News

Last Update :10/31/2014

Meadowbrook and Lake Chesdin Dissolve Partnership

Country clubs break up in Chesterfield

Michael Schwartz October 31, 2014 1
The 17th hole at Meadowbrook Country Club. (Photos by Michael Schwartz)

Meadowbrook Country Club and another course nearby are ending a 2013 merger. Photo by Michael Schwartz.

The marriage of two local golf courses has come to an end less than two years after it was consummated.

Lake Chesdin Golf Club and Meadowbrook Country Club, two Southside clubs that merged with high hopes in the spring of 2013, are dissolving the relationship and going their separate ways.

The two clubs, which sit about 20 miles apart in Chesterfield County, will go back to operating independently beginning Nov. 1. The split was announced in a letter sent Oct. 2 by Meadowbrook President Chad Knowles to members of the Chesdin board.

“It is after lengthy deliberation and with deep regret that I write to inform you of our decision to sever the alliance between Meadowbrook Country Club and Chesdin Landing,” Knowles said in the letter.

The two clubs came together in March 2013, when about 50 investors made up largely of members of both sides formed an LLC to buy Lake Chesdin. The purchase created a multi-location country club that could better compete in the crowded Southside country club scene.

The logic behind the deal was that having two clubs in one should help attract members for both locations from the surrounding suburban Chesterfield developments. And the clubs could consolidate overlapping expenses and share personnel and resources.

A tee box at Meadowbrook. (photo courtesy of Meadowbrook Country Club)

Members will have to pick which club they want to stick with. Photo courtesy of Meadowbrook Country Club.

The resulting Meadowbrook-Chesdin LLC paid $1.2 million to acquire the 200-acre Chesdin property, according to Chesterfield County records. It bought the course from Canada-based golf course operator ClubLink.

Meadowbrook Country Club owned much of the stock of that LLC. ClubLink retained an equity stake in new LLC.

Tim White, club pro and general manager at Lake Chesdin, said the club would not comment on the split with Meadowbrook, other than to say it would begin operating on its own Nov. 1.

Meadowbrook General Manager Eric Papendorp would not comment on the situation.

Knowles’ letter suggests money was a driving factor in the end of the short-lived relationship.

“Upon entering into this alliance our board made a promise to our membership that the alliance would not damage MCC or cost our members any out-of-pocket expense.

“The recent request from the Chesdin board to have MCC continue to provide accounting services with no expectation of payment, combined with the declaration that Chesdin would no longer pay shared costs, forces us to make this decision in order to uphold our promise to our members.”

The letter, obtained by Richmond BizSense, suggests there won’t be any quibbling over the golf course properties. It states that Meadowbrook would agree to turn over all shares in the LLC to allow Chesdin to have control over its property.

Members of both sides were given a choice of which club they want to stay with going forward, according to the letter.

Lake Chesdin opened in 1998 in southern Chesterfield within the 3,000-acre Chesdin Landing subdivision. Chesdin Landing was developed by Scott Camps and his company Base Camp Development. Messages left for Camp were not returned by press time.

Meadowbrook, which sits on Cogbill Road just off Chippenham Parkway, was founded in 1957.

The Chesdin club at the time of the merger said it had 225 members. Meadowbrook said at the time it had 485 members. Neither club would say how many members they have currently.



[ More News ]


Join NGCOA Mid-Atlantic - Great Membership Benefits!

The Golf Property Analysts 2024 Market Report

The Cost of Golf - There Might be a Better Way

Click to Watch the Video - Lee Coble Receives USGA Dey Award

NGCOA MA Mouns the Loss of Frank Edward Herrelko Jr.

Lee Coble Honored by USGA

Members Take Charge at Lakeside Golf Club

NGCOA Seeking Events Manager - click for info

Middle Atlantic PGA Section Announces 2023 Special Award Winners

Partner News: Better Billy Bunker Buzz

NGCOA Announces Education Highlights for Golf Business Conference 2024

The Federal Club in Glen Allen, VA seeks General Manager

Bayville GC gains Audubon certification

Cost Versus Value - They're Not the Same - Why Does it Matter?

Williamsburg National GC (36 holes) Seeks Director of Agronomy and Grounds

Accountability & Fiscal Responsibility in Club Governance

Bunkers - Do They Really Matter?

2023 NGCOA MA Annual Award Winners Press Release

NGCOA MA Annual Meeting Registration Open, The Crossvines Winery and Poolesville Golf Cousre, Wednesday, October 4th

Current Golfer Mindset and it’s impact on Facility Planning

Sagacity Golf Partners with NC GCOA

Virginia Beach Golf Trips Made Easy

Custom Williamsburg Golf Trips with Golden Horseshoe, Kingsmill & Condos

Ready to Sell?, Aerification and Prof. Jakubowski on Golf Turf and Water

For Sale: The Crossings Golf Club, Durham, NC - Hilda W. Allen Real Estate

Save the Date - October 4th, NGCOA MA Annual Meeting at Poolesville GC

Club Tax Assessments, The Concept of Value and RSM's Phil Newman on Finances

NGCOA MA / NC Summer Newsletter - click here to read

Reminder: The Latest from Golf Business Advisors!

Call for Offers - Westchester CC (FL)

Golf Acquisition Opportunities (3) - FL, PA, & NY

National Golf Day - 2023 - Outside the Box

Golf Course Acquisition Opportunity - Country Club of Otterkill (NY)

Debt - The (not so) Silent Club Killer

The Cost of Golf - Is it $ustainable?

National Golf Day Registration Open

​Private Club Governance & Management - Defining Roles

Virginia Golf Colleagues Mourn the Loss of Paul Michaelian

NCA Webinar on Your Club's Real Estate Tax Assessment

Golf Property Analysis & Valuation - 2nd Edition Now Available

Erik Larsen incorporates traditional elements into St. Johns (FL) Golf Course to Rave Reviews

Choosing the Best Management for Your Club or Golf Course

Measuring Performance, Selling Solutions, Clubs, Fraud & a Hotline, & The GPA Practice Tee

Fall Issue of Mid-Atlantic Golf Business Newsletter Joint with NC GCOA - Click Here to Read

Register for the 2022 NGCOA MA Annual Meeting, November 2

Selling in Uncertain Times - Develop a Strategy

Just Listed by Hilda W. Allen Real Estate, Inc.

Some Reponse to Why Clubs are Closed on Mondays

Save the Date NOW for Golf Business Conference 2023

Summer Issue of Mid-Atlantic Golf Business Newsletter Joint with North Carolina GCOA - Click Here to Read!

Golf Property Analysts - Private Club Planning, Golf as it was meant to be, Is It Time to Sell?

A Consumer/Culture Based Approach to Private Club Planning

Transparency at Private Clubs

The Golf Pro Crisis & Its Impact on Clubs

Golf Property Analysts - Your Club's Tax Assessment

Hilda Allen - the source for golf course sales and advising owners

NGCOA Mid-Atlantic Annual Meeting Set for Nov. 2 at Independence GC in Richmond

Fairfax County Park Authority seeks Golf Course General Manager

Announcing Facility BMP Virtual Workshop and Prize Contest

Another Beautiful Listing by Hilda Allen Real Estate!

Just Listed by Hilda Allen - The Frog GC in Georgia, a Fazio Design

National Golf Day 2022 - Information and Registration

Mattaponi Springs Golf Club in Ruther Glen, VA Seeks General Manager

Larry's Interview on TurfNet Renovation report Podcast

Golf Leagues - A Lightspeed Guide to Growing Business

Register your course for Women's Golf Day - June 7th

Download the Pellucid Presentation at the Annual Meeting

Golf Property Analysts - Time to Sell?

New Listings and Recent Sales from Hilda Allen Real Estate

Hanover Golf Club sold to unidentified local buyer

Club Master Planning - A Market Based Approach

January Abstract OtR: '21 Sol Scorecard is 6 birdies, 2 pars!

Damon DeVito Named the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Golf Leader

Golf Course Acquisition Opportunity - Maryland - For Sale By Auction

Sep Weather, Aug Util; steady, solid results against strong "20 comps"

Employee Retention Tax Credit May Save You Thousands $

Glenwood Golf Course redevelopment gets planning commission approval

Google's New "Local" Ads Provide Big Advantages to Golf Courses

The Appraisal Journal - Valuation of Private Clubs for Tax Assessments

Morning Read and Sports Illustrated Announce Editorial Partnership

Is it Time to Review Your Golf Property Tax Assessment?

 



Join Our Email List