Main Line Country Club Rejuvenated By Cash Influx

A Main Line country club that has been an area staple since it was founded in the late 1940s got a new lease on life recently, as a boutique owner-operator of high-end private clubs gave it a crucial cash infusion. It's perfect time with summer creeping in and golfers hitting the links as weather warms up.

White Manor Country Club in Malvern is seeing a a new era of growth and investment through a new recapitalization agreement with Concert Golf Partners.

"This partnership with Concert Golf preserves our club for the long term, and ends the era of funding capital projects with member assessments,” past Club President John Palumbo said in a statement. "We have a unique history and avid golfing membership here at ‘The Manor,’ and now that our club is debt-free, our future is brighter than ever."

The agreement will allow the nearly 70-year-old country club to operate as a private club while shifting to a more modern model with members have ceding ownership and day-to-day operations to the management experts at Concert Golf.

In exchange, Concert paid off all of White Manor’s debt immediately upon closing.

According to White Manor CC General Manager Gerard Heller, members’ annual dues will be frozen for the next two years and more than $1 million of immediate capital projects – such as a new fitness club, renovations, and programming – have been launched at the club.

"This will be the largest and most modern fitness center to be found at any club on the Main Line," Heller said. “But more to the point: These are the amenities that families need, so that’s where we’re concentrating our investments going forward."

Heller said current and future members will never pay another assessment thanks to the recapitalization.

"Anyone who has ever belonged to a private club understands what a big deal that is," Heller said. "Member-owned clubs are notorious for hitting members with unexpected assessment bills, especially at year-end. That will never again happen here at The Manor."

Adam Murchison, the club’s Director of Membership Sales said all membership package costs have also been reduced by 15 percent annually.

The elegant banquet space at White Manor, one of the most sought-after ballrooms and event spaces in the region, has also been redeployed.

“For many years, only members and their friends could book weddings, events and outings here,” Rebecca Brooks, Director of Catering and Events at White Manor, said in a statement. “Going forward, we’re going to be more welcoming and accommodating to outside events in that regard. We will always protect our current members and their ability to reserve rooms for events. However, we couldn’t be more excited to share with the community a glimpse of what White Manor membership looks like!”

Contributed photo