Posted by Amy Haefele on Wed, May 18, 2011 @ 09:37 AM
By Ryan Yakel, AIA
Now is a great time to start a master planning process and to take a close look at facilities improvements to your club. I know we are still climbing out of a recession, but, for dollars spent, the master planning process is one of the least expensive components of any building or remodeling program. Also, by starting now, your club will be poised to act when the time is right to present the plan to the members for approval.
CCI recommends an overall master plan that starts by listening to the members, either by way of focus groups or a membership survey. Make sure they understand that the club is starting the process now so that it will be prepared to act when the members are ready.
Also, a complete physical review of the club’s facilities is important to identify any immediate needs. The next step is to work with a professional club planner, such as CCI, to review different plan scenarios to meet both the current and future needs of the club’s members. The plan can be phased over a certain period of time or executed as a single project. Either way, make sure that portions of the club are open to the members so they can continue to utilize the club or temporary facilities throughout the remodeling process.
Planning for the club’s future is always a prudent move for club boards and management alike. Taking the time to start now shows forward thinking, leadership and a commitment by the club to take action, in lieu of waiting or simply doing nothing. We commend those clubs that have already started their facilities master plan process and encourage your club to see the benefits of being ahead of the curve.
Give us a shout to find out more about starting the process (call 972-253-3583 or email marketing@cciclubdesign.com), or check back here as I lay out the steps to successful master planning in future blogs.
Posted by Amy Haefele on Fri, May 13, 2011 @ 02:49 PM
If you read the previous post this week about CCI completing the Hillcrest Country Club remodel , here's an article that was published in an Idaho magazine about the project.
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Posted by LISA CHRIS on Thu, May 12, 2011 @ 11:18 AM
As we move forward, clubs must be able to adapt to change. Among those changes will be the following:
- Addition of fitness centers and spa services.
- Informal dining spaces will be added or expanded.
- Availability of takeout is expected to expand as well
- Members are likely to use the Web site to make reservations and schedule tee times.
- Clubs will also have to provide an extensive array of interest among smaller segments of members. Clubs must accommodate families and children in order to increase their involvement in the club.
- Fire pits on the patio overlooking the golf course provide a warm and cozy atmosphere for cocktails.
To read more about club trends, visit the Trends in Clubs page on our Web site and Ryan Yakel’s blog on Facebook, Top Five Current Clubhouse Design Trends.
Posted by Amy Haefele on Tue, May 10, 2011 @ 04:12 PM
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Boise, Idaho – May 2011: CCI announces the completion of a comprehensive remodel of Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho. The renovations and new additions created a club facility that has been an immediate hit with the club’s membership. Recently, over 500 members enjoyed the club’s grand opening after 18 months of a multi-phased construction period.
New amenities include a covered patio with a movable glass exterior wall system, which allows the space to be either open-air or fully conditioned year-round. Also, new, larger windows throughout the club provide a wonderful view of downtown Boise in the valley below and the mountains in the distance. A new fitness facility that overlooks the golf course was added and instantly became one of the club’s most popular amenities with the membership.
Ultimately, the new design tied together two of the club’s existing buildings to create a single clubhouse structure that is anchored by a centrally-located covered patio. The existing grill was removed and replaced with a more open grill that captures the view of the golf course and valley. The ballroom, bar lounge and private dining rooms were all remodeled with new finishes and furnishings. Additionally, the men’s and women’s locker rooms and lounges, golf shop and pool were completely reworked to bring the facility up to modern private club standards.
Stone columns and wood beam accents were added to the exterior of the clubhouse with an emphasis on the entry areas, such as the Porte Cochere, the ballroom entry and golf/fitness/athletic entry. Interior trim includes stained knotty alder moldings and paneling throughout. Granite countertops are featured on both bars and in the restrooms and locker rooms. Vaulted wood-beamed ceilings accentuate the covered patio and new mixed grill spaces, making them very warm, inviting and comfortable for the members.
In addition to the architectural design, the club’s interiors were also designed by CCI, and they reflect the casual nature of the club’s members with the new finishes and furnishings. Custom chandeliers and light fixtures were utilized extensively and give the club a true one-of-a-kind feel.
Throughout the early design process, CCI worked closely with the Board, management and planning committee to achieve a favorable vote of 85% of the membership for the project. CCI successfully completed the exciting project both on time and in budget. The club’s membership increased over the course of the project, especially after the first phase of construction – the athletic areas, locker rooms and covered patio were completed in June 2010. Now, with the club 100% complete, Hillcrest Country Club continues to be one of the premier clubs in the Northwest.
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Posted by Amy Haefele on Tue, May 03, 2011 @ 01:59 PM
Fort Worth, Texas – May 2011:
How do you reduce the square footage of a city club by half, while maintaining the functionality of the original? CCI recently completed the “new” Petroleum Club of Fort Worth, taking the club from two 20,000 square foot floors to a single level on the 40th floor in the downtown Carter Burgess Tower. After completely demolishing the floor to create the new space, CCI selected a transitional décor to update the club from the very traditional style the club had been for the past 30 years. Now, the club’s atmosphere meets the needs of today’s discerning member.
The most exciting new spaces in the club include the main dining room with its arched ceiling, the bar lounge with its glowing backlit amber back bar, and a wine room surrounded by conditioned wine cabinets and adjacent cellar. An added surprise for the members was an exterior patio off the main dining room. The patio is open–air, with a glass and steel guardrail where the windows once were—40 stories above the street. A fireplace and comfortable exterior furnishings finish off the patio.
Additional club amenities include a state-of-the-art audio/visual system throughout the club, a dance floor complete with a DJ station, and a large built-in buffet that can be accessed from every dining room on the floor. These renovations demonstrate the ability of the members of this history-rich club to adapt to the times, achieve more efficient use of its space, and still provide a showcase on par with the finest city clubs in the nation.
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Posted by Amy Haefele on Fri, Dec 03, 2010 @ 09:48 AM
Although the economy is allegedly making a comeback, many clubs are still feeling the squeeze of dwindling membership numbers. While a portion of the population still has money to spend on so-called luxury items, the length of this recession may make them reluctant to invest in club memberships.
The key is to show them that your club is worth the money they pay to belong.
While golf clubs across the country are unable to build new facilities, renovating their original buildings is already proving to be a highly successful investment.
Check out these examples of successful renovations that we've done, and you can click on the links to see additional photos of these beautiful buildings.
Hillcrest Country Club in Boise, Idaho, was down by 46 members before starting a remodeling project with us. They opened Phase I in July 2010, and they already have a waiting list for membership.
The Summit in Tulsa, Oklahoma, has added over 200 new members since completion of their renovation in November 2009.
Whether you use us or another architectural design firm, the results are clear: making your club relevant to to current and potential members revitalizes the life of your club, even during these trying times.
Keep checking back here to our blog and we will be posting information that can help you do that.