The Burleson, Texas course, which closed abruptly and without warning in November 2018, has been purchased by Shipman Companies. The family-owned real estate investment firm has hired Elite Golf to manage the property.
When the 20-year old Southern Oaks Golf and Tennis Club in Burleson, Texas shut down without warning in November, employees and homeowners surrounding the golf course and country club were shocked. It left employees without jobs, homeowners concerned about property values, and couples without a wedding venue.
But now, new property owners are reopening the golf course on February 1. Shipman Companies, a Fort Worth-based, family-owned real estate investment firm, in conjunction with the Niles family, said it has hired a professional management company— Elite Golf, which manages courses in multiple states—to oversee the course and facility and rehired some of the former employees. The new owners plan to restore confidence in neighborhood property values and improve the course.
Glen Cumbie, formerly Assistant Manager of Guest Services, will now be the Manager of Guest Services.
“Over half of my staff are in the process of coming back,” Cumbie said. “As soon as the new owners took hold, they moved quickly and have done everything in their power to bring us back. Our General Manager, Wes Frazier, has wonderful ideas to improve the course even more, with additional staff and better customer service.
“The closing caught us all by surprise, and it was a tough time,” added Cumbie, “But what’s really neat is the Southern Oaks members were as upset as much as we were. They all got together and organized a fund and raised money for us right before Christmas. This is my second home and second family.”
Rebecca Madan, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Event Center and the restaurant, has 25 years of wedding receptions and catering experience behind her.
“I’ve already booked 10 new weddings for the Event Center, and we haven’t even officially opened,” said Madan, who is the owner of the Botanical Garden restaurant. “We’ve upgraded our menus, moved to a private room and upgraded the decor to a more sophisticated, elegant look.”
Homeowners surrounding the property, called “Thomas Crossing,” saying it was the unknown that left them feeling insecure about property values.
“For the homeowners who bought the property for the golf course and the tennis club, I think it takes away a huge value,” said homeowner Tim Windmiller. “My son played tennis here, and my daughter took golf lessons, and we were disappointed when it shut down. It affected my family life and the convenience of how we lived. A lot of my friends live here just for the golf course. We’re relieved about the new ownership.”
David Shipman Jr., a partner with Shipman Companies, said the company is thrilled to open the course with a professional management company for the first time in the history of Southern Oaks.
Shipman Companies also has Gardens Hospitality Group and the owners and operators of the Gardens Restaurant from the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens as the new owner and operator of the Oaks Event Center.
“Our goal is to preserve a local treasure here in Burleson and South Fort Worth,” says Shipman. “Southern Oaks Golf and Tennis Club and the Oaks Event Center offer the best golf experience and tennis facility in the area and the most luxurious Event Center and wedding venue around. We want to make sure the community will continue to have these great assets and hope to improve them through the years. We will be 100 percent up and running on February 1st, with a club that is better than it was.”
According to a previous C&RB report, the former owner of the golf course was one of several AngMar business divisions. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that AngMar also operates the Fat Daddy’s bar and grill in Mansfield, Texas, the Smokey Mae’s barbecue restaurant between Mansfield and Rendon, Texas, a retail developer, and a firearms retailer.
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