Over $40 million was spent in 2000 to build The Club at Pasadera in Monterey, Calif. and its Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course. But while the property and facilities drew immediate acclaim, the club went on a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs that included several ownership changes before a member-led group acquired it in 2018. In this episode of C+RB’s video series, GM/COO Kurt Burmeister and Managing Partner Chris Laver describe the club’s rapid ascent in the past two years that even the coronavirus outbreak hasn’t slowed down—and has in fact helped to accelerate—with membership more than doubling from just over 200 to now fast approaching 500.
“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 The Club at Pasadera in Monterey, Calif. has continued rapid growth over the past two years that even the coronavirus outbreak hasn’t been able to slow down, with membership more than doubling from just over 200 when a new member-led group acquired it in 2018, and now fast approaching 500.
If anything, in fact, the pandemic-forced focus this year on golf, outdoor dining, and other social and recreational activities, such as bocce ball and gathering around the firepits, has served to ignite further momentum. “Because of the ‘safe haven’ element that’s been created around being able to offer so many ways to bring the whole family out, membership activity has exceeded expectations this year,” says General Manager/Chief Operating Officer Kurt Burmeister, CCM, CCE. “And most of the growth has been from members telling potential members about what we now have here.”
Over $40 million was spent to build The Club at Pasadera (originally Pasadera Country Club) and its Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course in 2000. But while the property and facilities drew immediate acclaim, the club went on a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs that included several ownership changes.
“It’s a great, iconic property, but it was being ignored and was like a sad puppy dog, with a nice face, but it wasn’t being taken care of,” says Chris Laver, an original member and now a Managing Partner with the new ownership group. “We’ve planned to have a three- to five-year turnaround, and as we’re ending month 23, we’ve done a lot of things but are still far from finished. Our lodge is constantly being sold out now because of the surge in membership, so we’re looking at new casitas in addition to other improvements, and our goal is to keep growing into a facility that we think can serve 625 [members].”
(Viewing time: 12 minutes)
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Previous episodes of The Road Back series can be viewed at https://clubandresortbusiness.com/category/the-road-back/
Upcoming episodes will look at successful new motivation and training strategies that have helped a club maximize its food-and-beverage success despite the restrictions that were imposed on its dining capacity, and highlight another club’s development of an inventive and successful new twist on an “Iron Man” competition.
If you have a great idea or success story you’d like to see featured on a future episode of “The Road Back,” contact editor@clubandresortbusiness.com.
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