The Greater Boca Raton Beach and Park District is moving forward with purchasing the Boca Raton, Fla., property for $24 million. The land was appraised between $7-10 million in December, causing some residents to take issue with the price.
Hitting Some Nerves
There have been strong reactions to the subject of a Board’s involvement (although many choose to substitute “interference”) with club management.
Return Engagement
The second time that Brett Morris considered taking on the challenges at The Polo Club of Boca Raton proved to be the charm—and the start of his path to Excellence in Club Management recognition.
Blog Post Lists Revenues, GM Pay for Top Five Clubs in Palm Beach (Fla.) County
A business writer for The Palm Beach Post published data from “freshly released tax returns” to illustrate that the county’s five largest country-club communities “seem to be doing just fine.”
Boca West CC Unveils $50M Clubhouse
The Boca Raton, Fla., property has completed its 153,000-sq. ft. golf clubhouse, featuring an 1,800-bottle wine cellar, boutique, library, ballroom that seats 500, and a golf shop. A photo slideshow of the new facility showcases its two restaurants, a steakhouse and a retro-themed deli.
Developer Purchases Portion of Boca Lago CC for $8.3M
PulteGroup’s purchase of the 40-acre site on the Boca Raton, Fla., property is part of a larger trend in South Florida, where vacant land is at a premium and developers are buying up shuttered or underused golf courses to build housing, frequently drawing protests from residents.
Kid-Tested, Parent-Approved
Family-oriented club properties are building robust youth programs that go well beyond just keeping kids entertained.
Boca Raton (Fla.) Resort & Club to Unveil Cathedral Ballroom
The 6,045-sq. ft. waterfront ballroom originally opened in 1926 and has been restored to its classic look, including an elaborate carpet in cobalt blue and renaissance gold as a focal point. The resort will open the ballroom in April.
2017 Chef to Chef Conference Wraps Up in Atlanta
The ninth annual event, held at the Loews Atlanta Hotel, ended on March 7 with chef demos and sessions on topics ranging from management and training to Latin cuisine, catering and banquet design, pastries and wine programs. The day began with a drawing for a Crown Verity grill, and the event also included a General Managers’ panel.
First Full Day of Sessions Held in 2017 Chef to Chef Conference
Food demos and presentations by a slate of chefs at the top of the club industry started the first full day of sessions on March 6, with the ever-popular Chef to Chef Live held in the afternoon. Todd Walline, CEC, CCA, of Blue Hills Country Club in Kansas City, Mo., won the Mystery Basket competition held in the evening, with a Vitamix blender as the prize.
Magical Evening
The 2016 recipients of the Excellence in Club Management (ECM) Awards, co-sponsored by Club & Resort Business and the McMahon Group, were honored during a reception featuring roaming magicians, dinner and a ceremony.
Park District Offers to Buy Former Ocean Breeze GC for $24M
The Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District is offering to buy the Boca Raton, Fla., property to help the city, which has been working to acquire the property as it sells its municipal course. Under the deal, the district would be charged with restoring the 200-acre property, which is estimated to cost up to $12 million and take 15 to 18 months to complete.
Tom Fazio II Course Opens at St. Andrews CC
Phase I of the three-phase, $25 million Club Improvement Plan at St. Andrews Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla., has been completed with the renovation and redesign of the 18-hole Olde course and practice facilities by golf course designer Tom Fazio II. The first phase also included substantial improvements to the ballroom and ladies’ card room.
Four with More
The 2016 Winners of the Excellence in Club Management Awards, co-sponsored by the McMahon Group and Club & Resort Business.
2016 Excellence in Club Management Award Winners Announced
The 2016 honorees through the prestigious awards co-sponsored by Club & Resort Business and the McMahon Group include Brett Morris of The Polo Club of Boca Raton (Fla.); Raymond Kondziela of The Ivanhoe Club in Mundelein, Ill.; Joseph Furlow of the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood, Calif.; and Charles C. Johnson of the Detroit Athletic Club. The winners will be recognized at an Awards Dinner held at Interlachen Country Club in Winter Park, Fla., on February 9.