Golf Services - Success Stories

South Fork Ranches - Market and Financial Feasibility Study, Subdivision Analysis, Membership Plan

• Study Type: Market and Financial Feasibility Study, Subdivision Analysis, Membership Plan
• Location: South Fork, Colorado
• Client: Land Properties, Inc.

Fork is located in South Central Colorado, in Rio Grande County. The town is a popular four season destination, and serves as a base for mountain activities in the surrounding national forests. The initial assignment was to perform an economic and financial analysis to determine the feasibility of a golf course at the South Fork Ranches resort community and determine the prospects for residential development on the site.

The site of the South Fork Ranches project is a 2,300 acre parcel, bisected by the Rio Grande River and surrounded on three sides by National Forest. The mixed-use development plan included a variety of residential products, a resort hotel, an 18-hole golf course and commercial uses and is permitted for 1,700 units.

This project was the first effort at golf course development for Land Properties, and also their highest density development. The golf portion of the feasibility study focused on the impact of tourism and seasonal residents in South Fork. The Wolf Creek Ski Area, which currently has limited accommodations, is just over 10 miles west of South Fork. HVS Golf worked with the developers on various course concepts that would amenitize the development and provide the greatest impact on sales and the financial success of the project.

HVS Golf provided input into the potential absorption and helped provide ratios for the mix of lot types and an understanding of the hotel development potentials.

HVS Golf was asked to assist in the matriculation of the development and has been actively involved in numerous aspects of the development. A subdivision analysis used the existing working material to date, and created individual assessments of each parcel of lots, helped assist in the phasing of the parcels and provided assistance on understanding the relationship between these lots and the development.

HVS Golf worked with the developer to in the planning of the membership program for the Rio Grande Club, as the golf course was subsequently named. This included drafting the membership documents and providing recommendations for variations to the program designed to cater to the areas seasonal residents.

HVS Golf provided an outline of the programming and design of the Clubhouse, and assisted in the facilitation of its development. HVS Golf serves as the managing partner for the Rio Grande Club, helping to set policies and guiding the direction of the club.