In the world of business, much has been said about the impact of an “Angel Investor.” Make no mistake, Golf is a business where the bottom line is just as important as any other business in the world. It either pencils out . . . or it doesn’t.
Logan Country Club, founded in 1932, is one of the oldest golf courses in the State of Utah and draws on a storied history spanning decades. Those decades of time can build an impressive aura of service to the community, but it can also suffer from the ravages of time, as course conditions and agronomic growth can adversely affect playability and the original vistas over the Wasatch National Forest and Mountains.
The course took baby-steps in its infancy by opening only three member-built holes in 1932, growing to nine holes by 1936, but it was not until 1960 that it became a full 18-hole course. The next 40-plus years were the heyday of the club, hosting professional clinics and two State Amateurs. In the changing times of the early 2000s, it became apparent that the original clubhouse had outlived its usefulness, and a grand new clubhouse was built in 2008 with member assessment dollars.
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| Gene Bates |
Unfortunately, it was not just the clubhouse that had age limits – the course itself was desperately in need of a new full-course irrigation system, bunker renovations, green repairs, and a host of other costly but much-needed maintenance. Here is where the business pencil was becoming a reality – the membership was tapped out from the clubhouse assessment, and the club was on the brink of solvency or falling into disrepair. For some members, the old adage of “If it was good enough for my grandfather, it’s good enough for me” was their way of avoiding the inevitable. Basically, a new assessment would mean the exodus of a large number of members and their dues, thereby ending the illustrious life of Logan Country Club.
The solution came from within… A new member, Dave Jenkins, smitten with the aura of all things golf, happened to be a successful local businessman and made the club an offer that was hard to refuse. He would not only purchase the golf club but would also fund, without assessment, the entire course rehabilitation. An incredible deal, but there was a catch… The membership would need to vote to relinquish their equity position of club ownership. Upon examination, it was not a hard decision. With the club facing looming financial troubles, equity ownership of nothing is nothing, so the sale of 99% of the club was approved, with the club owning 1% as per the club’s bylaws.
The Architect Search
Tom Davidson, Logan Country Club’s General Manager, is not only a locally grown golf industry professional, but he also knows a thing or two about golf. He was the General Manager for Idaho’s Circling Raven Golf course, which was designed by noted Golf Architect Gene Bates. Notably, Circling Raven is ranked in the Top 100 for Resort Courses. USA, the Top 20 for Casino Courses, USA, and #1 for Public Courses in Idaho.
Gene Bates is also one of Utah’s favored golf architectural sons, as he designed some of the top courses in Utah, such as Soldier Hollow, Canyons Golf Course, Talons Cove, Old Mill, The Ridge, Riverbend, and Green Springs. He knows Utah and Utah golf.
Tom arranged an on-course meeting with Dave Jenkins, Gene Bates, and the course staff. From that moment, the die was cast. Gene and Dave immediately hit it off, and Gene loaned him multiple architectural books on golf design and agronomics, which started a three-month planning process. Gene did not think this was a classic blow-it-up-and-start-over project; this old queen just needed a little help and a bit of a clean-up, which turned out to be a lot of much-needed clean-up.
Gene spent weeks on the course, observing member play, building relationships, and employing the important tool of transparency to quell member gossip about what is going to happen to “Our Club.” He became so ingrained in club life, they even granted Gene’s wife, Faye, a temporary member status – Actually Gene’s secret weapon. Building evangelists is a key aspect of any project for an older, beloved course.
The game of golf has changed over the years. Gone are the days of bombs away and taking a wedge in from there. Strategy has become one of the great challenges of today’s game. Multiple tee boxes to accommodate golfers of various abilities, dedicated landing areas, and thoughtfully placed bunkers, where he increased the original 37 bunkers to 67 and added a total of 61 new tee boxes. He even found an additional 150 yards of overall length. The vast majority of these changes came from observation and candid conversations with members.
Two major changes made the course feel brand new. Gene swapped the nines, which completely changed the course’s character, making it feel newer and fresher. That move also increased the speed of play, an always welcome outcome. The second major change was much more controversial: the removal of trees! Utah is known for its incredible natural vistas. In 1932, when the course was first developed, the little course trees were a blessing. Ninety years later, those same trees had become a forest, from which the vistas were now unobservable. Gene climbed aboard his favored D-8 bulldozer and personally removed a total of 200 trees, mostly Russian Olive, Cedars, and Rose Bush, a blasphemous move according to most members, until they saw what they had been missing. Gorgeous views that changed the course’s character. Holes 7, 13, and 18 were the most affected by these changes, including moving the entire 18th green to open up an even more expansive view.
For the most part, Gene did not redo the greens like so many remodel projects do. He interseeded the greens with more colorful grasses, and they putted more truly, which gave the greens a new feel to members. Another stroke of genius, coordinated with Wagner Golf Construction, was the decision NOT to close the course for the remodel; instead, they closed only 3 holes at a time – harkening back to the old days when the course started out as a 3-6-9 hole course. As three holes reopened, another three would close. It was exciting for members to get a taste of what was to come a little bit at a time.
The big reveal came in 2024 at the end of the remodel, when Logan Country Club was once again selected to host the State Amateur Championships. This tournament is the longest-running State Amateur in the country and is the pinnacle event for Utah State golf. Gene is no stranger to building courses worthy of hosting the Utah State Amateur, as this is his sixth Utah Amateur tournament held at one of his courses.
To prepare the course for the State’s top golfers, the tall fescue was grown up and in to increase the challenge. This was nearly a disaster for the members’ expectations, as they struggled mightily with the tough conditions and the different strategies needed to play the newly remodeled course.
The tournament was actually a blessing in disguise, as most of the members volunteered to be on-course marshals. They had a front-row seat to see how the State’s best players handled the course, hole by hole, shot by shot. Suddenly, Gene’s master plan was exposed, and a greater appreciation for the course and strategy followed, especially after the tournament, when the tall fescue was cut back!
The Final Results
What started as a naysayer’s attitude among some members toward a rich guy takeover, morphed into heaps of praise for the entire project. While the changes were minimal compared to some remodels, the overall opinion is that it feels like a brand-new course, so much more playable and fun!
Del Lyons, past LCC President, who touts a 40-year membership at the club, had high praise, starting with the straight-up admission that it is flat-out better than before. He credits it to the way Gene came across; he was a Master of Communication, starting with winning the confidence of the members, then the contractors, and finally the owner. He removed the penalties that hurt the medium golfers, added challenge for the good golfers, and showed everyone how much he cared.
Dave Jenkins, the Angel owner, said it was all about trust. What started out as an out-of-state stranger coming to change our course, turned into a design and agronomics lesson. Yet, he always sought out and listened to your opinion. Before the project was over, everyone just wanted to be Gene’s friend. It was incredible to see and be part of a project like this.
Tom Davidson, Logan Country Club’s General Manager. I have known Gene for years, and I already knew what he was capable of. What surprised me was that he considers this one of his Legacy Projects. The man has international architectural accolades, yet he totally immersed himself in our club. It was a most enjoyable transformation. It also doesn’t hurt that we have gone from a Club in trouble to a Club with a waiting list. As a GM, I can appreciate that!
Gene Bates, the Robin Hood of Utah, comes to this State with his band of merry men, his infectious smile, and his manners to do good things for the people. He consistently stacks up project after project, where the golf pundits have nothing but good things to say about him. He loves what he does ... And it shows.
