Golf Inc - April 2008 - (Page 11)

Top News KemperSports adds LinksCorp courses to portfolio KemperSports in March dramatically expanded its golf course management portfolio in the Southeast region of the U.S., taking over operation of 14 properties owned by LinksCorp Holdings. The deal, which comes on the heels of Steve Skinner taking over as KemperSports chief executive officer from founder Steve Lesnik, adds five courses in Tennessee, three each in South Carolina and Florida, and one each in Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi to the KemperSports portfolio. LinksCorp, based in Bannockburn, Ill., will remain as a holding company and the ownership entity for the 14 properties, which KemperSports will operate under a long-term third-party management contract. It gives Northbrook, Ill.-based Kempersports more than 95 courses in its portfolio. LinksCorp President Ben Blake, a former KemperSports executive, will return to the company as an executive vice president. KemperSports will also assist Blake and his LinksCorp financial partners in the evaluation and disposition of properties in the LinksCorp portfolio. “We’re in the third-party management business and we thought this was an opportunity where we could add value,” Skinner said. “We know the portfolio well, and this expands our growing presence in the Southeast.” Several LinksCorp properties in Tennessee, including Temple Hills Country Club and Nashboro Golf Club in Nashville were reportedly up for sale earlier, but remain LinksCorp properties, at least for the time being. Skinner, a 10-year veteran of the KemperSports management and marketing company, in March was named CEO and chief operating officer. He previously had been president and COO of KemperSports. Lesnik, who had ser ved as CEO since the company was launched in 1979, said the promotion was part of a succession plan that has been in the works for several years. He will remain as chairman, but will not be involved in day-to-day decision-making. A former attorney, Skinner is a co-founder with Lesnik of The First Tee of Chicago. ‘King of Waterscapes’ Ted Robinson dies Theodore (Ted) Robinson Sr., whose extensive use of water features in his golf course designs earned him the nickname “King of Waterscapes,” died March 2 at his Laguna Beach, Calif., home. Robinson, a former American Society April 2008 www.GolfIncMagazine.com 11 http://www.aithusa.com http://www.aithusa.com http://www.GolfIncMagazine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Golf Inc - April 2008

Golf Inc - April 2008 Contents Editors Column Birney Takes NGCOA Helm Construction Costs on the Rise KemperSports Adds 14 Courses Americas: Fazio Designs St. Kitts Layout Europe/Africa: Seaside Resort Planned in Egypt Asia/Australis: Faldo Opens New Chinese Course High-Tech Tools: New Technologies that can Help Operators There's No Economic Slump at Still-Popular Reynolds Plantation Tim Moraghan Wants to Make Golf Fun Again Why a $1.5 Billion Resort has Made Environmental Protection a Top Priority Most Admired Operators Marketing Experts Make Their Pitch for Golf Courses From Korea, with Cash Last Word

Golf Inc - April 2008

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