Venetian Golf Club has been bought by Heritage Golf Group

The Venetian Golf Club, a 19-year-old Chip Powell designed championship golf course in the gated Venetian community developed by Lennar has been sold to the Heritage Golf Group(HGG). Headed by former Club Corp executive Mark Burnett and headquartered in Virginia, Heritage Golf Group owns both TPC Prestancia in Sarasota and TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz.

Residents of the community received an email from Heritage President Burnett saying, "On behalf of the leadership of our now-18 country clubs, we officially welcome you to the Heritage Golf Group family of Clubs." The current management of the HGG took over the company in 2020 and have added a dozen properties to its portfolio by purchase, lease or partnership. Nearly all of the properties are private golf clubs in residential communities, and Heritage's long-term plan is to take Venetian GC private along with the River Club located in the property.

The next step in the takeover, Burnett wrote will be a town hall meeting February 22nd, "so that we may get to know you better, unveil our plans for the next phase of club ownership and provide you with an overview of Heritage Golf Group. Focus-group sessions with members will also be scheduled in March," Mark added, "to garner your feedback as we develop the club's capital plan, improve course conditions and club operating standards." Those sessions typically involve about six groups of 8 to 10 people who represent a cross-section of the community. Heritage also forms an advisory board of about 10 members for its properties to provide input as well.

For the first 90 days after an acquisition, Heritage likes to look, listen and learn. But some immediate improvements for golf course are already in the works. Lennar was planning to redo the bunkers, and make some cosmetic improvements that will go forward. Renovations totaling about $1 million will also include replacing the coquina cart path on hole #2 with concrete and upgrading the irrigation on the driving range.

Through the transaction, Heritage also acquired the Venetian welcome center, and will be assessing alternate uses for it. I was at the grand opening of the golf course, clubhouse and River Club, and found the course to be a great layout for active adults. There were no homes on the course when it opened so I am sure it is a different look after 19 years.

Heritage has operated 3 courses on Hilton Head for years, Shipyard Golf Club, Oyster Reef Golf Club and Port Royal Golf & Racquet Club.