You might say that Troon Golf Management gave birth to the term “country club for a day.” The company says its target audience is the traveling golfer accustomed to having a private club back home or just the average golfer seeking a better golf experience. That strategy says the company, has proven to be “prescient and profitable for decades to come, and all but created an entirely new golf course category: upscale daily fee”.
Troon is a leader in the golf course and private club management industry, claims the company, operating at 825 plus locations throughout the world. The company used its foundation in golf facility management to extend its vision beyond the golf course with a diverse portfolio that includes 12 distinct brands.
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Troon maintains satellite offices in Alabama, California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Texas, Virginia, Washington and internationally.
Dana Garmany. with more than 40 years of industry experience developing and operating golf facilities worldwide, founded Troon in 1990, and today serves on the Board of Directors, after his retirement as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. His leadership at Troon helped create a company that continues to lead and set standards for domestic and international daily fee, resort, and private golf courses.
Ryan Phelps, Vice President of Operations at Troon, said of the company’s mission statement, “Our approach is centered upon creating extraordinary guest and member experiences by delivering superior service, amenities and playing surfaces. In order to consistently achieve these results and maximize success for each client, we’re dedicated to hiring and training quality associates and providing an unparalleled depth of expertise from our team of corporate resources. When you combine these experienced resources with cost efficiencies through our procurement network and revenue generating power through proprietary strategies, Troon creates a winning formula for success that is cost neutral or accretive to the business’ bottom line.”
In addition to golf management, Troon specializes in the management of food and beverage operations, homeowner associations, private residence clubs, racquet courts, lodging, aquatic centers, fitness centers, spas, marinas, and more. Supplementing the four primary brands that are focused on full club management (Troon Golf, Troon Privé, Troon International, Indigo Sports), we are also equipped with specialty brands to support all of our client’s needs. These include CADDIEMASTER, the world’s premier provider of caddie management services; True Club Solutions, offering solutions through a menu of customizable advisory services; Cliff Drysdale Tennis and Peter Burwash International, the leaders in tennis management for resorts and private clubs; Real Food, specializing in building guest and members experiences within the food and beverage industry; Casa Verde Golf, focused on golf course construction and renovation projects of all sizes and scope; and ICON, the leader in amenity and community association management services.
“Troon currently has 23 properties in The Garden State and we are always looking to add to our family of clubs” said Phelps. “This past year, New Jersey was one of the largest areas of growth for Troon. Troon’s vision is to create unparalleled experiences fueled by a passion for enabling fun. Backed up by some of our core values that include being consciously kind, infectiously energetic and relentlessly dedicated to name a few.”
Dave Wasenda, Founder and President of Applied Golf Management, based in New Jersey, spoke to the purchase recently of his company by Troon. “We could not have chosen a better organization than Troon to help carry on what we have built over the past 17 years,” said Wasenda. “With Troon’s resources, expertise and growing portfolio of managed properties; it is an exciting time for all of us to become part of the Troon family.”
Wasenda and other Applied Golf Management staff members have transitioned smoothly into Troon. “This is exciting because the Troon purchase allows us to offer additional superb services to our clients,” he said. “It really is a win-win for everyone. It allows us to continue and grow our legacy that we have established during the 17 years we have been in business. We had been approached by other firms but it didn’t seem like the right fit. Troon had everything we were looking for. They have superior senior management leadership, they are an innovative company, and always put the client first.”
Here’s a brief look at some of Troon’s daily fee portfolio in New Jersey.
MORRIS COUNTY
Berkshire Valley Golf Course is located on 600 acres in the picturesque Highlands region of northern New Jersey. The 18-hole, par 71, 6,800-yard golf course presents unique challenges atop the ridge of Green Pond Mountain. The topography and spectacular views of this course make especially pleasing. It is considered a unique golfing experience and a “must-play” for every golfer. www.BerkshireValleyGC.com.
#18
Flanders Valley Golf Club features two 18-hole layouts to choose from. The Blue-to-White is a more traditional layout with very few grade changes and is a par-72, 6,417-yard course. The course is tree-lined on either side and extremely difficult to play in spots. The 379 yard par-four, fifth hole, is a slight dog leg left and is bordered by a pond on the entire left side of the fairway.
The Gold-to-Red, par 72, 6,429 -yard course has a hillier design and the 475-yard, par-four 16th hole may be the hardest of all 36 holes at the club due to the woods on both sides and the varying conditions. The course garners four stars from Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play,” and achieved recognition by the Zagat Golf Guide the past four years. Flanders Valley Golf Course was awarded the “Top 100 Must Play Courses” by Golf Styles Magazine, and the site of the USGA Eastern Regional Qualifying Round-Women’s Public Links tournament. www.FlandersValleyGC.com.
Pinch Brook Golf Course is an executive length layout designed by the world-renowned development firm, Rees Jones Inc, and offers the advantage for players who want to get on and off in less time than the championship-length courses. However, this shorter course is not short on challenges. The 190-yard, par-three sixth hole forces players to hit around a pond, mainly because it is shaped like the state of New Jersey. The par-65, 4,996-yard course gained three and a half stars from Golf Digest’s “Best Places to Play,” and “Top 100 Must Play Courses” by Golf Styles Magazine. Water hazards enhance the majority of holes, and elevated, undulating greens are sure to test the skill of the most seasoned golfer. www.PinchbrookGC.com
Sunset Valley Golf Course is regarded as one of the premier golf courses in New Jersey. It is consistently rated among the best Public Courses in New Jersey with four stars from Golf Digest’s “Best Place to Play,” and one of the “Top 100 Must Play Courses” by Golf Styles Magazine, and recipient of “Top Women-Friendly Courses Award” by Golf For Women magazine.
Sunset Valley, designed by Hal Purdy, has a challenging design and fast greens. The course plays to a par of 70 and is 6,483 yards in length. The final three holes are among the best finishers n the state, according to many golfers. The 16th through 18th holes each present a challenge to even the expert golfer. The 16th is a 555-yard, par-five that goes uphill. The 17th and 18th holes are both par-fours and play 420 to 430 yards. www.SunsetValleyGC.com.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY
Meadows Golf Club boasts improvements made during the prior off-season. The greens staff has worked hard to improve golf course conditions by adding drainage to areas, working on the second hole tee box and cleaning-up various unsightly areas. The course has seen improvements on both the 5th and 12th fairways, the seventh hole tee complex and bunkers. Golfers will also notice the addition of out of bounds and hazard stakes throughout the course.
www.MeadowsGolfLincolnPark.com.
Raritan Landing Golf Course is a 3,300-yard, par-58, 18 hole track designed by Stephen Kay and opened on Oct. 1 1999. It offers players a premium on shot making and accuracy, with small greens and narrow fairways. Raritan Landing provides a true test for all golfers despite its short length. www.MiddlesexCountyGolf.com
Tamarack Golf Club features two 18-hole championship golf courses designed by Hal Purdy. The East (Gold and Blue) course is a 6,226-yard, par-71 course and the West (Red and White) course is a 7,025-yard, par-72 course. Tamarack also has locker rooms, electric golf carts and a superb practice facility. The driving range features 34 stalls, five target greens, tees and tee pads. There are also two large putting greens. www.MiddlesexCountyGolf.com.
East Course
OTHERS
Cranbury Golf Club is a classic-style, 18-hole golf course featuring small undulating greens that are well bunkered. Built in 1964 by Gary Rhenn, but recently redesigned to include all new green-side bunkers, the course offers excellent playing conditions. Unique to Cranbury are the six par-threes. From the fourth hole, which plays to a yardage of 225 yards over water, to the 12th hole at 155 yards over the “Bog” players will find some of the best three shot holes in the area. Don’t let the par 70 deceive you because the course still plays well over 6,200 yards.
www.CranburyGolf.com
Fox Hollow Golf Club offers a challenging par-70 golf course with extensive practice facilities and a clubhouse that offers an elegant backdrop suitable for any special event or a casual drink or meal after your round. Fox Hollow was voted one of the top Northeast golf courses by readers of Garden State Golf. www.FoxHollowGC.com.
#18
High Bridge Hills Golf Club is home to championship golf in the British-Irish tradition. The par-70, 6,500-yard course provides golfers an authentic true-links layout on spectacular terrain overlooking the scenic Spruce Run Reservoir. Elevation changes are aplenty, including the dramatic par-three 8th hole with a tee-to-green drop of nearly 100 feet over a natural gorge. www.HighbridgeHills.com.
#11
Hyatt Hills Golf Complex is a golf haven with a nine-hole golf course featuring bentgrass tees, greens, and fairways, and bluegrass/fescue roughs. A putting and chipping area allow you to work on all short game shots. With a 50 station driving range, including 11 covered and heated, you can always work on your game. There’s also an 18-hole miniature golf course.
www.HyattHills.com
Royce Brook Golf Club has two championship golf courses. The East Course at Royce Brook is open to both the public and members of the Club, and is rated “Four Stars” by Golf Digest’s Places to Play, and is rated as one of GolfWeek’s “Top 10 Golf Courses” among public courses in the state of New Jersey. Featuring a 6,946-yard, par-72, parkland-style layout, the course’s wetlands and wild native grasses intertwine with abundant wooded areas, traditional shallow bunkers, and wide fairways.
The West Course at Royce Brook is restricted to member play, and features a 7,158-yard, par-72, rugged links-style layout with open terrain, fescue grass, and dramatic bunkering style. The course is ranked among Golf Digest’s Top 20 Golf Courses in New Jersey, and has received the coveted “Four Stars” as well. www.RoyceBrook.com.
Seaview Golf Resort’s Pines Course opened in 1929 and was designed by William Flynn and Howard Toomey. Unlike the Resort’s Bay Course, the Pines winds its way through New Jersey woodlands, presenting elevation changes and bountiful doglegs. The course measures 6,800 yards, and it features large bunkers and expansive, sloping greens. The 16th hole was the site of Sam Snead’s miraculous 60-foot chip-in to win the 1942 PGA Championship, his first major.
The Bay Course opened in 1914 and was designed by Hugh Wilson and Donald Ross. The 6,300-yard layout is less a test of length, and more a test of imagination, accuracy and short game. The Bay Course presents a Scottish-links feel, dramatic seaside views, deep pot bunkers and small undulating greens. It is the current host of the ShopRite LPGA Classic, as well as nine holes in the 1942 PGA Championship. www.SeaviewGolf.com.
Pines Course
Knob Hill Golf Club is one of New Jersey’s premier semi-private golf club and its members and the public an exceptional club experience. Knob Hill Golf Club is a Mark McCumber designed facility. It is McCumber’s first design in the Northeast. McCumber has reflected, “It is important to design a course that would showcase my talent in the Northeast. I am tickled about the way Knob Hill turned out.” www.KnobHillGolfClub.com.
Concordia Golf Club is a challenging 6,200-yard championship 18-hole course designed by Brian Ault and Tom Clark. Concordia boasts three sets of tees, a grass driving range, a practice putting green, a clubhouse, and a newly renovated restaurant. Accuracy and shot-making is a must at Concordia. www.ConcordiaGolfClub.com.
