Founders Group International (FGI) has acquired the majority of National Golf Management’s assets, giving the company a vested interest in 22 courses (423 holes) in the most visited golf destination in the world.
The courses acquired in the transaction are: The Long Bay Club, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National, Pine Lakes Country Club, Grande Dunes Resort Course, South Creek at Myrtle Beach National, West Course at Myrtle Beach National, Myrtlewood Palmetto, Myrtlewood Pinehills, River Club, Pawley’s Plantation, Willbrook Plantation and Litchfield Country Club. These courses, along with FGl’s existing owned courses of TPC Myrtle Beach, Aberdeen, Burning Ridge, Colonial Charters, Founders Club, Indian Wells, River Hills, World Tour, Tradition Club and Wild Wing round out the portfolio.
The acquisition also includes National Golf Management’s call center known as “Tee Time Central,” its golf package operations known as “Ambassador Golf” and “Myrtle Beach Golf Trips,” the Myrtle Beach areas most visited golf-related websites including www.mbn.com, www.myrtlebeachgolftrips.com, www.myrtlebeachtrips.com, www.mbgolfinsider.com (with 30,000 golfer reviews of Myrtle Beach courses) and National Golf Management’s local membership program known as “Prime Times.”
Founders Group International’s parent company Yiqian Funding is primarily owned by Chinese investor Dan Liu and Nick Dou from New York.
Dou will serve as President of FGI and day-to-day management responsibilities will be spread among key executives for the organization. No changes are planned for current operational employees at each facility.
“We are incredibly excited about this acquisition,” Nick Dou, president of Founders Group International, said. “Not only does it add 12 great golf courses to our portfolio, it adds a marketing engine, call center and high traffic websites that will help drive rounds and revenue. We now have a diverse and experienced management team made up of skilled golf industry veterans to help us continue our success into the future. We have made a substantial investment in the Myrtle Beach community and look forward to a bright future here.”
“Not long after their first golf purchase in the Myrtle Beach area in 2014, our board has been in touch with FGI, forming a closer relationship when we agreed to the sale of Aberdeen to them,” Bob Mauragas, president at National Golf Management, said. “Throughout this relationship, we’ve been very impressed, not only with their enthusiasm for golf in this market, but also with their willingness to invest significant capital in our community. Because of this, as well as a commitment to retain our team members, we decided that this was a great opportunity for our area and our parent companies.”
“The golf business has certainly been a major force in the growth of the entire coastal region of the Carolinas with Myrtle Beach being the anchor in the middle,” said Cecil Brandon, a founding board member of The Myrtle Beach National Company. “It most definitely changed our market from a summer resort town to a year-round destination. There are so many people that helped make this happen that I can’t name them all, but I think we all thank Clay Brittain for his leadership, vision and ability to get the golf course and hotels to work together to grow our destination. While it is certainly an emotional day for me and the board of Myrtle Beach National, we feel that these courses are in good hands with a smart, enthusiastic new ownership group and we are looking forward to the opportunities this affords The Myrtle Beach National company moving forward.”
Founders Group International now has a sizeable investment in the Myrtle Beach golf industry.
This most recent acquisition makes it one of the largest employers in the area. Founders Group International brings not only new capital to the Myrtle Beach golf market, but also new ideas, enthusiasm and a commitment to the community. Both Liu and Dou plan to make their homes in the Myrtle Beach area.
About Founders Group International
Founders Group International is the foremost golf course owner-operator company in the Southeast. Formed in 2014 through various purchase and the 2015 acquisition of National Golf Management, Founders Group International owns and operates 22 golf courses (423 holes) in and around Myrtle Beach, S.C., the world’s most popular golf destination. Founders Group International also has a division that does residential and retail development. And, it has partnered with one of the biggest travel agencies in China to bring golfers and wedding parties to Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Founders Group International administers www.MBN.com, a leader in online tee time bookings, as well as package outlets Ambassador Golf and Myrtle Beach Golf Trips.
With the help of Golf Insider’s 100 percent player-generated course ranking system, thousands of golfers plan and assemble their ideal golf itineraries through Founders Group International’s assets, including “top-100 caliber” courses Pawley’s Plantation Golf and Country Club, Grande Dunes Resort Club, TPC of Myrtle Beach, King’s North at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club, Pine Lakes Country Club and over 80 other Myrtle Beach area courses.
For more information about Founders Group International, visit www.foundersgroupinternational.com or www.mbn.com.