Mt. Woodson Golf Club under new management
By Bill Tamburrino
This is the first of two articles about the two golf courses in Ramona. Both are different in many ways, but both are excellent courses. As the summer heat soars, the golf prices are dipping and there are bargains to be had in Ramona.
Mt. Woodson is under new management. In May, Mt. Woodson named golf industry veteran Grant Wingate as general manager at the Touchstone Golf-operated course.
“We are confident Grant’s extensive course management experience, sales and marketing expertise and outstanding leadership skills will be invaluable assets in taking this already exceptional golf property to the next level,” said Steve
Harker, president and CEO of Touchstone Golf.
Wingate is no stranger to the golf industry or to San Diego golf. He served as sales/director of golf at Sycuan Golf and Tennis Resort in El Cajon. He has also served as the director of sales and marketing at Salt Creek Golf Club in San Diego. He has been the tour director of the Golf Channel Amateur Tour and project coordinator for Resort Golf Group Scottsdale, Ariz. He earned his Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Touchstone Golf is known for “flipping” golf courses. The company has a reputation for improving course conditions and is great at marketing and sales. Mt. Woodson course is bank owned and is for sale.
Mt. Woodson will be selling memberships, a practice that it abandoned under previous management. With the memberships will come some good bargains.
“We will be offering great golf and new programs at great rates,” said Wingate.
Mt. Woodson is open to the public but hopes to entice more business by offering packages that will include full memberships for individuals and families from $99 to $199, which will include golf and guest packages. Privileges will include green fees, guest rates, discounts on merchandise, advanced tee time privileges and member tournaments. There is also a Players Club package that offers reduced rates, advanced tee times and one hour early on twilight times.
Mt. Woodson has a twilight rate of $25 and a super twilight rate of $19. Wingate has some more marketing ideas. “We have early riser, military and midday specials. We have an updated website that will have our latest deals and rates (www.mtwoodsongc.com). We will be very creative with our signs on the highway. We have a Junior Golf program. We are excited about what we are doing.”
The supervisor of golf is Scott Hardy, a 15-year veteran in the industry.
When asked what unique features Mt. Woodson has, Wingate smiled and said, “We have been selected as the second most scenic golf course in San Diego (behind Torrey Pines) for 10 years in a row. We have great scenery, views, boulders and a castle.”
The course is beautiful and challenging. The course opened in 1992. It features elevation changes, mountain and valley views, lakes, huge boulders and towering oak trees. Each hole is as unique as the names of the holes: The Chute, Razor’s Edge and The Plunge.
The course has no driving range but has a practice facility that features a short game area and a full practice putting green. There is a full service golf shop and a newly renovated Wine Bar and Café that features an exclusive list of Ramona wines.
Under Wingate’s leadership Mt. Woodson will be catering to tournaments and special events and teaming up with the Mt. Woodson Castle, which is a 27-room, 12,000-square-foot mansion. The castle serves as a setting for pre and post golf tournament activities, business meetings, banquets and weddings.
Wingate said that the big event of the year is the Ramona Children Charity Golf Tournament, which raises money for children with handicaps. The course is at 16422 N. Woodson Drive. For more information, call 760-788-3555.