[Ryan Hillenbrand]

I have been kicking around an idea for several years and trying to figure out if it is plausible.

The concept is a pub/19th hole that is based upon some of the best bars/mens grills/etc throughout the world. Imagine a Links Club but more for the everyman. It would be private, albeit at a modest monthly fee, with a great bar where the staff knows your name and preferences like you'd expect at a private club. The menu would be modest, a few good steaks, and feature items that are signature dishes at various clubs. Snapper soup, Burger Dogs, and who knows, maybe a lobster lunch one day! There might be one TV to watch golf, but that's it. There would be a small library off to side with comfy chairs for some solitude and maybe a mid day nap.

Thoughts? Opinions? This may exist in other cities but is not to be confused with a dining club.

[Wayne_Kozun]

What city would this be located in?

[John Kavanaugh]

Have you been to the cigar bar at The Ritz in Clayton?

[David_Tepper]

Ryan -

At one time (the mid-1990's I think) there was a golf-themed bar in Manhattan called The British Open.

I remember sitting there on a Sunday afternoon watching Davis Love III win the Players. I have no idea how long it stayed in business.

This was the place: https://www.clubplanet.com/Venues/71565/New-York/British-Open


DT

[John Kavanaugh]

To put it bluntly...smoking is the future.

[B.Ross]

listen i'm not claiming to be john taffer, but i think you need to consider the following things before going into business:


will men bring wives / gf's / dates to this membership only bar the same way they bring them to a soho house?


additionally, who's your competition & target audience?


why would a guy join your bar instead of a golf simulator spot that offers similar services?
or your club over an existing eating club or speakeasy? i'm thinking about barriers to entry & what currently exists in NYC.


last hypothetical: if a guy is looking for solitude & a men's grill esque atmosphere, why leave home? why not order in some food & take it easy there, or go to their club?


conceptually, it sounds like you're looking to create an everyman's version of say NYAC or a place like the cornell club, yet without any fitness facilities. is that wrong?

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

Have you been to the cigar bar at The Ritz in Clayton?

I haven't been there John but should check it out, I know a few people who are members there. To your point, I'd likely have a good spot to smoke cigars - but outside

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

What city would this be located in?

St. Louis western suburbs

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

listen i'm not claiming to be john taffer, but i think you need to consider the following things before going into business:


will men bring wives / gf's / dates to this membership only bar the same way they bring them to a soho house?

I'm not familiar with a SoHo house. I'm just a midwestern hayseed. I'd like to be open to both genders, but certainly make it a vibe where a loud mouth and his trophy girlfriend wouldn't like to hang

additionally, who's your competition & target audience? The local country club men's grill or bar, but without the $700-$1000/month golf course attached to it. My target audience would be people that like Golf Club Atlas.


why would a guy join your bar instead of a golf simulator spot that offers similar services? If you want to hang with bros and girlfriends in yoga gear drinking Red Bull and Vodka, go to Top Golf. If you want class and surrounded by rich mahogany and leather bound books, you join my place. In all seriousness It'd be comfortable for people who like golf, from the Tom Paul crowd to the Sweetens Cove/Goat Hill crowd. There could also be some golf outings in conjunction with some other golf organizations like the Outpost Club. Though I haven't asked them yet
or your club over an existing eating club or speakeasy? i'm thinking about barriers to entry & what currently exists in NYC.


last hypothetical: if a guy is looking for solitude & a men's grill esque atmosphere, why leave home? why not order in some food & take it easy there, or go to their club? I don't know about you, but I have 5 kids at home. There is no solitude. But I see your point on the local club. I'm guessing some people who belong to clubs would like a 2nd place, just like they may have a national membership somewhere else for a change of scenery


conceptually, it sounds like you're looking to create an everyman's version of say NYAC or a place like the cornell club, yet without any fitness facilities. is that wrong? Yes, a little bit

[/Good questions. Thanks for asking themcolor]

[B.Ross]

thanks for answering my questions. my follow up question would then be are there enough people in your target demo in the 'burbs of St. Louis to sustain a business? i think you'd need to supplement the memberships with golf-themed events at the club open to the public (e.g. a live recording of a popular golf podcast, or if you put a simulator, the type of evening like free titleist driver fitting if you spend $100 or more on dinner).

[Ryan Hillenbrand]

thanks for answering my questions. my follow up question would then be are there enough people in your target demo in the 'burbs of St. Louis to sustain a business? i think you'd need to supplement the memberships with golf-themed events at the club open to the public (e.g. a live recording of a popular golf podcast, or if you put a simulator, the type of evening like free titleist driver fitting if you spend $100 or more on dinner).

I think there is. There's at least a million people within 20 minutes of the desired location with decent disposable income. And I'm not looking to get rich on this, just a side business. Hopefully have some fun and surrounded by like minded people who enjoy golf and a nice drink

[Wayne_Kozun]

Soho doesn't let financial types like me join as members so I only go there as a guest of an artsie type.

[Mike Sweeney]

5 Iron in NYC just opened a second location. I visited the original and thought is was a good spot - https://fiveirongolf.com


Logistically it is not realistic for me, but I could see it for my son if he ever moves back to NYC.

[Peter Pallotta]

To put it bluntly...smoking is the future.

You read my mind - but my mind is clouded by smoke, so probably can't be trusted. On the other hand, it's at least good old fashioned tobacco smoke (in the brand most doctors recommend for its smooth taste) instead of this new-fangled chemical vape business. (Yuk). Of course, I can't advocate for this, it's wrong and it's bad, but let's be frank -- the kind of golf related bar-club that Ryan is describing is the kind that Bobby Jones had enjoyed back in the day, and it didnt need TVs or steaks (or god forbid lobster), only ashtrays, comfortable chairs, and a bottle of scotch.

[Wayne_Kozun]

No, the future is ganja - Rolling Greens The World's First Cannabis-Themed 18 Hole Golf Course

[John Kavanaugh]

No, the future is ganja - Rolling Greens The World's First Cannabis-Themed 18 Hole Golf Course

That's why I put it "blunt"ly. But in all seriousness the finest bars around the world do seem to be cigar bars. Many are hidden in the cities you least suspect.

[John McCarthy]

Ryan:


I am not sure such a model would work without largish monthly premiums. 


A friend of mine started an all-mens club in his leafy suburb.  All-mens so their wives don't get hot when they take off after dinner.  Just a small warehouse with a basketball hoop, pool tables, TV's and BYO.  A BBQ grill for dinner and a small cleaning crew in the wee hours.  $100 per man per month. 


They are having the time of their lives.

[John Kavanaugh]

Ryan:


I am not sure such a model would work without largish monthly premiums. 


A friend of mine started an all-mens club in his leafy suburb.  All-mens so their wives don't get hot when they take off after dinner.  Just a small warehouse with a basketball hoop, pool tables, TV's and BYO.  A BBQ grill for dinner and a small cleaning crew in the wee hours.  $100 per man per month. 


They are having the time of their lives.

None of those pesky permits. We have one down by the river. It's called Deer Camp.

[Mike Hendren]

Milk's available on every street corner without having to buy a cow.  Then again, it ain't a club unless you can keep some folks out.

Bogey

[Tim Martin]

Golf hipsters will love it but are there enough MacKenzie toting, needlepoint belt wearing, hickory playing, width wishin, lacy edged bunker lovin, homemade kickstand making crusaders to make it work in St. Louis? Jury is out.

[Ian Mackenzie]

Soho doesn't let financial types like me join as members so I only go there as a guest of an artsie type.

Ha!!
All the finance guys I know who belong to Soho (in Chicago) just lied on their applications.

[B.Ross]

Golf hipsters will love it but are there enough MacKenzie toting, needlepoint belt wearing, hickory playing, width wishin, lacy edged bunker lovin, homemade kickstand making crusaders to make it work in St. Louis? Jury is out.
[/quote[size=78%]][/size]
[/size]
[/size][size=78%]so much this. golf's a niche sport in decline and this is a niche subset of the golf population (albeit one that seems to be growing or at least being more noisy). still is this crowd shelling out $ for this type of thing on top of or in lieu of a club membership?[/size]

[Tim Leahy]

You must have several Golden Tee video games and one those putting games that changes the line surface after every made putt.

[Matt MacIver]

There are at least three fee- based new-old Speakeasy’s here, with the fee something like $10/year. They all seem to be doing very well, so this + modest golf theme should/could do fine, properly executed. 

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