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Winchester Purgatory: Members cope with new rules |
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Written by John McCreadie
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John Welch, general manager for the Winchester Country Club in Meadow Vista, reports the operation is currently meeting its financial goals after opening the course up to public play and reducing costs. Photo by John McCreadie.
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The once-exclusive Winchester Country Club in Meadow Vista, which fell into foreclosure more than 60 days ago, has opened its pristine greens to public play as part of a receivership plan to keep the club in operation while a buyer for the award-winning clubhouse and golf course is found. So far, that plan appears to be working.
“The cool thing is members are still motivated,” said General Manager John Welch, who has managed the country club’s operation for 16 months. “Our goal is to keep it as a first-class facility. The bank recognizes the value of the course to this community.”
For members and residents of the once-private golf facility, however, new rules have dramatically altered the deal they were originally promised, including losing their initial membership fees – which ranged from $25,000 to $85,000. In all, it’s estimated that $11 million in membership fees have evaporated.
In a letter from Wachovia Bank, which now owns the 18-hole golf course, clubhouse and 137 unsold lots in the development, clubhouse members were re-classified as “former members.”
That action left some members and residents “livid,” according to one member who declined to be identified. While some “former members” may be looking into independent legal action, several lawyers familiar with the issue reportedly claim there is “no actionable cause of action,” the source reports.
Other members of the community are hopeful a new owner will re-initiate private memberships to the club at a reduced rate for previous members.
“We remain optimistic,” said Craig Prim, a member and resident of the country club community. “We believe prospective buyers will see the value in having a private country club setting.”
But memberships are not the only thing to disappear at the club as it searches for a new owner. The club’s restaurant is currently shut down, along with its catering services. There’s a reduced menu at the lunch grill and a noticeably reduced staff, including less bag boys. Working with a representative from receiver Douglas Wilson Companies, general manager Welch continues to look for ways to cut costs.
Former members and the public can pay a $600 monthly fee to receive unlimited golf privileges, which include cart and fitness center access. More than 100 former members are currently paying the monthly fee, said Prim, which also gives them first dibs on premium tee times.
Despite membership cancellations, many members and residents understand the situation could have been worse. Closing the clubhouse and golf course, while keeping a skeleton crew to maintain the grounds, was a possibility many local golf enthusiasts feared.
But it’s commonly understood that keeping the course open while seeking a buyer helps to better market the property. A write-up in the sports section of the Sacramento Bee earlier this month reportedly brought a throng of public players to the course. Welch acknowledges the operation is currently meeting its financial goals.
Meanwhile, several people report ongoing interest in the property since it fell into foreclosure May 21, bringing to an end famed highway developer C.C. Myers’ six-month struggle to retain ownership of the financially troubled upscale community. The property is being marketed by Jeff Woolson, managing director for CB Richard Ellis’ Golf & Resort Properties division.
“I’ve been selling these kinds of properties for 18 years and have lots of qualified people interested in this property,” he said. “This is the kind of property a lot of investment companies have been waiting for.” Woolson declined to comment on any specific deals that may be underway.
For now, the beautiful and challenging course – the last to be designed by the well-known father-son team Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Robert Trent Jones Jr. – is open to public play at rates many consider “reasonable.” For public play, daily fees are $105 weekdays after 11 a.m. and $125 on weekends after 12 noon. Bargain hunters can play the course for $75 each weekday after 2 p.m. Winchester previously only permitted one public foursome two times a week at a cost of $250 per person.
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