(VIENNA, VA) – Billy Casper Golf (BCG) – the golf-course owner and operator with the second-largest portfolio in America – has purchased St. Johns Golf & Country Club (St. Johns) in St. Augustine, FL from The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE).
BCG has managed St. Johns for St. Joe since 2007, prior to purchasing the semi-private golf facility that is the centerpiece of the St. Johns residential community recently built to completion. BCG will continue to direct maintenance, staffing and training, clubhouse operations, golf instruction, marketing and public relations, special events and financial management.
Testament to the high quality of St. Johns, it has hosted the PGA TOUR Qualifying School first stage for five years.
“Billy Casper Golf has been a wonderful partner, expertly operating St. Johns, driving revenue and creating great experiences for member and daily-fee golfers,” says Nick Cassala, President of Residential Development for St. Joe. “This transaction was a natural step in our transition out of St. Johns as the residential sales in the community were completed earlier this year.”
“We’re ecstatic to acquire St. Johns from an existing client, and look forward to continuing its recognition among northern Florida’s premier clubs,” says Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO of BCG. “From a company standpoint, St. Johns aligns well with Billy Casper Golf’s growth strategy.”
BCG continues to manage SouthWood Golf Club (Tallahassee, FL) for St. Joe. It also manages Victoria Hills Golf Club (DeLand, FL), previously owned by St. Joe.
An award-winning Clyde Johnston-designed course, St. Johns attracts golfers from throughout the southeast United States. Carved out of a pine forest and featuring occasionally arduous wind patterns, the layout tests golfers of all abilities, including those playing its championship tees at par 72 and 7,236 yards.
Earlier this year, under BCG agronomic direction, St. Johns was designated a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” by Audubon International for its high standards protecting the environment and preserving the natural heritage of golf. According to Audubon International, St. Johns is one of only five courses in the Jacksonville area to achieve certification, joining the elite TPC Sawgrass, Amelia Island Plantation, The Palencia Club and BCG-managed Bent Creek Golf Course.
For more information about St. Johns: www.stjohnsgolf.com, 904.940.3200.
About Billy Casper Golf
Widely respected as a high-performance, full-service owner-operator of golf courses, BCG manages properties in 25 states and outside the U.S. The company provides turnkey club operations for public-agency and private owners, developers and investors. Founded 20 years ago in cooperation with golf legend Billy Casper, BCG is based in Vienna, VA with regional offices strategically convenient to courses’ locales.
With a best-of-breed infrastructure, BCG shows clients favorable returns on investments. Critically-acclaimed by industry leaders and media, BCG economies of scale help daily-fee, municipal, resort and private courses make and save money while delivering personal touches.
Buffalo Communications – a division of BCG – is America’s foremost golf-specialty publicity, media-relations and marketing-communications agency. In addition to creating PR and implementing programs for BCG courses, Buffalo represents many of golf’s top brands (products, resorts, destinations and communities) worldwide.
For more information about Billy Casper Golf / Buffalo Communications: www.billycaspergolf.com, www.buffalocommunications.com, 703.761.1444.
About St. Joe
The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), a publicly held company based in Jacksonville, is one of Florida’s largest real estate development companies and Northwest Florida’s largest private landowner. St. Joe is primarily engaged in real estate development and sales, with significant interests in timber.
For more information about St. Joe: www.joe.com.
Contact:
Nick Lashinsky
Billy Casper Golf / Buffalo Communications
703.891.3324
nlashinsky@billycaspergolf.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
www.billycaspergolf.com
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