OK, here's the semi-monthly question on "What the hell is going on with The Traditions Golf Club"?

Is there any progress on the course? Does anyone know more about what's going on with the Bryan city council and Don Adam?


The "official" Traditions web site hasn't been updated since it was created last August.

http://www.traditionsclub.com/

I played golf with a Jack Nicklaus golf course designer and he said since the gold course has been sold to another group that the new group has found major problems with past agreements with the city and other courses and that the whole traditions development is up in the air

Yesterday (4/15), I sent a them this question via their web site:

"Just curious as to the progress on the course.
Is it still scheduled to open sometime later this
year?"

Their responds:

"We are somewhat behind schedule. Opening has been changed to Fall of 2003. The course is cleared and the roads are being completed. Hopefully, construction on the course will begin late spring or summer."


I then asked about the hotel and have not heard back.

Hombre,

BTW, This is my understanding of the whole deal.

The building rights to the hotel/conference center part of Traditions were sold late last year. The Bryan city council used this transaction as an excuse to do another feasibility study and where giving reasons why the deal may not be great for Bryan. People on this site suggested that the push behind the council blocking ( or at least delaying) Traditions was Don Adam. He is developing a golf course community on the other side of Bryan and has been against Traditions from the beginning. How much of the Adam/Bryan council stuff is true, I not sure, the hotel rights being sold and The City of Bryan delaying development is true (If you can believe what you read in the Eagle.)

The guy I played golf with was moving to College Station to work on the project, but instead was sent to Denver to do the reconstruction on the Denver Country Club course. They just finished the major parts of the course, now they are resodding the course and it will be ready to play in the fall.

for the Eagle: http://www.theeagle.com/region/localregional/041702traditions2003.htm

It is my understanding that Don Adam has used his considerable influence to shoot down Traditions.

IMO, all Ags should boycott his course.

Adam's hand-picked mayor and several council members are still running interfearance, but it sounds like things are slowly moving in a positive direction.

So, you guys are going to boycott the Aggie-owned course in favor of a Longhorn-owned course? You guys amaze me sometimes.

Dave:

While I'm not the one calling for a boycott of Adam's course the point is Traditions will be a world class facility used to attract top notch golfers to the A&M program. Without it recruiting will be difficult.

I'm sure you understand that.




[This message has been edited by whasty (edited 4/30/2002).]

Duncan: Your comment doesn't make any sense. Could it be you're unaware that ClubCorp pulled out of the Traditions project many months ago?

local:

ClubCorp is still involved with the project it's the hotel builder that pulled out.

Duncan's comment reeks of "bait", who cares if Adam went to A&M, who cares if Dedman went to Texas. What we care about is a quality facility for our golf teams.

AMEN! We need this for our golf teams. Mr. Adam is not offering anything to A&M from his facility and is the main reason this one has been held up. It doesn't matter who is building it... although from what I read, ClubCorp's interest is being taken over by Melrose and the t-sips will no longer be involved....

Pretty sure you're wrong about that Whasty. There's plenty of places that would gladly take his money, so Dedman folded the tent.

Local & Maggie:

I've sent Traditions several eMails in the last few weeks and it sounds like they're still ClubCorp too me. Here's the eMail I sent things to: traditionsclub@ourclub.com

Here's the text of my conversation with them:

My initial message:
Just curious as to the progress on the course. Is it still scheduled to open sometime later this year? Looking forward to playing it when I get back to Aggieland some day!

1St responds:
We are somewhat behind schedule. Opening has been changed to Fall of 2003.The course is cleared and the roads are being completed. Hopefully, construction on the course will begin late spring or summer. Remember that it will be a private course, so let me know if you would like membership information.

My follow up:
Thanks for the info. As I get to B/CS about once every 2 or 3 years it doesn't seem feasible for me to belong to a club there. I was under the impression that hotel guests would get the opportunity to play the course. Is that not correct?

2nd responds:
That was the original concept. The future of the hotel is unsure at this time. We will likely have lodging of some type but the plans are still underway. I assume that will be the case for those staying on the property but that has not been finalized. Also, the Non Resident membership allows you access to the over 230 clubs owned by ClubCorp all over the world. You can play those courses too - usually complimentary golf.
Keep in touch as we progress. We hope to have definite plans in the near future.

Well, when they first started marketing, one of their major selling points was the "play at any ClubCorp course...Pinehurst, Barton Creek, etc." so when they pulled out, I wondered where that left folks who signed up thinking they would be able to enjoy that benefit. It could be that ClubCorp agreed to honor that pledge to those who had signed up already...I don't know.

Again, I think when Adam moved forward with his plans despite Traditions, and then started the political maneuverings, ClubCorp saw the writing on the wall.

OK, I sent them another eMail asking if ClubCorp pull out and this was the responds:

Thank you for your continued interest in Traditions. ClubCorp is still very much involved in this project. We continue to have over 1000 Traditions' members, many who are using our extensive network of Associate Clubs to play golf and dine. There are many things that have led to the delays we are experiencing.

Of the four original partners, no one has "pulled out". There are many issues involved but a new partner has now been included. They are The Melrose Company and they are the developers of Hilton Head. They were included in late March and are in the process of a 90 due diligence period with the City of Bryan. We are unsure as to the exact membership structure they will provide, but we are excited about the expertise and innovations they bring to the development.

Sounds like a lot of corporate-speak to me...still don't know if you've got a reliable answer there.

As a sidenote, I agree with the posters who are coming from the point of view that who owns the course is irrelevant. The most important thing is for your A&M golf teams to have the facility.

Bear Ridge Golf Club in southwest Waco/Woodway opened last Fall and is being widely praised. It is the home course for the Baylor Golf programs including separate clubhouse, locker rooms, private practice range, climate controlled hitting areas with the latest technology.

Baylor's mens golf team won the Big 12 last year I guess it was. Couple that with the course opening and it's made a huge difference for our coaches in recruiting.

The bottom line is get that thing open. Good luck, I hope it opens ahead of schedule.

The reason why the city of Bryan is having cold feet, is that residents are reluctant to have their tax dollars help build a private golf facility.

Yes, the course would help A&M recruiting, but the ownership structure for the various course entities, I think, is getting in the way.

And, Miramont (Adam's country club) will be private, as well. So, if you want to boycott, don't become a member. In my opinion, Miramont will benefit the city of Bryan more. A high class community to rival Pebble Creek in CS. There will eventually be 36 championship holes, and a supporting commercial zoning area to attract more businesses.

Can someone please explain to me how in the hell the city of Bryan can support three private golf courses? I find that hard to fathom.

Trey '89

Aggie Jurist,

There are some rich Ags that will pay out the whazoo for memberships and dues just to play golf there a couple of times a year around football games and such. Except for peak game weekends, the staffing of the locations will not have to be large... Look at the bucks spent on luxury boxes, don't you think some extra money is available for a premier golf location those weekends?

BANA Class of '89

Aggie Jurist...to answer your question, I don't think it can, but here's how we got there.

First, Don Adam wanted in on the Traditions project and wanted it on his side of Bryan (presumably on his property). The city and the university had other ideas, and snubbed him. One doesn't snub Don Adam...he says screw you and announces intetions to build his own club, Miramont, and by all accounts, he's sparing no expense. Then the political maneuvering starts, most notably getting a pawn mayor installed. Traditions starts to lose support, ClubCorp walks, at least on part of the project, so on and so forth.

Rumor has it that Adam is also considering buying out Briarcrest, which is member-owned, offering the members a premium over what they payed for their membership, and a membership at Miramont.

So, to anwswer your question, I don't think the possiblility of ending up with 3 private clubs in Bryan was ever foreseen, nor is it still likely to happen. Probably only 2, possibly one.