On this episode of Club + Resort Talks, Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of Club + Resort Business, speaks with Mike Dowd, General Manager/COO of Oakdale Golf and Country Club in California. The club just finished building eight new pickleball courts and is adding an event pavilion and outdoor patio bar, as well as a bocce area within the next couple of months. This comes on the heels of a clubhouse refresh, bunker renovation, and expansion to six sets of tee boxes on the golf course.

With Senior Editor Phil Keren on vacation and Rob missing his weekly Thursday Three due to the Fourth of July holiday, we shared the latest news in a Thursday Three format.

No. 1 … We continue to post articles from our 18th annual Ideas issue. Read about the Heartfelt Greetings Initiative at The Club at Admirals Cove in Jupiter, Fla. The club introduced personalized video holiday greetings in an effort to deepen connections during the holiday season.

What is your club doing to enhance the members and employee experience? Shoot Rob an e-mail at rthomas@wtwhmedia.com.

No. 2 — Scroll down to the What’s New section ... Our most read article this week is about The Shoe, designed by Rees Jones, a nine-hole golf course at Colonial Williamsburg Resorts. The new course’s smaller footprint will make it easier to maintain and more enjoyable for guests seeking a quick round of golf. Construction is set to begin this month, with the course expected to open in the summer of 2025.

Last, but not least ... No. 3. Did you watch our last episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast? On that episode, Rob spoke with John Woodeshick, SVP and General Manager of The Hills Country Club in Austin, Texas. Woodeshick discussed the comprehensive renovations at the club’s Live Oak Golf Course. These efforts are part of an ongoing reinvestment project at the club focused on creating a refined yet inviting environment that best serves today’s members.