At the start of 2019, the management team at Desert Highlands in Scottsdale, Ariz., began the process of planning Jack’s, a gastropub concept that honors Jack Nicklaus’ role in developing the club’s Signature golf course and bringing it national prominence through the original Skins Games. Even with the challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak, Desert Highlands is now “at the 50-yard line” of completing the $2 million project, which also includes a kitchen renovation, and excitement is building among the membership for the planned opening in October, according to General Manager/COO Monty Becton. In this episode of C+RB’s video series, the Desert Highlands team describes how they’ve not only kept the project on track, but have actually benefited in some ways from pushing it forward through the pandemic.
“The Road Back” video series from Club + Resort Business provides fresh insights into how club and resort properties are meeting the challenges posed by the pandemic and finding new and innovative ways to boost business levels and start their return to full operation.
This episode looks at how Desert Highlands, the 563-home private community in Scottsdale, Ariz., has pushed forward toward the completion of Jack’s, a new gastropub concept that honors Jack Nicklaus’ role in developing the club’s Signature golf course and bringing it national prominence through the original Skins Game in 1983 and 1984. Planning for the new dining experience began at the start of 2019, and even with the challenges posed midway through the process by the coronavirus outbreak, Desert Highlands is now “at the 50-yard line” for completing the $2 million project, which also includes a kitchen renovation, and excitement is building among the membership for the planned opening of the new venue in October, according to General Manager/Chief Operating Officer Monty Becton.
In this interview, Becton joins Clubhouse Manager Ron Koohbanani and Sarah Kane, Membership Communications Manager, in describing how the Desert Highlands team has not only kept the project on track, but actually benefited in some ways by executing it during the pandemic, by attracting subcontractors that may have otherwise not been interested or available.
“Yes, we have to deal with the virus today, but we also always want to keep an eye on the future and be prepared for what we need to keep providing for our members,” says Becton. “We did put a second phase [for outdoor entertainment space] on pause until next year, but we’re on pace to meet or beat home sales from 2019, and the excitement that’s been generated from what we’ve promoted about this new venue coming on stream has been part of that interest.”
(Episode sponsored by PHX Architecture)
(Viewing time: 14 minutes)
Previous episodes of The Road Back series can be viewed at https://clubandresortbusiness.com/category/the-road-back/
Upcoming episodes will feature more examples of how clubs have successfully pursued renovations and improvement projects during the pandemic; explore how golf-instruction programs are being adjusted for new health and safety considerations; look at how clubs are putting a new emphasis on branding as critical to their long-term recovery strategies; and highlight the details of expanded and effective new communications strategies that were developed out of necessity because of the pandemic’s restrictions.
If you have a great idea or success story you’d like to see featured on a future episode of “The Road Back,” contact [email protected].
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