monthly financial statements, daily flash reporting, etc.), eliminating the need to staff a CFO or high level, high earning controller,” he said. “Many of our clubs take advantage of corporate retail buying that is still course, region, or market specific, but minimizes payroll expenditures, or the need to hire a retail director.”

The corporate office also shops for health care benefits each year to ensure member clubs are getting the lowest premiums possible.

Keeping the Feel

When it comes to keeping an independent feel Hunter’s Creek—as opposed to feeling like a corporate entity—Woods said there’s a nice balance.

“OB Sports is a bit unique in that they have ‘big company benefits’ with a ‘small company culture,’” he said. “They offer all the benefits of the largest company in terms of bulk buying power, benefits, etc., but do so with a ‘small company culture.

“For example, we have support and direction from corporate, but also autonomy and have an entrepreneur-like environment here at the club level.,” Woods added. “If I want to start a creative promotion, e-mail campaign or something to that effect, it’s never ‘we don’t do that, that way.’”

Added Benefits

With a management company like OB Sports, club members and guests receive additional benefits, according to Hunter’s Creek General Manager C.W. Woods. There are numerous special programs, such as OB Sports Travel Benefits. Card members and annual members not only receive benefits here at Hunter’s Creek, but if they travel to other destinations, they get preferred rates for themselves and their guests to play participating clubs.

“This is a great benefit for our members but also delivers revenue to participating facilities,” Woods said.

Also, the OB Sports Bonus Points program is a points-based loyalty program that is offered as an added perk, so cardholders can earn and redeem points at participating OB Sports courses, then redeem those points toward free rounds of golf.

“OB Sports Travel Benefits offer travel opportunities to our members and also, in turn, deliver revenue to our club in the form of ‘Away Card Member Play,’” Woods said. “At some clubs this generates $100,000 or more in new revenues.”

About The Author

Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief, Club + Resort Business

Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief, is based in Cleveland, Ohio. He's a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and a long-time golf course rater. Married with three children, Rob enjoys golf when not participating in activities with his family. Follow him on Twitter (@AmGolferBlog) and listen to him on the Club + Resort Talks podcast.

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Related Articles Read More >

Who You Do It With Matters Most
Game On! Building a Winning Team Culture
Bridging the Gap: How Private Clubs Can Attract the Next Generation
A Heartfelt Reminder: Embracing Our Fortune in Hospitality and Life

C+RB Newsletter Sign Up

Club and Resort Chef

ClubandresortChef

Club + Resort Talks

May 16, 2025
Chase Wilson’s PGA Professional Championship Experience with Columbus CC’s Director of Instruction
See More >

Club + Resort Business Digital Editions

Club & Resort BusinessBrowse the current issue and archived issues of Club & Resort Business in an easy-to-use, high-quality format. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading club and resort magazine today.



Club + Resort Business
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise
  • Submit Industry News
  • New Print Subscription
  • Manage Current Print Subscription
  • Email Newsletter Sign Up
  • Club + Resort Chef
  • Club + Resort Chef Association
  • Club + Resort Chef Recipes
  • Chef to Chef Conference

Copyright © 2025 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Club + Resort Business

  • Home
  • Management
  • Membership + Marketing
  • Design + Renovation
  • Chef
  • Golf
  • Webinars
  • Model Clubs
  • Info
    • People
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • FAQ
    • Leaders in Clubs and Resorts
      • 2025 C+RB Leaders in the Club Industry
      • 2024 C+RB Leaders in the Club Industry
      • 2023 C+RB Leaders in the Club Industry
      • 2022 C+RB Leaders in the Club Industry Winners
    • C+RB Playbooks
      • Culinary Playbook
      • Kitchen Equipment and Design Playbook
      • Maintenance Employees Playbook
      • Technology Playbook
    • Digital Issues
    • Sponsored Content
    • Videos
      • Unboxing Videos
    • Chef to Chef Conference
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe