Brian Vanderhoff's North Fulton Real Estate Blog

Sequoia Golf announced its acquisition of The Manor Golf and Country Club in Alpharetta, Georgia, marking the company’s fourth North Atlanta private club acquisition in the past six months.

Established in 2006, The Manor features the only Tom Watson-designed golf course in Georgia. The Manor’s tennis complex is world-class, featuring 16 outdoor courts (hard surface and clay courts), as well as a temperature-controlled indoor tennis facility with four courts. Additionally, its amenities package includes indoor and outdoor pools with interactive water features for the kids, a modern fitness center and a beautifully appointed 32,000 square foot clubhouse.

The Manor Golf and Country Club will become part of a tightly clustered, premium multi-club membership platform in combination with White Columns Country Club and Atlanta National Golf Club. Connecting The Manor to these two successful clubs creates a unique private club system unmatched nearly anywhere in the country. Members will have access to all three clubs’ exceptional courses and amenities, all within a ten mile radius located in one of Atlanta’s most affluent suburbs. “The Manor is the perfect fit for our new exclusive North Atlanta membership offering,” said Sequoia President and CEO Joe Guerra. “The club’s close proximity to White Columns and Atlanta National combined with its extensive amenities serve to strengthen the competitive position of all three properties and greatly improve the membership value at each location.”

Birth of the “Sequoia Club” - While The Manor, White Columns and Atlanta National will maintain their unique identities, the “Sequoia Club” brand will represent the combined membership benefits of all three properties. Sequoia Club members will have unprecedented golf options including Tom Fazio’s signature course at White Columns, Pete and PB Dye’s masterpiece at Atlanta National, and Tom Watson’s majestic layout at The Manor. Fantastic practice facilities, a state-of-the-art golf performance center and access to a top-100 instructor round out the Sequoia Club’s incredible golf benefits. Only a handful of private clubs in the world provide this level of golf quality and variety, particularly in a major metropolitan area.

The scope of amenities and programs Sequoia Club members will enjoy is also extraordinary. Together, The Manor, White Columns and Atlanta National offer 30 tennis courts, three pools, two fitness facilities, more than six dining venues and a rustic lodge for entertaining out-of-town guests. The year-round programming schedule will also be unique, with the three clubs working together to carefully plan a calendar of events that is relevant to the entire family.



Capital Improvements – As part of a comprehensive plan to further elevate the quality of The Manor, White Columns and Atlanta National, Sequoia Golf is investing $3.5 million over the next 18 months to upgrade the clubs’ courses, amenities and overall aesthetics. “The objective of the project is to modernize the three clubs for the next generation and to create an environment where members and their families can have fun, relax, meet new friends and be proud to entertain guests,” stated Guerra.

About Sequoia Golf
Sequoia Golf is a collection of highly successful golf-related companies focused on course ownership, management, construction, and hospitality, as well as its own media and IT companies. These companies include Sequoia Golf Holdings, Sequoia Golf Management, Sequoia Greenscapes, Sequoia Hospitality, PlayAway, In Play Media and Short Grass Technology. As one of the fastest growing golf companies in the country, Sequoia currently owns or operates more than 50 private club, resort and public facilities located across the U.S. The portfolio includes 25 private clubs operated under its unique Canongate brand, along with the world-class 63-hole Woodlands Country Club located in the award-winning master planned community of The Woodlands, Texas. In addition, Sequoia’s portfolio features a select group of golf properties managed for institutional owners, corporations, private investors and equity memberships. For more information on Sequoia Golf, visit www.sequoiagolf.com.


Tim Stolz
Membership Director
Atlanta National Golf Club / White Columns Country Club / The Manor Golf and Country Club
(o) 770-407-1431
(c) 678-395-1404
tstolz@atlantanationalgolfclub.com

www.atlantanationalgolfclub.com
www.whitecolumnscountryclub.com

Labels: Golf, Manor Golf and Country Club, Sequoia Golf

SINGAPORE -- Australia's Gavin Flint and Kane Webber and Jin Park of the United States upstaged the big names at the Singapore Open, shooting 5-under-par 66s to share the first-round lead Thursday.

Flint and Webber both had five birdies in bogey-free rounds while the Korean-born Park had six birdies and a bogey to top the leaderboard at the $4 million tournament at a remodelded Sentosa Golf Club.

Angelo Que of the Philippines was one stroke back.

Phil Mickelson's double-bogey on the par-4 third hole ultimately cost him a share of the lead, and he finished at 3 under along with South Korea's K.J. Choi and Japan's Tetsuji Hiratsuka.

Vijay Singh -- who had an eagle on the par-4 10th hole -- and two-time defending champion Adam Scott were among 13 players at 70.

U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera also recorded a double-bogey on the troublesome third hole and ended even-par, along with Darren Clarke and Lee Westwood.

Ernie Els, the European Tour money leader who elected to play this tournament instead of the Volvo Masters and thus jeopardize his chances of claiming the Harry Vardon trophy without a fight, had a 72. The South African recorded a double-bogey on the par-5 seventh hole, and also had two bogeys and three birdies.

Labels: Gavin Flint, Golf

A bad golf swing may have saved the life of an injured dirt biker in central New Jersey. Really.

The man was rescued after spending 17 hours trapped in the woods.

Dr. Vincent Romeo is a good golfer, usually hitting in the low 80s. On Thursday, though, he shanked a shot, clipping his ball way to the right of fairway 8 of New Jersey's Forsgate Country Club in Monroe. That one bad swing led to a hole-in-one for a dirt biker injured in the woods by the golf course. When Dr. Romeo went to his errant golf ball, he thought he heard something, but decided it was the wind.

"I am about ready to hit it again and I hear another cry and I realize … there was somebody," Romeo said.

Romeo then walked over to the woods and called out.

"I yell to the person, 'do you need help?' He yells back, 'I am on the track.'"

Thirty yards in the thick woods along a rarely used railroad track, 46-year-old Marc Franz had crashed his dirt bike. He could not move. Police say he had a broken leg, arm and ribs. He had spent the night in pain. Romeo could not get through the woods and called to the club staff.

Police and EMS came up the railroad track to the injured dirt biker.

"He was in poor condition; he had been there 17 hours and was happy to see us," said Lt. Marc Jimenez of the Monroe Police Department.

Franz was taken to University Hospital in New Brunswick where he is listed in fair condition. Romeo says a big storm hit right after he found the injured dirt biker. He believes the biker might have died from exposure if he was left another night. He said this was better than a hole-in-one.

"I trade a hole-in-one to save a life any day," Romeo said.

The dirt biker would probably gratefully agree.

A golf partner of Romeo's says when he went to get his ball, the wind changed direction carrying the cry for help. Moments before when it was blowing the other way they could not hear the man's groans.

Labels: Dirt Bike, Golf, Hole-in-one, New Jersey

Commissioners given one month to reverse Lanier Golf Course decision
by Logan Thomas



October 10, 2007
A developer recently threatened Forsyth County with a $100 million lawsuit after the denial of a request to develop Lanier Golf Course.



Wellstone LLC presented Forsyth County Commissioners an Oct. 4 letter claiming damages in excess of $100 million if the decision is not reversed and "satisfactory action" is not taken by Nov. 4.



"We are simply taking the only course open to us and that is to seek redress through the courts," said Wellstone President and CEO John Lowery.



The commissioners unanimously denied the development request on Sept. 20 in front of a packed meeting room at the Forsyth County Administration Building. Wellstone's request was to transform the 172-acre golf course into a site with more than 700 residences.



According to the Oct. 4 letter, Wellstone is charged that Forsyth County "arbitrarily and capriciously denied Wellstone's zoning application."



The Forsyth County Planning Commissioner previously voted 3-2 on Aug. 28 to recommend the denial of the request.



Commissioners cited several reasons for the Sept. 20 decision including traffic, environmental and aesthetic issues.



Lowery said Sept. 20 that the denial was voted upon even after an alternate development plan was offered that would have preserved course views for 95 percent of the existing homes that currently enjoy those views and provide for some 400 single-family homes and town homes.



"While we had hoped that this could be resolved through a give-and-take discussion with citizens and commissioners," Lowery said following the Sept. 20 decision, "we are absolutely confident that the courts will rule in favor of our petition."



Lanier Golf Course closed its doors earlier this month because owners said it was "no longer feasible" to stay in business. The Lanier Golf Club opened in 1970 as a private, 18-hole course. Dwindling membership was cited as the main reason for closing the course.



Owners notified club members in January 2006 of their intentions to sell the property saying the operation was losing money. The club's status changed to a public, pay-for-play course in January 2007.



Though the course is now closed to the public and "No Trespassing" signs have been posted throughout the property, a few individuals who prepaid for golf privileges through Sept. 30 were allowed to play.



The initial development proposal from Wellstone was made more than a year ago. Many residents attended a July 9 public hearing and the Aug. 28 meeting of the Forsyth County Planning Commission to protest the project.



The proposed development, Wellstone Club at Lanier, would have featured more than 700 residences including 103 single family residences, 369 townhomes, and a 300-unit continuing care retirement community.

Labels: Forsyth, Golf, Lawsuit

Request to develop Lanier Golf Course denied, developer vows lawsuit
by Logan Thomas




September 24, 2007The green shirts packing the Forsyth County Administration building earned a victory Sept. 20.

The green-clad supporters of the Save Lanier Golf Course group applauded and cheered as the Forsyth County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted to turn down a request from Wellstone LLC to transform the 172-acre golf course into a site with more than 700 residences.

The developer is planning to file a lawsuit to overturn the decision.

The Forsyth County Planning Commissioner voted 3-2 Aug. 28 to recommend the denial of the request.

Commissioners Linda Ledbetter offered the motion to deny the developer's plan, citing traffic issues as a major problem with developing the site.

"This would add an additional 3,000 cars to these roads," she said. "There have been no proposed road improvements that would adequately deal with this. Buford Dam Road can't accommodate this rezoning. For this and many other reasons, I have to make the motion we deny the request."

Commissioner Jim Harrell seconded the motion. Commission Chairman Charles Laughinghouse added several more reasons for the denial including the rezoning is not consistent with the county comprehensive plan and the denial would benefit public health.



"The environmental consequences of this proposed intense use will be pronounced and will certainly result in greater pollution, storm water runoff, loss of pervious (water penetrable) surface, destabilization of downstreams and channels and potential flooding of adjacent downstream properties," the chairman said.

Laughinghouse also denounced the proposed rezoning and development as one that would result in increased and unwarranted noise, odor, visual intrusion, loss of aesthetics, light pollution and impact on adjacent and nearby properties.

John Lowery, President and CEO of Wellstone, said the denial was voted upon even after an alternate development plan was offered that would have preserved course views for 95 percent of the existing homes that currently enjoy those views and provide for some 400 single-family homes and town homes.

"While we certainly respect and appreciate the difficult task that the commission has faced on this issue, we are equally glad of the remedies and alternatives that the legislative process provides," he said. "We intend to immediately pursue our right to petition the courts through a lawsuit to require Forsyth County to rezone the property from its present agricultural zoning to one that is consistent with surrounding uses and provides for the highest and best use of this extremely valuable property.

"Lowery said Wellstone is meeting with its attorneys and is in the process of drafting the lawsuit. They are expecting to file the lawsuit within seven days.




"While we had hoped that this could be resolved through a give-and-take discussion with citizens and commissioners," he said, "we are absolutely confident that the courts will rule in favor of our petition."

Lanier Golf Course closed its doors earlier this month because owners said it was "no longer feasible" to stay in business. The Lanier Golf Club opened in 1970 as a private, 18-hole course.

Dwindling membership was cited as the main reason for closing the course.Owners notified club members in January 2006 of their intentions to sell the property saying the operation was losing money. The club's status changed to a public, pay-for-play course in January 2007.

Though the course is now closed to the public and "No Trespassing" signs have been posted throughout the property, a few individuals who prepaid for golf privileges through Sept. 30 will be allowed to play.

The initial development proposal from Wellstone was made more than a year ago. Many residents attended a July 9 public hearing and the Aug. 28 meeting of the Forsyth County Planning Commission to protest the project.

The proposed development, Wellstone Club at Lanier, would have featured more than 700 residences including 103 single family residences, 369 townhomes, and a 300-unit continuing care retirement community.

Labels: Forsyth, Golf