The SCGA has a commitment to provide its members with the highest quality and most comprehensive services and programs possible. The SCGA Golf Course, purchased in 1994 to provide an additional member benefit, did not live up to our original objectives to serve as a multi-faceted member benefit, including use for member tournaments and member play. Therefore, effective April 30, the course has been sold.
While the SCGA’s course did find many successes, a combination of factors, principally its location, prevented the property from serving as a benefit for all 155,000 Southern California members. Moving forward, we will better serve the SCGA community by focusing on new and expanding services that will benefit the membership as a whole, such as Member Outings, Summer Series, a comprehensive Web site and broader-based partnerships.
The buyers, who have renamed the property The Golf Club at Rancho California, will honor all 2010 SCGA tournaments, as well as affiliate club events and other pre-scheduled outings, and continue to welcome SCGA members to their facility. The buyers have expressed their desire to maintain a top quality facility and we look forward to working with The Golf Club at Rancho California as one of our SCGA member clubs.
We thank you for your continued support of the SCGA and encourage you to contact us with questions or comments.
Q. Who purchased the property?
A. The buyers are a company called The Golf Clubs of California, which currently owns seven properties in California: two courses in Northern California and five in Southern California. Its Southern California offerings include The Golf Club at Glen Ivy, The Golf Club at La Quinta, The Golf Club of California, Royal Vista Golf Club and Westridge Golf Club.
Q. What’s the future of the SCGA Affiliate Clubs at the course? Will they be given an alternate course to hold events?
A. There are three SCGA Affiliate Clubs directly tied to the course. We are reaching out to the club presidents to ensure we keep them as SCGA Affiliate Clubs. We encourage all SCGA member clubs to continue to utilize this facility, as well other nearby SCGA member clubs.
Q. Now that the golf course has sold, will I still receive the SCGA member rate?
A: Yes, all SCGA members will continue to receive the preferred rates they're used to at The Golf Club at Rancho California. Additionally, allied associations, including the Northern California GA, Oregon GA and Washington State GA, will continue to receive reciprocal play rates as in the past. The owners will operate the course "business as usual."
Q. How will the sale affect the 2010 SCGA tournament schedule? Will they continue to be held at the course?
A. The sale will not affect the 2010 SCGA tournament schedule. The new owners will honor all events scheduled through the end of the year, as well as other outside events from clubs and other groups. For 2011 and beyond, the new owners will work diligently with the SCGA and its member clubs to offer competitive rates and packages for events and outings.
Q. Will the course be considered for an SCGA qualifier or championship after it’s no longer owned by the SCGA?
A. Yes.
Q. What reciprocal play will be available for members of the Northern California Golf Association, Oregon Golf Association and the Washington State Golf Association here in Southern California? Will those allied associations still have playing privileges at the former SCGA Golf Course?
A. Other allied golf associations will continue to receive playing privileges at the former SCGA Golf Course.
Q. Will SCGA members still receive discounts at Northern California’s Poppy Hills and Poppy Ridge, as well as at Oregon Golf Association’s course and the Home Course in Washington state?
A. Yes. SCGA members will continue to receive discounts to Poppy Hills, Poppy Ridge, the OGA course and the Home Course in Washington State.
Q. What happens to the name of the golf course? Will there be a grace period of its current name?
A. Effective immediately, the golf course has been renamed The Golf Club at Rancho California. The sale agreement states the course can use “formerly known as The SCGA Golf Course” for six months.
Q. When did the SCGA buy the golf course? What was the reason?
A. The course was purchased by the SCGA in 1994 to create a broad-based benefit for its members. Many affiliate clubs conducted outings and tournaments, and the SCGA staff used the site to stage championships and qualifying competitions. In addition, the course supported various junior golf and turf research programs.
Q. So why did the SCGA sell the golf course?
A. While the course allowed us to accomplish many of our objectives, a combination of factors – primarily location with respect to the membership – prevented us from reaching the success we sought when the facility was purchased.
Q. What will happen with partnerships between The SCGA Golf Course and local businesses, like wineries and restaurants?
A. The SCGA Golf Course did not have any long-term partnerships with local vendors, rather “friends of the golf course” that sponsored various member events. The new buyers look forward to working with all local vendors and businesses.
Q. What’s the effective date of the sale?
A. The sale was completed Friday, April 30, 2010.
Q. What will the SCGA do with the proceeds from the sale?
A. The proceeds will be invested to help fund the continued expansion of member programs and to create new ones.
Q. What is the purchase price?
A. The buyer has requested that all terms and conditions of the sale remain confidential.
Q. Does the SCGA have any remaining ties to the golf course, such as land parcels, ownership, interest, financing, etc.?
A. No. Effective with the sale of The SCGA Golf Course, the SCGA no longer has any financial or operating ties to the golf course.
Q. What will the buyer do with the property? Will they develop it, subdivide it, or will it remain a golf course?
A. The buyers have expressed an interest in investing in the facility and the structure of the golf course.
Q. How long has the property been for sale?
A. The course has been for sale since March 2008.
