Another high end club bites the dust. Briar's Creek in SC

[Paul Carey]

It will be bailed out by some wealthy members.   I live pretty close but never felt compelled to visit.

http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20150210/PC05/150219965/1177

I also wonder if the $37 million includes member deposits.  

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

Very nice facility, I have played there a couple of times.
Rees Jonees golf course isnt it?
Good practice facility, very nice but modest sized clubhouse, I really enjoyed my time there, all the best to them.

[Michael Whitaker]

This is good news for the future of the club and course. Like The Cliffs, Briar's Creek will benefit from a financial restructuring.

Quality facility across the board with quality people running things. Their pro, Chris Edwards, is one of the best in South Carolina... if not the country.

The new owner will not be required to reinvent anything... he will be acquiring a first class facility without a need for any remodeling or renovation. With a little more help from the economy this should be a home run swing.

[Joel_Stewart]

Rees Jonees golf course isnt it?

Shocking.  With those carts paths and original bunkering?

[Michael Whitaker]

Rees Jonees golf course isnt it?

Shocking.  With those carts paths and original bunkering?

You ever been there, Joel?

[jeffwarne]

It won Best New course when it opened, in an era when a lot of courses were opening, unlike now where every kid gets a trophy by virtue of simply opening.

I do have to ask the question Michael.
The club will at some point emerge with a new owner who no doubt has a chance to buy it right and make a go of it.
But surely somebody loses?

Joel,
Would you build a course in the "low country" without cartpaths?
My guess is it more hidden from the tee than that elevated photo suggests.
Do you know of any courses in the low country without cartpaths?

and actually that bunkering looks quite "original" compared to the cookie cutter raggedy edges bunkers we see on virtually every renovation and new course built in the last 7-8 years

[Mark Pritchett]

I wish the best for Briar's Creek.   The course is really good, has a great set of Par 3's and the 18th is the best Par 5 in the Charleston area, maybe in SC. 

[Mike Schott]

Rees Jonees golf course isnt it?

Shocking.  With those carts paths and original bunkering?

Are you assuming every club loves a low profile look? I'm sure Rees built what the owner asked for.

[PCCraig]

It's too bad. My in-laws were members until recently and I've played Briar's Creek a whole lot over the past 10 years. It's a really neat place and a really first class set up. I don't think the course is as good as the private options on the nearby Kiawah, but there are a bunch of good holes, it's always in perfect shape, and it's never even remotely crowded.

I have zero knowledge of what happened here, but my best guess is that the club was tied heavily to selling high-end real estate on the property on and near the course. The biggest problem with selling lots there is that it's next to Kiawah Island...which has a number of advantages (access to the beach, closer to Freshfields, etc.) than Briar's Creek.

[Mike_Young]

It's a nice place to play golf....I would think it would not miss a beat....

[Jon Cavalier]

It is a nice place to play golf. Very pretty setting, and very serene. In fact, the thing that struck me when I last played there (December 2013) was how empty the place felt. My caddy and I were the only golfers on the course, and other than the shop staff, we never saw another person.

Also, the staff there was first rate - extremely friendly, helpful and welcoming. And I second Michael's opinion - Chris Edwards is one of the nicest pros I've ever encountered.

[Joel Zuckerman]

I am under the impression that Chris Edwards, who was the original pro from the day the course opened, is no longer there.

[JC Jones]

Joel,

Take a look at Yeamans Hall, let me know if you see any cart paths.

[Dan_Callahan]

Pretty sure Secession doesn't have cart paths.

[Michael Wharton-Palmer]

The difference is that Secession doesnt have carts period!!!!!!
Unless health allowed and relies on an excellent caddie programme.
Hard to compare the two clubs as far as cart usage is concerned.
That been said....you are correct.

[PCCraig]

I've walked Briar's Creek many, many times and the vast majority of my rounds there were on foot. It's an easy walk, even with a couple longer green to tee lengths, because it's lowcountry flat. That being said, if you're down there in the summer and playing after 10am, it better be in a cart. When you're inland on a hot, steamy South Carolina day with no wind a cart is pretty necessary.

[Steve Lapper]

Mike Schott,

   You think the client asked Rees to put those cart paths there??? Just wondering.

[SL_Solow]

The Bankruptcy filing indicates that the debtor proposes an asset sale to a group led by Robert McNair, the controlling owner of the Houston Texans football team.  He is a current member  Initial payment of 7.2 million, some additional payments and 2 million in improvements according to press reports.  He will keep it as a private club.

[David_Tepper]

http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2015/02/nfl-owner-golf-enthusiast-eyes.html