Last year, for instance, Walnut Grove Country Club attracted 100 new members by permitting them to join for one year by putting up $1,000 ($1,500 for a family membership) while contributing $60 monthly for food and beverage and paying an additional $100 for a locker and $100 for bag storage.
The infusion of cash enabled WG to give its clubhouse a remarkable facelift, but there was a downside in that some of the longtime members were not happy others were enjoying the facilities without paying the usual initiation fee. Some dropped out.
The WG board knew that not all of the 100 would return in 2011 and pay the normal fees, but it was hoped that many would enjoy the club and remain. It turned out that only 22 opted to sign up again this year.
Among the other 78, there were 10 who last fall accepted an offer from Dayton Country Club to join as a group in 2011 without having to contribute the posted $14,000 initiation fee. They agreed to remain for two years and pay monthly dues.
This spring, DCC also offered individual memberships for a $3,500 initiation fee plus a guarantee that the newcomers would pay dues for two years. That fee has been bumped up to $5,000 for anyone joining before June 1.
Nearly every private club in the Miami Valley has special offers. All it takes is a telephone call to learn what’s available.
Initiation fees have virtually disappeared. Country Club of the North, which required $30,000 to join when it opened, now lists an $11,500 fee, but even that is not firm.
Nevertheless, CCN General Manager Paul Malonson says the club is planning a renovation of its clubhouse and an addition to the food and beverage area in 2012.
“I know a lot of people are struggling,” Malonson said recently. “There are no struggles here. We’re actually doing very well. We’re very blessed.”
Two years ago, Walnut Grove jettisoned its kitchen staff and hired a caterer to save money, but clubhouse manager Bill Ackman said the experiment is over. WG found that its members preferred having the food and beverage operation under club control.
Greene Country Club, which has been operated by the daughters of the late John Meyer for the past five years, is in the process of being purchased by a membership group. Meyer, a former Dayton area car dealer, was killed in an airplane crash not long after purchasing the struggling club to keep it afloat.
Sugar Valley Country Club, which had been operated by the children of Carl and Ann Foreman for the past seven years, was sold in November to Realtor Jim Keyes, who had operated it from 1991-2003 when Ann Foreman died. Keyes has made many changes that we’ll cover in a future column.
Chip shots
• Dale Fetter, the golf pro at Brown’s Run for many years, was honored recently with a marker bearing his likeness at the first tee. ... Doug Cartwright is back at his old post in the Sugar Valley pro shop after working seven years at Moraine Country Club. His replacement at Moraine is Ted Cremeans. ... Jeff Foland, whom Cartwright replaced, has been hired by the Miami Valley Golf Association.
• CCN is opening a new real estate sales center on Indian Ripple Road on April 30. CCN has an option to purchase considerable acreage east of its golf course for home sites. ... Will Napier and Joe Mays have regained ownership of Sebastian Hills Golf Course from Steve Phillips. ... Jim Neff, teaching pro at Heatherwoode Golf Course last year, has joined the staff of Dick’s Sporting Goods. Brad Smith, an instructor at Yankee Trace in recent years, has moved to Heatherwoode.
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