While a bit off topic I totally agree that overall clubhouses are a waste of money, effort and attention. It astounds me when someone critiques a golf course and mentions the clubhouse (I am speaking only to public golf courses). Why does a clubhouse have any bearing on what you thought of the golf course and same goes for a restaurant. All of that is golf adjacent at best.
I think some folks, myself included, like to have a post-round wind down with friends. A clubhouse that cannot provide this can lead to the experience being less pleasant. I have strong opinions on how a course bar/grill should be designed, but that's for another article.
The golf course is an executive and known locally as "The Mats" because you hit off range mats on every tee, but Newport Beach Golf Course in Newport Beach, CA has a pizza restaurant called Original Pizza that is probably slightly more popular than the course. They just moved locations and moved into the restaurant spot at the course, which can be seen from the main road, is next to a fully lit driving range, and was already somewhat popular before moving in. This could be another option, to have other restaurants take over the clubhouse restaurant space and simply rent the space, bringing in their already established following to the course. Lots of ghost kitchens popping up, why not slot something like that into one of these spaces as well?
The Sand Trap Pub at the Gearhart Golf Links is a great example. Street facing with lots of parking, has it's own hotel plus very close to other hotels. It shares its building with the clubhouse but it's purpose-built and large enough to easily accommodate both. Maintenance shed is at the edge of the course between 1 green and 2 tee and has road access. Won't say the restaurant is better than the course but I have definitely gone to the restaurant when golf wasn't involved.
While a bit off topic I totally agree that overall clubhouses are a waste of money, effort and attention. It astounds me when someone critiques a golf course and mentions the clubhouse (I am speaking only to public golf courses). Why does a clubhouse have any bearing on what you thought of the golf course and same goes for a restaurant. All of that is golf adjacent at best.
I think some folks, myself included, like to have a post-round wind down with friends. A clubhouse that cannot provide this can lead to the experience being less pleasant. I have strong opinions on how a course bar/grill should be designed, but that's for another article.
The golf course is an executive and known locally as "The Mats" because you hit off range mats on every tee, but Newport Beach Golf Course in Newport Beach, CA has a pizza restaurant called Original Pizza that is probably slightly more popular than the course. They just moved locations and moved into the restaurant spot at the course, which can be seen from the main road, is next to a fully lit driving range, and was already somewhat popular before moving in. This could be another option, to have other restaurants take over the clubhouse restaurant space and simply rent the space, bringing in their already established following to the course. Lots of ghost kitchens popping up, why not slot something like that into one of these spaces as well?
The Sand Trap Pub at the Gearhart Golf Links is a great example. Street facing with lots of parking, has it's own hotel plus very close to other hotels. It shares its building with the clubhouse but it's purpose-built and large enough to easily accommodate both. Maintenance shed is at the edge of the course between 1 green and 2 tee and has road access. Won't say the restaurant is better than the course but I have definitely gone to the restaurant when golf wasn't involved.
A McMenamins on a golf course??? Wow, I was just in Astoria on vacation a month ago. I wish I'd known!