Dismal River sold (according to Ron Whitten)

[Dan Herrmann]

From Ron Whitten's Twitter feed:  "Nebraska's Dismal River Club, with Nicklaus & Doak 18s, sold to group that includes Joel Jacobs, one-time tight end for NE Patriots"


I sure hope they keep the culture, because it's a VERY special place.


PS - Thanks @Chris Johnston for everything you, your family, and staffers did there!!!

[Howard Riefs]

Best of luck to all involved...

From Ron Whitten's Twitter feed:  "Nebraska's Dismal River Club, with Nicklaus & Doak 18s, sold to group that includes Joel Jacobs, one-time tight end for NE Patriots"

https://twitter.com/RonWhittenGD/status/821346822413307904


Article on Jacobs, who is from Mullen.


http://omahamagazine.com/articles/tag/joel-jacobs/

[BHoover]

I recall some talk several months back about GCAers wanting to form a group to purchase the club. I wonder if any GCAers are part of the new ownership group (if they choose to come forward)?


Best wishes to the former and new owners.

[John_Cullum]

I recall some talk several months back about GCAers wanting to form a group to purchase the club. I wonder if any GCAers are part of the new ownership group (if they choose to come forward)?

Thanks. I rarely get to laugh out loud at a post on golfclubatlas.

[Peter Le]

Best wishes for Dismal River! I can't say enough about Chris Johnston and the experience he helped provide when I made it out for the 5th Major. He definitely made the club standout.

[Matt Ingraham]

In November Joel's group circulated a prospectus in Omaha looking for investors.  Based on the prospectus and a conversation a good friend had with them, it appears they will be just as passionate about Dismal as Chris.  Dismal is a great place and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for it.

[John Cowden]

Nebraska members and guests have out-numbered others on most of my visits.  DRC is a valued local treasure, thanks to CJ's efforts and outreach, and always provides a good time with wonderful people.  There's a reason the courses are 'Husker White and Red.  I'm happy to welcome the new owners going forward.  Now, let's set up a little home-and-home with that other track downriver.

[RJ_Daley]

It is nice to hear that the sale involves a partner that has such deep roots to the area.  Chris has set the high bar for golf resort hospitality.  I don't think anyone I ever met has ever worked harder or is more attentive to his guests.  I hope we will have future chances to spend time with him. 

I also hope that Mr. Jacobs can keep the integrated member/guest and golf intrepid visitors arrangement, all working in harmony.  It is a vast undertaking to keep so many balls in the air out there.  A very special "people person" and manager with wide ranging knowledge to supervise from turf to tenderloins to housekeeping is obviously primary.   

[Scott Weersing]

Will there be a 5th Major 2017?

[Eric Smith]

Will there be a 5th Major 2017?

Scott,


Yes! There are 21 1/2 teams signed up with room for more. You can register online and here is the GCA invite.

[Jason Hines]

http://www.omaha.com/sports/local-golf/investors-aim-to-expand-sand-hills-dismal-river-golf-club/article_99ac15e2-5fff-53e2-8fab-570ddbf97afd.html

[Frank M]

Even with the articles and other info, I'm having a hard time understanding whether the plan is to allow more public access at Dismal. Is this national marketing campaign an effort to attract more members or something to attract golfers in general?

[Kalen Braley]

Frank,


I've always thought limited guest public play is a good option for remote privates.  Its not like you're going to get homies showing up at your doorstep, beat box in tow aksin' to play 18.  I think the demographic who would make the effort to research it and get there will fit right in and be willing to pay a premium green fee and buy lunch.

[Howard Riefs]

Frank,

I've always thought limited guest public play is a good option for remote privates.  Its not like you're going to get homies showing up at your doorstep, beat box in tow aksin' to play 18.  I think the demographic who would make the effort to research it and get there will fit right in and be willing to pay a premium green fee and buy lunch.

Under CJ's ownership, the club accepted non-member play requests via its website:


http://www.dismalriver.com/non-member-play/

[Peter Pallotta]

Years ago one of the aspects of my job at the Ontario government was to work with federal counterparts posted abroad to market ourselves internationally, both to the business community and to would-be tourists. One of the challenges we faced is that Canada is so diverse. Sure, you could promote the magnificent Rockies and Whistler's rugged beauty -- but that didn't align very well with marketing Toronto as a global high-tech leader and financial services hub; and you could emphasize Canada's vibrant and growing green economy, but then the folks in Alberta's oil sands might feel left out.

All this came to mind when I read that the new owners (understandably, I suppose) want to try to broaden Dismal's appeal and develop/market it as a multi-faceted recreation destination.  The challenge will be, it seems to me, to market this diversity in a coherent and compelling manner i.e. in convincing say, mountain bikers, that this golf resort will also be the best place for them to hang out for a while; or to assure potential/new golfing clients that the game of golf is still Dismal's highest priority despite the gunshots going off as part of the hunting tours and skeet shooting out there off the 16th hole.

I'm not suggesting this approach isn't viable, or that the marketing/promotion is impossible; I just wouldn't myself know how to do it effectively.   

[Frank M]

I think Dismal should seek to allow more public access and maybe even look at a similar model to Prairie Club. Having another two courses the quality of Dismal available to public golfers would make the option of traveling to that region much more viable and would only serve to improve the economic viability of both. I also think as many golfers as possible should have the opportunity to play these gems and golf in the Sandhills.

[JESII]

Peter,


I feel like my only posts lately are continuing a conversation you start with my own thoughts...maybe we ought to meet halfway, drink a little, and answer all the questions?


I'll bring TEP and a case of red wine...


That said...as long as the golf remains the primary attraction, the rest would do well to add a day or two for many people's trip...but the nickles and dimes they'll pick up with open play wouldn't pay for one disgruntled member.


Not saying it's an answer, just that exclusivity needs to be real or else no one will pay for it.

[Peter Pallotta]

Jim - if you bring a case of wine and TEP, what will you and I drink? 
It's always a pleasure exchanging thoughts with you. You still manage to say more in two lines than I do in 20!
In this case, you raise the key point, ie what makes a place special, and more importantly, what makes a member/guest feel like they are being treated *as* special?
If you try to be everything to everyone, do you (necessarily) run the risk of being nothing to no one?

[JMEvensky]

Peter,


I feel like my only posts lately are continuing a conversation you start with my own thoughts...maybe we ought to meet halfway, drink a little, and answer all the questions?


I'll bring TEP and a case of red wine...


That said...as long as the golf remains the primary attraction, the rest would do well to add a day or two for many people's trip...but the nickles and dimes they'll pick up with open play wouldn't pay for one disgruntled member.


Not saying it's an answer, just that exclusivity needs to be real or else no one will pay for it.

+1-- Everybody assumes non-member money is gravy. It is--until it costs you a member. The nickles and dimes are never as important as the dues line.


And my feelings are hurt I didn't rate an invite. I thought TEP bestowed Honorary Philadelphian on me. I got a piece of paper and everything.

[BCowan]

Peter,


I feel like my only posts lately are continuing a conversation you start with my own thoughts...maybe we ought to meet halfway, drink a little, and answer all the questions?


I'll bring TEP and a case of red wine...


That said...as long as the golf remains the primary attraction, the rest would do well to add a day or two for many people's trip...but the nickles and dimes they'll pick up with open play wouldn't pay for one disgruntled member.


Not saying it's an answer, just that exclusivity needs to be real or else no one will pay for it.

+1-- Everybody assumes non-member money is gravy. It is--until it costs you a member. The nickles and dimes are never as important as the dues line.


And my feelings are hurt I didn't rate an invite. I thought TEP bestowed Honorary Philadelphian on me. I got a piece of paper and everything.

Belvedere went Semi Private maybe 3-5 years ago.  They are doing well and are able to put money into the course/clubhouse.  They have a 2 hour block for members times only.  I'd hardly call what a high end course can bring in ''Nickels and Dimes''. 

[JESII]

Peter,


I feel like my only posts lately are continuing a conversation you start with my own thoughts...maybe we ought to meet halfway, drink a little, and answer all the questions?


I'll bring TEP and a case of red wine...


That said...as long as the golf remains the primary attraction, the rest would do well to add a day or two for many people's trip...but the nickles and dimes they'll pick up with open play wouldn't pay for one disgruntled member.


Not saying it's an answer, just that exclusivity needs to be real or else no one will pay for it.

+1-- Everybody assumes non-member money is gravy. It is--until it costs you a member. The nickles and dimes are never as important as the dues line.


And my feelings are hurt I didn't rate an invite. I thought TEP bestowed Honorary Philadelphian on me. I got a piece of paper and everything.

We'll swing through Memphis...might save us time...

[Kalen Braley]

Pasa is semi-private as well and I'm assuming doing well and almost every private club in GBR uses this model with few problems that I can tell


Seems like its more of a mental paradigm shift than an actual problem.

[JESII]

Kalen,


Do you have a sense for the expense side at U.K. clubs?

[Peter Pallotta]

I don't want to sidetrack, but when I read semi private I hear public. My home course is semi private -- which means that it is completely opened to the public at almost all times except Tuesday mornings (and even then, if not many 'members' have shown up, it is opened to everyone), and the 'members' pay no initiation fee at all and no yearly dues of any kind, just the $1800 to play as much golf as they like per year, including in the two members-only championships. The wonderful English course that Sean is profiling, Goswick, similarly has no initition fee whatsoever, and charges about £600 per year to be a member, while also welcoming and allowing a great deal of outside play. I imagine Belvedere works in a way much like these two models/examples. Which is to say, I don't believe that a 'semi private' course has almost anything in common with the kind of 'private' course Jeff and Jim have in mind here when they raise the possibility of disgruntled members.
Peter

[Mike Bodo]

I personally do not care for the trend of once private clubs going semi-private for the reasons that have been expressed here and other threads. To me, if you can no longer financially afford to remain private then go public or sell. To straddle the fence by going semi-private does neither the remaining members or the retail golfer any good in the long-run and there is always animosity between the two groups of golfers - mainly because the remaining members are pissed to have to share their once exclusive course with the public.


How many once private clubs that are now semi-private actually go back to being private clubs again once they've taken the plunge? Not many, I promise you. If DRC can't maintain a certain quota of members to remain private then they should go public - plain and simple. Don't mess around with going semi-private, as rarely do I see it work in the long run. It currently works at a course like Belvedere because you have a good percentage of members over 60 that are carrying it. Once they're dead and gone you will either have to go completely public or sell, as rest-assured the club is not attracting many if any young members simply because it's a transient crowd that flocks to Charlevoix each summer and whose going to join a club when you're there but a few weeks out of the year?