NEWPORT BEACH, CA—Keeping country clubs up-to-date can help attract younger professionals and their families to the Orange County market who embrace the casual, outdoor-oriented lifestyle, Matt Loorya, SVP of Driver SPG, an affiliate of C.W. Driver Cos., tells GlobeSt.com. This could add another draw to the already-popular Southern California market.

Driver SPG, an arm that specializes in shorter completion times for tenant improvement, renovation and new construction projects, recently completed construction of the $50-million Newport Beach Country Club. Located at One Clubhouse Dr. here, the 65,000-square-foot, two-level luxury development is owned by International Bay Clubs LLC.

The project required SPG to “demolish the existing facilities, set up comprehensive temporary facilities and build the entire project while the country club and golf course remained fully operational,” according to Mike Bolda, senior project manager at Driver SPG. The project was awarded California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health's Golden Gate recognition for effectiveness in safety and health management systems, and American Society of Civil Engineers' 2017 Outstanding Architectural Engineering project.

As GlobeSt.com had previously reported, Pacific Hospitality Group had embarked on a $40-million renovation of the property in October 2014. The project produced a completely new clubhouse and enhanced member amenities.

The ground level of the newly remodeled country club includes a golf shop, outdoor dining patio, fitness center with a yoga/dance studio and men's and women's locker rooms equipped with a spa, dry sauna and steam room. Outdoor amenities include an outdoor lap and children's pool as well as a snack bar. The clubhouse, which overlooks Pacific Coast Highway, features a restaurant, full bar, private dining room, flexible event space/boardrooms and a 4,000-square-foot grand ballroom.

We spoke with Loorya about the project and trends in country-club construction.

GlobeSt.com: Why is this project so iconic for Orange County?

Loorya: This new clubhouse gives Orange County a modern take on private country-club living, helping to attract younger professionals and their families. With the addition of the new clubhouse, Newport Country Club truly will be unparalleled in its presentation and ambiance.

It also ensures that Newport Beach will be the continued home of the elite Toshiba Classic Golf Tournament, which has become a tradition in the Orange County community and one of the largest sources of donations for Hoag Hospital Foundation, the tournament's primary benefactor. Each year, thousands of people come out to support the tournament, delivering record earnings for charity.

GlobeSt.com: What amenities and features does the project include?

Loorya: The project features an elegant dining room, full bar, flexible event space, boardroom and 4,000-square-foot grand ballroom on the upper level that features stunning views of the ocean. On the ground level, there is a golf shop, outdoor dining patio, fitness center with a yoga/dance room and men's and women's locker rooms that include spas, dry saunas and a steam room. In addition, members can enjoy the beautiful Newport Beach weather while relaxing at the outdoor lap pool and children's pool, complete with a snack bar and plenty of loungers.

GlobeSt.com: What were some of the challenges in building while the country club remained fully operational, and how did you overcome these?

Loorya: This project required us to completely demolish the existing facilities, set up temporary facilities and build the new structures while the country club and golf course remained operational. While it was a challenge, we managed to minimize disruption through careful planning of construction timelines and material deliveries.

In addition to managing a large-scale construction project while employees and golfers were on-site, our team had to navigate construction around the Toshiba Classic—not once, but twice. We meticulously planned every aspect of how construction might impact this prestigious event, including pedestrian access, parking logistics and safety considerations to accommodate the professional golfers, 200 vendors, 1,000 volunteers, 80,000 spectators and dozens of camera crews. During the tournament itself, we suspended construction for a couple of days to ensure our work would not affect the tournament.

GlobeSt.com: What trends are you seeing in country club construction, particularly with clubhouses?

Loorya: Country clubs are increasingly seeing the importance of making facilities more welcoming for members and embracing the casual, outdoor-oriented lifestyle sought by today's changing club membership. The trend is toward an atmosphere of casual sophistication, with a wide range of amenities and services that appeal to all age groups.

Instant Insights /

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