Will ditto all the wonderful remarks above because I have enjoyed two visits there after the course work.
It is a flat course, with a few shallow rolls, and the greens are superb.
There are many challenging putts, and recovery shots. Just a lot of fun to play.
And Dan Hogan is a champion for all his efforts at the club.
The new clubhouse is a now a very nicely completed modern and very functional affair.
At the end of 2013 they show mortgage debt of roughly $5.6 million, presumably most or all of which went into the new clubhouse -- I don't know for sure, of course. Annual report for 2013: http://990s.foundationcenter.org/990_pdf_archive/580/580175020/580175020_201312_990O.pdf Does anyone have an idea of their viability, financially?
Stop if you pass by Brunswick on I-95.
Isn't this a private club? If so, how can one just stop in?
Maybe its just me, but I found providing the links to these financial statements to be irrelevant and in bad taste. The original poster was sharing his thoughts about a wonderful course and you bring in garbage like this. Who cares?
Carl's response to Eric: I don't think it's just you. I'm sure others share your views. On the other hand, I expect that some believe the financial health of a club is relevant. What good is the course if lots of money is needlessly spent on a new clubhouse, and as a result the course can't be well maintained, or it folds. Not that I know any of this is going to happen. That's why I asked the question. I'd be pleased to have an explanation of why all is well and good at Brunswick.
As far as the link to the 990, that's public information anyone can get who wants it, so I was just saving others a step or two. A "cost" of operating as a nonprofit is that you are required to publish your financials (to the extent called for on the 990) so that the public can take a look at your operation. Many golf clubs operate as nonprofits, for which they receive a tax benefit, yet others (e.g., August National, Quail Hollow Club and probably most real estate development clubs) operate as privately owned profit-making ventures, or they hope so(!) and thus are, rightfully, not subject to public scrutiny. If you choose to operate as a nonprofit, then you choose to display your financial information, and ought to be happy to do so.
And the comment about it being a private course is equally silly. Carl's response to Eric: I guess I come at this a little differently. If a club is private, then I am going to respect that and not try to weasel access. It just doesn't seem right to me. I belong to a private club that does, from time to time, let nonmembers who have an angle play, and I resent that. So, for me it's a case of "do unto others." Other than a few of the most elite of upper tier courses, there are very few courses one cannot get on. Most clubs are delighted to have guests, especially if the guest indicates a reason such as bucket list, architectural appeal, a friend whom is a member, or whatever. All it takes is a bit of networking, a phone call from your pro, or a very polite email or phone call. Sometimes, you will strike out the first time, but if you stick with it there are very few courses that are impossible to get on. Every visitor is a potential member, or someone who might refer a potential member, and at the very least incremental income at a time where every dollar can count.
I have long been aware of this course, and it was never on my radar, it is now. Many thanks to the original poster, could not care less about that other irrelevant rubbish, it is about the course and the experience. Let them worry about their finances, it is none of our business.
You are certainly entitled to your views, all I could do though is shake my head in utter disbelief. Disbelief that there are those out there that think like this.
Playing other private courses in not weaseling access. It has always been common practice for a pro to call a pro, that is part of the privilege of being with a private club. If you have contacts, what is the matter with using that contact?. I network plenty, and others network with me. That is the way the world works, that is how we get things done and sharing is a pretty nice thing. If you are a big Raynor fan or Ross fan, what is wrong with calling the club and telling them how much you admire the course and would love the opportunity to pay a visit. Most tee sheets are empty during the week, why not? For the sheer sake of exclusivity? A beautiful golf course is a work of art, why not share that art with others. I never resent a visitor at my club. Because I am sure my club could use revenue like any other club, and every visitor is a potential member. The tee sheet is seldom 100% full, so why not allow others to experience a good day out on a wonderful course and get away from it all for a few hours. The visitor only gets space as available, he is not bumping me or anyone else No one is trying to take away the private status of the club. So what is the big deal, maybe you resent it, I do not one bit . If a course has a very restrictive visitor policy, that is surely their right, and there are a few clubs that are almost impossible, but that is barely the case, thank goodness most do not resent as you do.
To most here, and to most in the real world, when we play a course or admire a course, the financials are irrelevant. And we certainly do not need to provide links to tax and financial information, although that is certainly publicly available, . It is still private tax and financial information, I like to respect the privacy of others. And it is not up to me to analyze these financial statements or decide what should or shouldn't have been done, that is the clubs business and they are accountable for their decisions, not me. Most of us do not have this much time on our hands to worry about such irrelevancy and what could we do to change things anyway, it is none of our business.
I wish you a happy holiday season, I hope that if I ever show up at your club, you will not communicate your resentment to me or my family or friends. Likewise, if you show up at my club someday, I would be happy to show you around, buy you a drink, and tell you the history of the club. That is not really doing anything overly special IMHO, that is just called basic hospitality and making strangers feel welcome. Life is too short, there is too much hatred and animosity in this world. To show resentment over something as trivial as a non-member stepping foot on a golf club, well I just don't comprehend that. I will save resentment for things that really matter. One of the reasons this world is in the sorry shape it is now, does not take much to irritate a lot of folks it seems.