Two of Oklahoma City’s oldest private clubs are pursuing a strategic business alliance promoted as the first of its kind. The Petroleum Club of Oklahoma City Inc. and Willow Creek Golf and Country Club, both incorporated in the early 1950s, announced Friday a memorandum of understanding that paves the way for cooperation on various business interests, ranging from procurement practices, to labor and event scheduling, to the development of new facilities.
The agreement, announced jointly, involves the operations of two independently owned private clubs. A third party to the agreement is Country Club Holdings LLC., comprised of local investors led by longtime South Oklahoma City business leader J.W. Mashburn. Country Club Holdings acquired control of Willow Creek in early 2010. The agreement was negotiated by Country Club Holdings’ management consultant, Pat Downes of Strategic Solutions LLC.
The Petroleum Club is organized as a city club with no outdoor facilities, focused instead on member dining, as well as catering, large-scale banquets and special events.
Willow Creek is a full-service country club, located near the intersection of Interstate 240 and S Pennsylvania Avenue, offering golf, indoor and outdoor tennis, and swimming facilities, in addition to private dining and midsize banquets.
“Willow Creek and the Petroleum Club do not compete,” said Verej Jazirvar, executive vice president and general manager of the Petroleum Club. “In fact, they share many common interests, so it makes sense for the two entities to cooperate as we each look into potential economies of scale and joint market development.”
Jazirvar said south Oklahoma City is seeing “solid growth” contrary to national trends. The Willow Creek membership rolls grew by 31 percent since last June.
“Aligning South Oklahoma City’s only country club with a highly regarded city club that operates facilities in Edmond, the state Capitol district and downtown, represents a very strategic move for both entities,” Jazirvar said.
J.A. Gus Rosacker, Willow Creek president, said the agreement focuses on opportunities to pursue streamlined operations, market development and procurement.
“This accord should also accelerate feasibility studies regarding the potential development of new joint facilities to serve anticipated growth in the membership of both clubs,” Rosacker said.
Source: www.newsok.com
