Originally opened in 1995, Bay Meadows Family Golf Course in Traverse City has grown into one of the premier “family-friendly” golf experiences in Northern Michigan. The property boasts 9-hole regulation and 9-hole par-3 courses, indoor driving range, and expansive indoor and outdoor practice facilities with four PGA instructors and state-of-the-art electronic teaching aids.
But Bay Meadows Family Golf Course didn’t start out that way. When Michael Husby and his wife, Judy, bought the course from a local bank in 2014, the property had suffered under years of neglect. The playing conditions were poor, as was the course’s reputation in the community. The Husby’s had big plans for Bay Meadows, but they needed a strong financing partner to help make these plans a reality.
Bringing a Run-Down Course Back to Life
Before the Husbys bought the course, it had been owned by a bank for five years. The course had received very little attention, and revenue had plunged.
“When I purchased the course, it was in very poor condition,” says Michael Husby. “The buildings, turf, and the equipment was in shambles. I needed to change the image of the operation immediately.”
Husby knew he would need to purchase several additional pieces of turf equipment to get the course conditions back up to par. Fortunately, he knew just who to call: Tim and Joe at Team Financial. He had previously worked with Team Financial Group as far back as 2003, and had known Team Financial Group founder Tim Maczka since the 1980s, when both lived in Gaylord, MI.
After getting competitive, flexible financing from Team Financial Group and purchasing five new pieces of turf equipment, course conditions significantly improved—and golfers started returning. More turf equipment purchases and course remodeling followed a few years later to keep the momentum going. But Husby had bigger plans.
Building a Nationally Recognized Golf Facility for All Ages
In just a few years, Bay Meadows Family Golf Course was transformed from a deteriorating property with declining revenue into a popular course known for its excellent service, clean conditions, and friendly atmosphere.
In 2017, the course took another step toward regional and even national recognition with the addition of the Bay Meadows Learning Center. This state-of-the-art, indoor practice facility is staffed by four Professional Golf Association teaching professionals and includes video swing analysis, launch monitors, radar tracking, and other high-tech teaching equipment. The facility also includes four putting greens, practice bunkers, a 90-yard practice hole, and driving range.
“When I built the indoor facility, it was a gamble that required sophisticated, expensive equipment to be successful and produce the revenue required,” Husby says. “Again, Team Financial was there.”
The expansion was so successful, in fact, that it was featured in a 2019 special on the Golf Channel.
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A Winning Partnership with Team Financial Group
Bay Meadows Family Golf Course has become a regional destination for all ages and ability levels. It’s a place where families can play together, beginners can learn the game, and serious golfers can hone their skills. The course and learning center have partnered with an array of junior and high school golf programs, helping to grow the game for the next generation.
“The success can be attributed to the tireless work from my wife & I, as well as four key employees. But we may have never reached our goals without the help of Team Financial. They trusted our plan and provided us excellent financial counsel, which has been invaluable as we grew” says Husby.
“The staff at Team is superb. The office personnel know me when I call or visit their headquarters, even though my business is 150 miles away. But most importantly, when Team Financial promises to get the job done, it is written in stone. Never have I waited for paperwork, money transfers, invoices, or documents when the loan is paid in full.”
What is Husby’s advice to other individuals and companies looking for financing help to make their own dreams a reality?
“If you want to establish a long-term relationship with a lender that will quickly respond to your needs, then you found it in Team Financial,” Husby says. “My experience with banks is they will always lend you capital, if you can prove you don’t need it. I work with a team that wants me to succeed as much as I do.”
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