Like many clubs, the Meadow Vista, Calif., property suffered during the economic downturn, but opted to reinvest in the property through renovations once the economy leveled off. The property is now up to 270 members after a low of 203, and reinstated initiation fees of $15,000.
Once considered a jewel of Northern California,Winchester Country Club in Meadow Vista, Calif., became nearly unrecognizable after the landowner was forced to foreclose the property during the economic downturn, the Associated Press reported.
During five years of bank ownership, the golf course turned brown, the native areas between the holes overgrown and unruly. Membership dwindled and the course opened for public-fee play just to keep the club afloat, AP reported.
But once the economy leveled a bit, Winchester’s new owners took a novel approach to help it rebound: They sank more money into it, hoping a more luxurious club would drive up the real estate and, in turn, make the club more appealing to potential members, AP reported.
“Nobody believed that you could turn this thing around and make it vibrant again because there were so many things that needed to fall together to make that happen,” said General Manager David Bennett. “We kind of had to do a dance to choreograph this all to make it work.”
Winchester Country Club has started to bounce back after upgrading the clubhouse, the staff and the golf course, one of the last co-designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and his son, Robert Jr., AP reported.
Winchester Country Club is up to 270 members after a low of 203. Initiation fees, once wiped out, are now up to $15,000, AP reported.
“We’ve kind of got this momentum now where we’ve shown we can live up to what we said we were going to do,” Bennett said.
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