Puyallup golfer Ryan Moore sees the finest aspects of golf in America while playing on the PGA Tour.
And now he wants the public to experience some of that level of quality.
As part of a busy offseason, Moore and 13 partners – mainly friends and family – formed RMG Golf Course Management LLC, or RMG Club, which aims to pump a little life back in the South Sound’s sagging golf economy.
Not only will RMG Club run the day-to-day operations at the Classic Country Club in Spanaway and McCormick Woods in Port Orchard, the company announced Thursday that it had acquired Oakbrook Golf and Country Club in Lakewood.
With those three venues in the fold, RMG Club will launch a membership-driven business model Jan. 1 that is designed to attract all types of golfers.
The company will offer three levels of unlimited-golf memberships, ranging from its three-course, all-access $179-per-month package, to a one-course, $99-per-month rate, to a twilight-only $49-per-month package.
“We want this to be a product that appeals to everyone – and not just to people who are 45 and can afford a membership and go play golf any time they want,” Moore said. “We want people to have great facilities that they can go play at a reasonable rate.”
This is the latest venture for Moore, who has developed a business interest since joining the PGA Tour full-time in 2006. He became a minority owner in Scratch Golf, a high-end club manufacturer, in 2009 – only to leave a year later to join Adams Golf.
In the same period, he became co-owner of TRUE Linkswear, a Phoenix-based golf shoe apparel company.
This opportunity is different in the sense that RMG Club is trying to directly tackle golf’s declining business.
“(Business) models are broken. Municipal courses are discounting to the bottom dollar where they cannot afford to maintain them; 75 percent of private clubs are in financial trouble,” said Mike Moore, RMG Club’s chief executive officer.
“It is a tough economic environment.
“From afar, Ryan had been making comments and suggesting ideas on how to address issues that have kept golf from growing.”
The company’s aim is to offer a quality golf experience at minimal cost – while rewarding customer loyalty.
A group of investors began forming. Shawn Cucciardi, a co-owner at McCormick Woods, began meeting with the Moore family, brainstorming on ideas.
Jason Moore and JD Rastovski – Ryan Moore’s caddies on the PGA Tour – came up with a membership rewards program idea that is part of all the membership packages.
Each of the membership packages, which require a golfer to sign up for a minimum 12 months, offers the same perks – discounted family-membership options, unlimited driving-range balls, access to the restaurant and locker rooms and advanced tee-time booking.
In late September, the idea was pitched to Ryan Moore, whose high profile and financial backing would be required to bring it to fruition.
“It was one of those thoughts, kind of like a good movie, it just kind of sticks with you, and the more you think about it, you are like, ‘Wow it is really good,’ ” Ryan Moore said.
“And you can’t stop thinking about it. And it kept getting better in my mind.”
Once the company formed, and The Classic and McCormick Woods signed on to be under its course-management umbrella, RMG Club needed to take the step of acquiring one more course.
Oakbrook is a member-owned course that opened in 1966. Like many private clubs, membership and dollars were declining.
RMG Club officials approached Oakbrook’s membership board in October about purchasing the course – with a presentation of its business model in hand. With approval, the company then gave a similar pitch to club members Tuesday.
On Thursday night, 126 members voted unanimously to approve the sale of the club to RMG Club for an undisclosed amount.
“We really like their model, which calls for affordable, fun golf aimed to the family,” said Paul Peterson, Oakbrook’s club president. “We thought it would be a very good use of our course.”
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442
todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
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