A few months ago Ford's Colony Country Club announced that they were filing for Chapter 11 status. Since they own the golf courses used by owners of the Manor Club, how is this affecting owners? Don't they get some free rounds of golf if they own at Manor Club? Anyone hear anything?
-
The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!
Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day! -
TUG started 31 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!
Read about our 31st anniversary: Happy 31st Birthday TUG! -
TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!
Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!
Visit TUG on Youtube! -
TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $24,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!
Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $24 Million dollars -
Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!
Tens of thousands of subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners! -
Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!
All T-shirt options here!
Manor Club Owners and Ford's Colony Country Club Chapter 11
- Thread starter 22go
- Start date
Miss Marty
TUG Member
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2005
- Messages
- 4,035
- Reaction score
- 350
Ford’s Colony Country Club in Williamsburg, Virginia
The April 2010 announcement that Ford’s Colony Country Club in Williamsburg had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is seeking to reorganize is a stark "reminder" to anyone in the market for a golf club membership to ask to see the club’s financial statements, especially the amount held in reserve.
The April 2010 announcement that Ford’s Colony Country Club in Williamsburg had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and is seeking to reorganize is a stark "reminder" to anyone in the market for a golf club membership to ask to see the club’s financial statements, especially the amount held in reserve.
- Joined
- Jun 6, 2005
- Messages
- 5,529
- Reaction score
- 29
- Location
- Toronto
- Resorts Owned
- Marriott Manor Club - 3 weeks platinum, 2 weeks at Marriott Beachplace Towers, and 1 week at Marriott Canyon Villas
My son in law played golf 6 days in a row in 103 degree temps at Manor Club early July -- 2x on each of the 3 courses. Marriott owners get 6 free rounds of golf per week, but you have to pay to take a cart (even if you share it).
Very nice course. We had dinner there a couple of times, but the dining room isn't as great as it once was (food wise) but the decor is elegant.
I didn't see any signs of financial stress or talk that it was going under as I really think this is pretty old news ... but the golf goes on (so far).
Brian
Very nice course. We had dinner there a couple of times, but the dining room isn't as great as it once was (food wise) but the decor is elegant.
I didn't see any signs of financial stress or talk that it was going under as I really think this is pretty old news ... but the golf goes on (so far).
Brian
Aviator621
TUG Member
For what it's worth, we've been talking to a realtor in the area (thinking of moving down there). She said various Ford's Colony developers had been through three bankruptcies over the years.
Ford's Colony was originally marketed under a different name (Middle Plantation) in the early 70s and it went under. The Fords came in and bought up the land themselves and had a lot of financial issues in the 80s, but recovered and did very well until about three years ago. They expanded to Rocky Mount, NC and opened another neighborhood. They have had nothing but trouble with finishing off the one in Williamsburg. Don't confuse the developer with the Country Club though. They are two different things and have two different ownership bases.
As for the golf and country club, orriginally there were three nine hole courses (red, white, and blue) that were ultimately to become the three 18 hole courses that exist today. The Country Club as known today came into prominence in the 80s when the Ford's began using it and the Dining Room as an attraction to market the homes. Many home and land owners received "free" CC memberships when they bought their properties.
I'm a member of the Country Club that is in chapter 11, and the main reason is that the membership base (and the residents of Ford's Colony) are mostly aging retirees. The membership base is dying off. They have toyed with making it semi-private for years, and often allow daily use. There has been a big membership push of late, but the numbers are not promising. The biggest problem is that the debt was at much higher than market rates and was eating into the bottom line. In this case a debt restructure is the best bet. It is estimated that the restructuring should occur later this year.
As an aside, Marriott was talking to the Ford family about managing the resort and country club about three years ago, but the deal never happened.
As for the golf and country club, orriginally there were three nine hole courses (red, white, and blue) that were ultimately to become the three 18 hole courses that exist today. The Country Club as known today came into prominence in the 80s when the Ford's began using it and the Dining Room as an attraction to market the homes. Many home and land owners received "free" CC memberships when they bought their properties.
I'm a member of the Country Club that is in chapter 11, and the main reason is that the membership base (and the residents of Ford's Colony) are mostly aging retirees. The membership base is dying off. They have toyed with making it semi-private for years, and often allow daily use. There has been a big membership push of late, but the numbers are not promising. The biggest problem is that the debt was at much higher than market rates and was eating into the bottom line. In this case a debt restructure is the best bet. It is estimated that the restructuring should occur later this year.
As an aside, Marriott was talking to the Ford family about managing the resort and country club about three years ago, but the deal never happened.
Do you have any pointers/details on this? I called the resort last year and spoke with the the Marriott resort concierge and the resort golf liaison. Both said there wasn't any free golf. Ended up not going.
This summer my son and I played at Grand Pines in Orlando since we were staying at Cypress. Total was $25 for my son and I - 18 holes with a cart. Best deal I've had so far at Marriott.
Last edited:
SMB1
TUG Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2009
- Messages
- 494
- Reaction score
- 54
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Resorts Owned
- Grande Vista, Lakeshore Reserve, OceanWatch(2), Marriott Destination Points, Club Wyndham Points (Ocean Boulevard)
Brian,
Is it any Marriott owners (on exchange) or just Manor Club Owners who get the free golf? Can 3 Guys Play twice for free?
Any Marriott owner staying there or exchanging in gets the golf so long as they use a Marriott to get there. I can't use my foxrun week to trade in and get golf even though I'm an owner at Manor Club.
A studio gets you two rounds, 1BR gets 4, and 2BR gets all six.
You can only play two rounds per day, so a foursome is out of luck. You pay $30 pp for the cart (mandatory) making it "not free". When I was there in July the Marriott guest rate was $60 per round including cart and a much smaller amount later in the day (twilight). $60 per round is a very good deal in Williamsburg where the better courses command over $100. Basically the free golf saves you $180 for the six rounds.
A studio gets you two rounds, 1BR gets 4, and 2BR gets all six.
You can only play two rounds per day, so a foursome is out of luck. You pay $30 pp for the cart (mandatory) making it "not free". When I was there in July the Marriott guest rate was $60 per round including cart and a much smaller amount later in the day (twilight). $60 per round is a very good deal in Williamsburg where the better courses command over $100. Basically the free golf saves you $180 for the six rounds.
SMB1
TUG Member
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2009
- Messages
- 494
- Reaction score
- 54
- Location
- Massachusetts
- Resorts Owned
- Grande Vista, Lakeshore Reserve, OceanWatch(2), Marriott Destination Points, Club Wyndham Points (Ocean Boulevard)
Sounds great. Thanks.
CatJ114683
TUG Member
Just returned from Manor Club this week. We traded our non-marriott TS for a 2 brdrm through II. We did get the 6 rounds of golf. Not sure if that was a mix up of if they just saw my husbands clubs there and decided he would be a player or if they could see from our profile that we also owned Marriott. Who knows?? Anyway, the first day he played 27 holes with some members, for the single round cart fee of $30.00. He used the driving range a number of times and when our guest came, they played a couple of times, one time being hooked up w/ members and played more than the 18. It was extremely hot, but the parking lot looked pretty full to me. He thought it was great.
CMF
TUG Member
I'm at Manor Club now. Played three times this week and made par for the first time on a hole yesterday. I think I'm going to turn pro next year 
Charles
Charles
luv2vacation
TUG Member
Hubby and I love the courses at Ford's Colony and also have fallen in love with Manor Club (especially the set-up of MMC). We have now traded in 3 years in a row!!