Mold Remediation in Sparrows Point, MD

Three private country clubs in Maryland have chosen an Arizona-based company to manage their operations to capitalize on the post-pandemic golf boom.

Woodholme Country Club and Sparrows Point Country Club, both in Baltimore County, and the Links at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels signed on with Troon in the last year. The Scottsdale-based company manages more than 900 golf courses and clubs worldwide and already manages three municipal courses in Maryland. The new clients double the company’s presence in Maryland and are the first private clubs Troon has managed in the state.

The Links at Perry Cabin announced its deal last April, Woodholme followed in August and Sparrows Point signed on in September. Grant Johnson, director of business development for Troon, said he expects that pace to pick up, as the vast majority of clubs in Maryland are run by smaller companies.

Troon manages everything from membership sales and the grass on the course to food and beverage sales. Larger operators can help clubs save money in those categories and make the most of capital projects they’ve undertaken in recent years, Johnson said.

“We can help them make this growth sustainable so they are prepared for when the dip comes. That is a conversation that’s happened a lot more over the past six to eight months,” he said.

The golf industry has seen a renaissance throughout the five years since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, forcing people to spend more time outside. Golfers in the U.S. played more than 529 million rounds of golf in 2021, which was a record, according to the National Golf Foundation. That record was broken in 2023 and again in 2024.

More golfers hitting the links has also meant more money for the courses, allowing them to undertake expensive projects. Clubs like Sparrows Point and Caves Valley Golf Club have spent millions of dollars on renovations in recent years to improve greens and change the layouts of holes.

“A lot of these clubs have had really good years over the past three to four years and were able to address needs and make renovations,” Johnson said. “As a lot of clubs go through that, they’ve looked to professional operators to capitalize on capital improvements.”

Conor Gilligan, owner of Sparrows Point Country Club, said his club has been able to learn from Troon’s experience since signing with the company in September. Gilligan mentioned that his club has used Troon’s team as “a sounding board,” and the company helped Sparrows Point with its $10 million revamp by recommending technology that the club might not have known even existed.

Johnson said another factor in Troon’s expansion throughout the state has been inflation. Troon has the advantage of economies of scale and has deals with vendors for country club staples like fertilizer, food and pro shop merchandise. Switching from a smaller or independent operator to Troon can cut costs for a club by roughly 15 percent a year, Johnson estimated.

Across the country, just 18 percent of golf courses are managed by multi-course operators (companies that operate two or more courses), and the same holds true in Maryland. That leaves room for Troon to continue expanding.

“Looking at the clubs not managed by professional companies, there are hundreds of courses throughout the state and there is plenty of room for us to grow beyond these six courses,” Johnson said.

Troon first expanded into Maryland in 2021 when it acquired Indigo Golf Partners. Indigo, which was formerly known as Billy Casper Golf, employed about 7,000 people and owned and operated more than 160 golf courses, country clubs and resorts in the U.S. The company managed three municipal courses in Maryland at the time: Bowie Golf Club and two Anne Arundel County clubs, Compass Pointe Golf Courses and The Preserve at Eisenhower Golf Course.

Photo Credit: Garrett Dvorkin/BBJ

Issue 291: February / March 2025

Originally published Feb. 19, 2025

SPARROWS POINT, MD—Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier, the Department of Recreation and Parks, elected officials and community stakeholders on Wednesday participated in a ribbon cutting event at Sparrows Point Park, the first new major recreational site in southeast Baltimore County in more than two decades.

Located on a portion of what was once one of the world’s largest steel-producing and shipbuilding companies in the country, the accessible and sustainably designed waterfront park pays homage to Bethlehem Steel’s industrial and cultural heritage. A signature Bethlehem Steel I-beam is incorporated into the park’s entry sign, and the company’s red coloring is visible on exposed beams in the community center.

“Sparrows Point Park offers everything you could want in a modern park, and will absolutely be Baltimore County’s newest destination location for residents of all ages,” said County Executive Klausmeier. “This project was truly a group effort, and I thank Tradepoint Atlantic for its substantial land donation, our Recreation and Parks team for overseeing this impressive project, and the generous federal, state, and local support that made this vision a reality.”

Sparrows Point Park is Baltimore County’s first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum-designed park project and includes:

Approximately half of the site is undeveloped to preserve the area’s natural environment and scenic beauty.

“We are excited to open another top-notch recreational facility for Southeast Baltimore County and the surrounding areas,” said Department of Recreation and Parks Director Bob Smith. “Sparrows Point Park represents our commitment to providing quality recreational amenities that meet the need of visitors of all abilities while remaining focused on respecting the area’s history, being environmentally mindful and providing a new space to foster a sense of community for our residents and park users.”

The Department of Recreation and Parks will soon install display cases in the community center featuring Bethlehem Steel memorabilia. Those with items or photography available for donation or loan to the site are encouraged to contact sparrowspointpark@baltimorecountymd.gov.

To support the approximately $25 million project, Baltimore County secured $4 million in Maryland Program Open Space funding, $3 million in Federal HUD Community Project Funding, $3 million from the state of Maryland and $1.75 million in ARPA funding. The property was generously donated by Tradepoint Atlantic.

Sparrows Point Park is one of several recent projects to enhance recreational facilities on the County’s East side. The Department recently opened the Rosedale Recreation Activity Center, Middle River Recreation Activity Center, and Hazelwood Skate Park, as well as the rejuvenated Hamiltowne Park and Essex Field at Renaissance Park.

The design consultant was MWS Studios and the contractor was MCN Builds.

Information about the park and upcoming events is available at https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/sparrowspointpark.

Please follow and like us: