Area country clubs on the upswing after facility upgrades
Apr. 25—Two area country clubs are finding success after new leadership helped revitalize their facilities in much-needed ways.
Moila Country Club was facing a tough situation on multiple fronts in 2020. GreatLIFE KC was transitioning out of managing the course, and the COVID-19 pandemic presented new challenges.
Moila's golf course closed in 2020 after needing an overhaul project to fix the property, which was in rough shape.
Jay Flinn, operations manager at Moila Country Club, said the situation was about as bad as it could get.
"It was real dire. Moila Shriners had ran the golf course for years, decided to lease it out to GreatLIFE of Kansas City. They did not do a very good job of running it," Flinn said. "They did not maintain it, the condition of the golf course became almost unplayable. So as Moila Shrine, we got rid of them and didn't know what we were going to do."
Ken Dunlap has been a member of the Moila Country Club for 30 years, so he's seen the facility at its best and its worst.
"The condition of the course was as bad as it had ever been. I'd never seen it that bad as it was. It was not favorable," Dunlap said. "I think there was certainly a concern there that we would continue to have a golf course. Members are not going to pay to play a goat ranch, or something like that."
Fortunately for Moila members and staff, the uncertainty didn't last long.
The club received a boost in restoration from the Craig Realty Group, which is owned by businessman local Steven Craig. Now, the Shriners own the property of the country club, and the Craig Realty Group oversees the operations. In the fourth year since that change, the facilities are thriving.
Flinn said with the help of Craig, they've been able to keep up with the golf course.
"With Mr. Craig involved in the funding, we're getting there to help maintain it and make it a good place to play," Flinn said.
Moila has more than just a golf course, including event space, a pool and a pro shop. The club's other facilities have seen several renovations over the past few years of transition, too, including an $18,000 renovation to the pool.
Dunlap said upgrades to the facilities and spaces like the golf course help uplift the community aspect of the club.
"It's golf, but it's also the friendships and relationships that you've built together," Dunlap said. "There's been four of us that essentially have played together for 30 years and then others have joined. It's about golf, but it's more than just golf."
Moila has seen a growth in membership as well. In the first year with Craig Realty Group helping with revitalizations, there were around 170 members. Now, the club has grown to around 230 members.
That's not the only country club seeing progress after undergoing changes. The Craig Realty Group also took over the St. Joseph Country Club, replacing the previous owner, GreatLIFE KC.
Rick Sumpter, director of golf operations, said the model of GreatLIFE wasn't something that worked well with the country club, which created some uneasiness with the members.
Craig stepped in to purchase the property right around the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We were actually shut down for a while, maybe 45 to 60 days, but the membership did stick with us," Sumpter said. "COVID in general throughout the country and the economy really hurt everybody. But specifically the club, it didn't really hurt that bad."
Sumpter said Craig is a visual owner of the entire property, which has driven upgrades to things like the golf course.
"His vision is every hole should be a picture. That was the goal on the property itself," Sumpter said.
The St. Joseph Country Club course recently opened a new practice facility that includes new target greens on the practice range, a new putting green that is nearly 100 yards long and two areas where players can practice their short game.
More renovations are in the works to continue improving the aesthetics of the course. Sumpter credits greenskeeper Bryan Taylor for keeping the grass on the course in prime condition.
Changes to the entire facility have taken place to enhance the experience of what the Country Club has to offer, not just the golf course.
Along with golf course changes, the facility has seen other enhancements. The clubhouse has seen room remodels to include a bridal suite and a galley room with pictures of St. Joseph. In 2024, plans are in place to expand the ballroom by adding a patio for outdoor event space.
Sumpter said over the past few years, the building has been modernized while keeping its original architecture.
"There were rooms in here that hadn't been touched since the 1950s with orange shag carpet, plaster falling off the ceilings. Those rooms immediately were scrapped, gutted and redone," Sumpter said.
He said these upgrades have cost millions of dollars, but it takes a large amount of money to create an exclusive experience.
"We want to be that private club that you can go to, be able to come out pretty much whenever you want, get on the golf course, play a round ... come in and sit down, have dinner, invite your friends out," Sumpter said. "It encompasses the whole piece of property. Not just one aspect. Not just the golf, not just the dining, not just the fitness room, but the whole piece of property."
Sumpter said upgrades are part of Craig's goal for the property now and moving forward. From the work of director of events and marketing Elizabeth Tomes to general manager Jim Sides to the food on-site offered by executive chef Ryan Arnold, it takes a village to make it happen.
"He wants (this place) to be recognized not just on the local level, but on the state and national level, conversations about having a national membership and making this more of a destination," Sumpter said. "Those are all things in what we're trying to do. Whether it's the service that we provide, the hospitality, the actual property, anybody from around the country that comes in and sees this piece of property are amazed at the beauty in what we have."
Riley Funk can be reached at riley.funk@newspressnow.com.
