Creating a one-stop shop for business and pleasure, more clubs are entering the modern age with dedicated spaces for members’ use of their electronic devices.
Trump Files New Challenge to Jupiter, Fla. Club’s Assessment
Each year since 2014, Jupiter Golf Club, LLC, which is owned by The Trump Organization, has sued to try to lower the assessment for a property that has been valued at $18 million by Palm Beach County. The organization has succeeded in getting tax liabilities reduced for many of its 12 U.S. club properties.
Testing the Waters
The Cosmos Club gauged member interest in family-focused events by offering a live petting zoo.
National Club Association Announces New Board, Officers
New directors elected to the NCA board for three-year terms are Tom Bennison, ClubCorp USA, Inc.; Luke O’Boyle, CCM, CCE, Chevy Chase (Md.) Club; Nick Sidorakis, CCM, Southern Hills Country Club, Tulsa, Okla.; and Robert L. Smith, II, Venable, LLP, Washington, D.C.
CMAA Announces 25 New CCMs
In order to receive the Club Managers Association of America’s Certified Club Manager designation, one must complete education requirements, attend at least one World Conference on Club Management, maintain activity within their local chapter, and pass an exam.
Lansdowne Resort and Spa Bought for $133M
The Leesburg, Va. property, which includes five food-and-beverage outlets, 55,000 sq. ft. of meeting space, 45 holes of golf, three tennis courts, five pools, a fitness center, a 12,000-sq.-ft. spa. and 296 guestrooms has been sold to a Hong Kong firm making its first investment in the U.S. hospitality sector.
CMAA Announces New Officers and Master Club Managers
Robert C. James, CCM, CCE, CHE, Chief Operating Officer of Westchester Country Club, Rye, N.Y., was elected President; Robert J. “Bobby” Crifasi, CCM, CCE, CPA, General Manager of New Orleans Country Club was elected Vice-President; and Randall J. Ruder, CCM, CCE, General Manager of Beach Point Club, Mamaroneck, N.Y. was elected Secretary–Treasurer. The association also announced that C. W. Cook, MCM, CCE, General Manager/Chief Operating Officer of North Hills Club, Raleigh, N.C., and Mac Niven, MCM, CCE, General Manager, Almaden Golf & Country Club, San Jose, Calif., have completed the requirements for the Master Club Manager designation.
Langston GC Renovates Bunkers Through Donations
Dean Graves, certified golf course superintendent of Chevy Chase (Md.) Club, recently rallied area superintendents and businesses to donate the equipment and sand needed to renovate seven bunkers at the short game practice area of the historic Washington, D.C., facility.
“Elite” Social Group Magnises Draws Complaints from Members
Current and former members of the company have reported not receiving event tickets on the timeline promised, scheduling snafus, trip cancelations, and unwanted charges to their credit cards. The company attributes the “kinks” to its rapid growth, as it now counts 40,000 members since its inception in 2014.
‘Tiger Woods of West Africa’ Now Caddies at Congressional CC
The Washington Post featured the story of James Lebbie, who grew up in Sierra Leone and became the first African to win the Nigerian Open. Lebbie’s future as a pro golfer was bright until his career was disrupted by Sierra Leone’s civil war. Now 58, he has caddied at Congressional CC for the past three years and routinely shows his skills when playing on off-days, as he tries to stay sharp to pursue his hope of someday returning to tournament competition.
Paul Levy Elected as PGA of America’s New President
The executive with the Sunrise Company is also the CEO/General Manager of Toscana CC in Indian Wells, Calif. He will be the organization’s 40th President. Former LPGA Tour player Suzy Whaley is the new Vice President and Jim Richerson, General Manager & Group Director of Golf for Kohler Co.’s Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run properties, is the new Secretary.
Washington, D.C. Dining Club Has 1,000-Person Waitlist
The Shaw Bijou, which owner Kelly Gorsuch envisions as “a social experiment,” offers $185 tasting menus and already has a lengthy waitlist for members, despite just opening on November 1. Regular patrons must purchase ticketed reservations while members can drop by on a whim.
Golf Course at U.S. Armed Forces Retirement Home in Jeopardy
The 128-acre, nine-hole golf course in Washington, D.C., is losing money, and the Defense Department is considering cutting funding. The golf course’s 200-plus members, a mix of city residents and military veterans, are scrambling to raise funds to keep it running, but it’s unclear if meeting the $250,000 goal would keep the facility open.
Trump Unlikely to Have “Home Course Advantage,” Analysis Shows
The Republican nominee currently trails Hillary Clinton in all six states where he owns golf courses, CBS News reported. Only two of Trump’s 12 U.S. courses are in counties that did not deliver a plurality for Barack Obama in 2012.
Speculation Grows On Obama’s Choice of D.C.-Area Club
The golf-loving President is expected to apply for membership at a club as he leaves office and stays in Washington while his youngest daughter finishes high school. The “smart money” is currently on his joining Woodmont CC in Rockville, Md., observers say, and Woodmont CEO/GM Brian Pizzimenti told one publication, “We’re glad to have offered [Obama] fun and relaxation.”