Ahwatukee Golf Properties acquires Foothills Golf Club

In tough economic times golf courses struggle but, according to the president of Ahwatukee Golf Properties, it’s also a great time to buy golf courses, like the Foothills Golf Club.

Ahwatukee Golf Properties already owns and operates Club West Golf Club, Ahwatukee Country Club, Ahwatukee Lakes, and the Duke Golf Club. Last week, the company announced it had purchased the Foothills Golf Club.

“We are very pleased and excited to add Foothills to our portfolio of courses,” Terry Duggan, president of Ahwatukee Golf Properties, said in written a statement. “We have been strategic in our acquisitions to purchase golf courses that are within close proximity to each other. This provides us with efficiencies from an operations standpoint and also provides us some marketing advantages for our members and Gold Cardholders.”

Duggan said they don’t plan to make too many changes to the Foothills Golf Club. They will be replacing the carpet in the clubhouse and doing some painting, along with other minor touches to improve the building. They’ve also ordered 90 new golf carts and $200,000 worth of golf course equipment.

Duggan said they do plan to encourage more weddings at the golf course in the future.

“We hope to increase that side of the business,” he said. “This is an awesome place for weddings.”

The Foothills will also be added to the Ahwatukee Golf Properties’ Gold Card Program, which offers frequent players preferred rates and discounts.

Ahwatukee Golf Properties had its worst year in 2010, but the business has picked up slightly in 2011.

The Foothills was previously owned by a real estate investment trust company that was ready to divest some properties, so it was a good time to buy, Duggan said.

“It’s always a good time for golfing,” he said. “Once the economy starts to rebound people will start to play more, they’ve just had to cut back with economic times the way they’ve been. People don’t play as much as they used to. Hopefully, things will continue to improve this next year and people will get out and play more golf and relax, and have less stress.”

The Foothills was designed by Tom Weiskopf and Jay Morrish. It is a par-72 golf course with desert style golf and 65 strategically-placed bunkers.

For more information on the Foothills Golf Club, 2201 E. Clubhouse Drive, visit www.thefoothillsgc.com or call (480) 460-4653.

• Contact writer: (480) 898-7914 or ahurtado@ahwatukee.com

Source: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com