Upward Trend
Grand Harbor Golf & Yacht Club has been on a steady, positive and upward trend for the past six years. East Coast Golf Management took over all operations in January 2016. In a period in time when the private country club scene seemed to be suffering, Grand Harbor is a shining success story.
Secret Sauce?
The success at Grand Harbor is the result of members and management working together (in all aspects) to achieve a goal. Leadership, innovation, and motivated members came together to create success.
The COVID Factor
Grand Harbor, like most all courses, received an influx of new play during the pandemic. The club saw rounds increase to nearly 25,000 in 2021 from the high teens in 2019. The staff does firmly believe the increased numbers will be permanent as they have been pro-active in developing participation in both their ladies’ and junior programs along with other engagement opportunities like hosting the Big South women’s and men’s championship each spring.
Clubhouse & Course Renovations
Back in March 2020 the group broke ground on renovations that included a complete restoration (doubling in size) of the main clubhouse. Over 3 million dollars were raised for the project, much of which came from members who are non-equity participants. Let that sink in.
There have been several course improvements to the Davis Love III design. Perhaps one of the most impacting were the bunker renovations. A new drainage solution was added to all 62 bunkers to prevent recurring washouts.
A new Tap Room offers a wide variety of specialty beers, high-end wines and other libations—even Prosecco on tap. More porch, patio and outdoor seating, around an abundance of available heaters and firepits, have helped to encourage visits year-round, even when there might not be any games to watch.
Slice Pizza Restaurant
One of the most interesting stories emanating from Grand Harbor’s success, has to do with taking a storage closet and turning it into a Pizza Restaurant. Slices Pizza is now a stand alone restaurant within the main clubhouse restaurant. Slices Pizza creates a variety of pies in both 10″ and 16″ for hungry players. For those familiar with golf operations, the Food & Beverage can be a challenge, to say the least. In this case, the Grand Harbor team took a non-revenue-producing space and turned it into a serious contribution to the bottom line.
Lifestyle
East Coast Golf Management is known for it’s focus on the lifestyle around the game of golf. Grand Harbor exudes “lifestyle”. With the marina, aquatic center, tennis center, equestrian stables, The Retreat at Grand Harbor, The Plantation at Grand Harbor, and an engaged membership this community is a prime destination for those in search of a lifestyle steeped in southern heritage.
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