Country club to get upgrade

The Valencia Country Club in Santa Clarita entered into a lease and management agreement with Private Club Management LLC, a subsidiary of Fore Golf Partners, officials announced Monday.

As a result of the deal, Fore Golf brought in Bradford Bean as general manager/director of golf and promoted longtime employee Missy Skinner to member relations director.

The 18-hole regulation golf course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., opened in 1965. In 2001-09, the club hosted the Senior PGA Tour, now referred to as the Champions Tour.

“We are extremely proud to be associated with one of Southern California’s finest private clubs, and we look forward to building upon the club’s great reputation and traditions,” said Tom Bennison, a partner in the venture.

The company plans a $1 million project over the next 12 months that includes upgrades to the golf course and clubhouse.

“We are going to renovate the Valencia Grille and expand our banquet facility,” Bean said. “We’re also going to add a state-of-the-art fitness center and do some bunker renovation on the golf course.”

Spending the $1 million in upgrades is considered an important investment to remaining competitive, Bean added.

“We think members will appreciate the enhancements we’re planning for the club,” Bennison said.

As for plans to host more PGA tours, Bean said that’s not planned in the foreseeable future, even though he once worked for PGA Properties himself.

Targeted by Fore Golf to run the Valencia Country Club, Bean has been with the company since 2006. Fore Golf owns and operates more than 80 golf-club, country-club and resort properties.

“We decided to come in here and lease the club; change up the business venture a little bit,” Bean said. “We think there’s tremendous potential here.”

Landing at the club is the fulfillment of a long dream for Bean ,as well. Originally from Miami, he most recently ran an upscale club in Atlantic City, N.J. but has long wanted to come out to Valencia.

“I almost went to work at TPC in Valencia back when they opened in 2004,” Bean said.

Skinner, who started her career at the Valencia Country Club as a 19-year old beverage cart girl, said she’s loves it at the club and compares it to family.

“I always wanted to be the member relations director,” Skinner said. “And I told Bradford I’m going to be the general manager here one day.”

Fore Golf is leasing the club from CNL Lifestyle Properties, a real-estate investment trust that invests in income-producing properties with a focus on lifestyle-related industries.

“CNL owns the country club, but Fore Golf is leasing it,” Bean said. “It’s a growing trend in the golf business to lease clubs.”