Source: Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (New York)
David and Ginger Wang know a little about the American dream.
The Wangs immigrated to the United States in 1990 to buy Wildwood Country Club in Rush. Times were tough for the fledgling business owners. Not only did the Wangs have to learn a new language and culture, but also the business they purchased had its share of problems. The golf club had 17 members left.
But the couple hired people to help with their English and invested in capital improvements and marketing campaigns. Today, the country club has 244 members, and more than 25,000 people play the 213-acre course annually, David Wang said. The company is now profitable.
"Once they play it, they like it," he said.
The Wangs became interested in golf as it emerged as a major hobby sport in Taiwan in the 1980s. The couple tried to buy a golf course in their homeland, but when the deal fell through, they looked toward the United States.
The Wangs said they rebuilt their country club clientele by putting money into capital improvements and focusing on service. They spent $220,000 on building paths for golf carts because the course was often too wet to walk on, changed the irrigation system and renovated the clubhouse.
To woo would-be members, the Wangs advertised their improved golf course, offering coupons and deals such as a weekday golf and lunch special.
Golfers at Wildwood Country Club said they like what Wildwood has to offer.
"They do a good job," said Gates resident Sal Mingoea, 68. "It's well-run."
"We like the semi-private situation," said Gates resident Dick Delmonache, 67. "You're not obligated to one place."
As a semi-private country club, Wildwood allows dues-paying members and the general public to play on its golf course.
Membership is $1,100 annually for individuals and $1,600 for a family. Specific times are reserved for members only, David Wang said.
"I like to make sure members have special spots," he said.
Rochesterians are well known for their enthusiasm for golf, but there is a lot of competition for golfers' dollars, industry experts say.
"I think the Rochester market has gotten oversupplied," said Chuck Hart, president of Lake Shore Properties Inc., which owns Lake Shore Country Club in Greece and The Country Club of Syracuse. "That coupled with the economic climate coupled with weather, it's been a tough business."
While Lake Shore and The Country Club of Syracuse are profitable, "it's a lot harder than we thought it would be," said Hart, who with his partners purchased the Greece club in 2001 and the Syracuse course in 2003.
Rochester has one of the highest concentration of golf courses in the country, said Sandra Tindale Carl, LPGA golf pro at The Parks, which runs the three Monroe County-owned golf courses.
"We're not growing like we were in the '90s," she said. "There's a lot of competition."
The Wangs realize the challenges of the business. Sales were down 6 percent this year due to the cold wet spring and summer.
Wildwood's profit margin isn't as high as some other clubs because it employs more people, Ginger Wang said.
"We (still) need to hire more people because of our language barrier," she said.
Still, the Wangs have no regret about their decision to come to the United States.
While they would not reveal the club's sales, they said they make enough to support their family of four.
"It has a lot of potential," Ginger Wang said.