RIVERHILL SUCCESS STORY
Riverhill Country Club was a highly acclaimed private club. Located in Kerrville, Texas, Riverhill’s badge of honor came directly from one of the most important sources in Texas, when non-other than, Byron Nelson proclaimed, “If I had one course to play, it would be Riverhill”. This once proud club, flourished through the 1990s after being purchased by the members in 1986. With few improvements made by the membership to existing structures and infrastructures, combined with a dwindling, aging membership, by the late 2000s, Riverhill’s future, as a viable business, was definitely in doubt.
Upon hearing of the state of affairs at Riverhill Country Club and knowing the historical significance of this Hill Country Classic, Southern Golf Property’s management team went to work to purchase the club from the Members. There were at least 6 buyers vying for this highly sought after property. Southern Golf Properties held countless meetings with many different factions of Riverhill Members and finally in an almost unanimous vote, (286 – For, 1 – Against) the purchase of Riverhill Country Club by Southern Golf Properties was approved.
After purchasing Riverhill Country Club, Southern Golf Properties management team immediately went to work with an aggressive new approach to this distressed Member-Owned facility. Employees in all departments were reevaluated by position, retrained by new management, and given new levels of expectation. Structural refurbishments started with the casual dining facility, Men’s and Ladies locker rooms and Golf Shop. We continued to make modern advancements in all areas, including lengthening the golf course while respecting the wishes of course designers and architects, Byron Nelson and Joe Finger.
In the present down economy, miraculously, Southern Golf Properties on-site management team added over 80 new members. Where once the aging membership had declined at an alarming rate, the current membership is not only increasing but getting younger at the same time.
With improvements made to the Food and Beverage quality and service, refurbishments to existing structures, and reinventing the way any Country Club in the country can succeed and excel; we made a new name for Riverhill Country Club. An imaginative marketing strategy, a brand new logo and a brilliant face lift, are only a few of the innovative concepts Southern Golf Properties used to enhance a once proud tradition and ultimately find success with a productive and profitable new business model.
Behind Southern Golf Properties’ sound management philosophy, are numerous professionals dedicated to bringing out the best of any distressed or mismanaged property. Riverhill is only one example of our success in regaining this clubs status among the Best Country Clubs the Texas Hill Country has to offer.
