Convinced that by attracting a broader base of clients he could turn a handsome profit, Dedman launched his new company, Country Clubs, Incorporated. In this way, a country club could accommodate more members and thus charge each member less expensive dues. It was at this time, as Sports Illustrated explained, that he 'struck upon the idea that would rocket him to the kind of wealth even he didn't have the chutzpah to dream of.' Instead of conforming to the typical country club formula of building one golf course and one clubhouse, Dedman conceived of constructing three golf courses around a single clubhouse. While vacationing in southern California in the 1950s, Dedman took note of the publicity surrounding the opening of the Thunderbird County Club in Palm Springs. Hunt, Dedman realized that he was still a long way from his childhood goal of tremendous wealth. Although he worked closely in this capacity with oil baron H.L. After leaving the military, he obtained a masters of law degree from Southern Methodist University, whereupon he joined a powerful Dallas law firm. During a stint in the Navy, he earned degrees in engineering and economics. In pursuit of success, he left home when he was 14 to live with relatives in Dallas, Texas, so that he could attend a well-regarded public high school.
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Dedman vowed as a teenager to transcend his circumstances, and he set the lofty of goal of earning $50 million by the time he was 50. Growing up in rural Arkansas, Dedman's family of six shared a two-room house without electricity. Dedman's personal background was one of poverty. With more than 250,000 members worldwide, ClubCorp is focused on aggressively expanding its holdings its sales rose an impressive 20 percent in 1999 to reach $1.2 billion.ĬlubCorp's founder Robert H. The company also is allied with famed golfer Jack Nicklaus to design and operate several golf courses. In addition to owning a 25 percent stake in ClubLink Corporation-the largest operator of private clubs in Canada-ClubCorp controls a substantial portion of the PGA European Tour Courses. ClubCorp's properties are found throughout the United States, as well as in more than a dozen foreign countries, including Vietnam, England, and Australia. Open golf championship) and the Mission Hills Country Club in California. ClubCorp's properties include North Carolina's Pinehurst Resort & Country Club (which hosted the 1999 U.S.
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The company owns or manages about 230 country clubs, golf clubs, resorts, city clubs, and athletic clubs. is the world's largest operator of private clubs and resorts.