Changes at Inniscrone Golf Club

[o_man]

Avondale, PA

Pasted from Joe Logan's blog. Heard some rumors previously...

http://myphillygolf....il.asp?id=10615

Some links near the end regarding how to soften the course, making it more player friendly.

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Big changes are coming to

Inniscrone Golf Club in Chester County.

For starters, Lori and Mike Van Sickle, the husband and wife who have managed the course since 2009, are out, replaced by a local management firm,

Heathland Hospitality Group. According to officials at London Grove Township, which owns Inniscrone, the break-up with the Van Sickles is contentious and the transition is not going smoothly.

"Everything is with the lawyers now," said David Connors, a township supervisor and member of the Inniscrone Golf Course Advisory Committee. Minutes of Golf Advisory Committee

In addition, two architects, including Malvern-based

Gil Hanse, the original designer of Inniscrone, have been brought in to suggest possible changes and improvements to the course, likely to be implemented in 2012.

Inniscrone Open

To the confusion of many golfers, it's hard to even know whether Inniscroneis open these days. It is, with Heathland Hospitality in place for the past two weeks. Golfers wouldn't know that, however, if they tried to contact the course via its old website,

Inniscrone Golf Course, or its old phone number, which is currently out of service.

Part of the dispute between the Van Sickles and London Grove Township is over who owns the website address, the phone number and the email list of Inniscrone's regulars. There is also disagreement over whether back rent is owed.

Until that is resolved, Heathland Hospitality is building a new website with a slightly different address, InniscroneGolf Club, which is under construction; there is also a new phone number: 484-720-8442.

The Van Sickles have not responded to an email requesting comment. Most of what is known comes from David Connors, the London Grove Township supervisor, who offered the following account of developments.

Van Sickle, a PGA Master Professional who spent most of her career at Dupont CC, was hired to manageInniscrone, along with her husband, Mike, beginning in 2009. They had a five-year contract with an "out" clause after three years.

In 2009, said Connors, Inniscrone turned a profit of $106,000. In 2010, however, the course lost $60,000. The losses for 2011 were going to be worse.

"Obviously, we were headed in the wrong direction," said Connors.

As a result, said Connors, in October, the township exercised it's option to nix the final two years of the contract. They informed the Van Sickles and put the contract out for bid. Eight companies put in bids. The township eventually settled on Heathland, in large part because they liked the man who would be managing Inniscrone,Tom Bolko, who had spent 21 years at Coatesville CC.

Meanwhile, London Grove Township is considering changes to the course as part of a five-year plan. To do that, the township took a report it already had from the U.S. Golf Association, along with an assessment by architectTom Jackson, plus a form informal report from Hanse.

USGA Report Tom Jackson Proposal Gil Hanse's notes

"We took all three reports and lined them up side by side and found a common theme: tee boxes, sand traps and trees were the main focus," said Connors.

Much of what they are talking about doing is maintenance work, not wholesale design changes. More sand in the bunkers, trim trees where needed, add a tee box here and there. They also want to pave the parking lot and build a cart barn.

"Nothing major," said Connors. "We just want to make the course more playable."

[Freerider]

This should be interesting. How many owners have they had? sheesh. When you read the reports and the comments at the end it basically adds up to: "great ideas, but we have no money to implement them". At least that's the way I read it. Build a super tricked up track and now remove all the tricks? I honestly am not a fan of Hanse designed courses (have played several in the area). Here's an idea. How about making something that would create a draw that no one else has in the area? A top notch all grass practice facility? I'd be willing to pay for that. But I digress. The true shame of the matter is that it will be difficult to create an everyday players course out of what currently exists without funding.

[o_man]

I agree, it will be challenging to make the course more "playable" for higher handicappers and short-hitters. The township just released their 5 year plan for the course. You can find a link on Joe Logan's blog or possibly London Grove Township's website.

[Grimace45]

It is a shame that Lori and Mike are out. Lori was the GM at my former club for a time and she was a joy to deal with as a member.

[Freerider]

I agree, it will be challenging to make the course more "playable" for higher handicappers and short-hitters. The township just released their 5 year plan for the course. You can find a link on Joe Logan's blog or possibly London Grove Township's website.

 

Thanks for pointing that out o_man. The industry has, and will continue to go through, some pretty drastic changes, as hitting the "reset button" effects ripple through. Makes me wonder what the local government is doing trying to run a golf course. I have no data to speak to success or failure here, but I'm a general cynic when it comes to that topic.

[o_man]

[quote name='Grimace45' timestamp='1326393129' post='4072177']
It is a shame that Lori and Mike are out. Lori was the GM at my former club for a time and she was a joy to deal with as a member.
[/quote]

I agree, she was an excellent ambassador for the course. They also were very active communicating specials and other info via email, more so than any course in the area.

[o_man]

Thanks for pointing that out o_man. The industry has, and will continue to go through, some pretty drastic changes, as hitting the "reset button" effects ripple through. Makes me wonder what the local government is doing trying to run a golf course. I have no data to speak to success or failure here, but I'm a general cynic when it comes to that topic.

 

I understand. IMO, it's a no lose situation for the township. They bought the course for somewhere between $750K - $850K. If they are successful, it will be a nice revenue stream. If not, they have the option of selling some or all of the land for development.

[Duff_Duffington]

Could be a great course again, the condition was diminishing towards the end.