LAREDO, Texas -- Bandera, Texas- based Southern Golf Properties assumed management of all aspects of operations at Casa Blanca Golf Course here in this golf-crazy, South Texas border town at midnight November 1, marking a new beginning for the golf course and its patrons.
Southern Golf Properties, which already manages five courses in South and West Texas, earned the right to operate Casa Blanca after a protracted evaluation of 10 applicants by the Commissioners' Court of Webb County, which developed and owns the track near the Laredo International Airport.
After the court's comprehensive evaluation of the plans and qualifications of each of the applicants, Southern Golf Properties' proposal won county approval over the likes of Kemper Golf Management and Billy Casper Golf Management, as well as a bid to continue operations for the course by Balt Ramos, Inc., which has run Casa Blanca since 1993. The term of Southern Golf Properties' contract to operate the course is for five years, with a three-year and then a two-year renewal.
"Southern Golf Properties feels privileged and honored to have been awarded the contract for the management of Casa Blanca Golf Course," said John Junker, Southern Golf's chief executive officer. "We look forward to working with Webb County and serving the community and its golfing needs. Our entire team welcomes this challenge and this wonderful opportunity."
Casa Blanca Golf Course, which plays to 6,539 yards from its back set of three tees and to a par of 72, was designed by Leon Howard and opened for operation in 1967. There have been some changes to the track in the 40-plus years since a tee was first put in the ground, but in recent years Casa Blanca has fallen into disrepair. As a result, rounds - and the accompanying revenue those rounds created for the county and the community - have decreased substantially.
"We are all excited about working with Southern Golf Properties and the changes and the improvements they have proposed for Casa Blanca Golf Course," said Rosaura "Wawi" Tijerina, Webb County Commissioner for Precinct 2. "The management, operation and maintenance of Casa Blanca is a quality of life issue for the citizens of Webb County and - we believe - that having Southern Golf Properties at the course will improve that quality of life."
To aid in that direction, Webb County has pledged funds to Casa Blanca's revival and eventual renovation. Southern Golf Properties' plan of attack for the course begins this week with a thorough testing of soil and water at the track and the firm has set a Nov. 28, 2008 deadline to return to Webb County with a list of proposed capital improvements.
"Our first order of business would be improving playing conditions for local golfers," Junker said. "We anticipate doing work on the hitting surfaces of the golf course - including the fairways - and improving the putting greens," Junker said. "We have a great team with Southern Golf and a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience. We feel very confident we can get things going here."
Junker added that community outreach will also be high on the company's priority list. "We are going to try to find out what the needs are of the community, and we address those needs," he said. "We want to get kids involved, we'll get adults involved and we'll try to get the ladies of the community involved. We will go to them. We'll go to the schools. We take that very seriously."
Both Junker and several Webb County Commissioners said that the input of golf architect Roy Bechtol - who last month announced he would partner with Southern Golf Properties on various projects - was a key to awarding the contract to the firm.
"We are excited about bringing great golf back to Webb County and the patrons of Casa Blanca Golf Course," Bechtol said. "We will look at the course and see where it needs improvements and what they have that is good but just needs a little tweak here and there. I believe in Southern Golf Properties' vision for Casa Blanca."
About Southern Golf Properties
Southern Golf Properties, based in Bandera, Texas, is a diverse golf management and consulting firm encompassing all facets of the golf industry. Its current management portfolio is concentrated in the Southern portion of the United States but the firm will be moving into Mexico in late 2008 or early 2009.
Southern Golf Properties, through its association with Bechtol Golf Design, offers a "cradle to running" concept that incorporates golf course design, construction, land planning, marketing and management - the five fingers of the firm's overall business model. Southern Golf Properties also allows current golf course owners an "a la carte" option, allowing the client to pick and choose the services it needs to make its course a success.
The principals of Southern Golf Properties (southerngolfproperties.com) are Bryan Gathright, Southern Golf Properties' president and one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers, and John Junker, SGP's chief executive officer. Roy Bechtol, an Austin, Texas-based golf course architect and community planner, is a partner with the firm.
Southern Golf Properties currently manages five golf-course properties: The Club at ConCan in southwest Texas; The Flying L Guest Ranch in Bandera, Texas; Alsatian Golf Club in Castroville, Texas; the Utopia Golf Course in Utopia, Texas; and, most recently, Casa Blanca Golf Course in Laredo, Texas. The firm is in negotiations to manage a handful of other courses, including The Waterford Club in Marble Falls, Texas, The Golf Club of Texas in San Antonio and the not-yet-built Sun Chase Golf Club in Austin, Texas.
Media Contact:
Steve Habel
512-474-0806 (office)
512-535-6120 (direct)
512-699-2133 (cell)
stevehabel@hotmail.com
shabel@bechtolgolfdesign.com
