The Markers Club Branches Out

By: Destination Club News
Date: February 16, 2010

Once known as the only destination club to focus on golf, The Markers Club can also know be known as the only destination club with their own magazine and soon will be the first with their own retail store.

Change has been the name of the game for the past year at The Markers Club. Last year, The Markers Club relaunched, radically changing their club structure. Previously, the golf themed membership club had functioned like the vast majority of other destination clubs, charging a refundable membership deposit to join and annual dues for each year of membership. Last year, a new club structure was introduced, removing the refundable membership deposit component.

"Consumers are looking for a safe way to do things," President and CEO Michael Broussard told us when the new model was announced. "Destination clubs are an industry that people want to be involved with. They love the lifestyle, but they don't want to get burned with their money."

The new club model would revolve around year to year memberships, requiring members to only pay annual dues for each year they wished to travel with the club. "All that members have to be worried about is finding time to schedule a vacation and have a good time, not worried about stressing out about what is happening to the club's real estate portfolio and will they or will they not get their membership money back.," Broussard would continue.

Tennis & Golf Living: A Markers Lifestyle Publication is described as a magazine that "represents The Markers Club, our wonderful members and our passionate partners." Scheduled to open next month, the Markers Tennis & Golf retail store will sell Nike, Adidas, Wilson, Head, and Cleveland equipment, Q'aja clothing, and more.

As evidenced by the magazine and retail store, the focus on golf has evolved to include tennis and now more family oriented and sports themed activities. While The Markers Club may be adding to their golf experience, The Tour Club is looking to fill the void. Created by many of the executives behind Quintess, The Leading Residences of the World, The Tour Club "is a collection of all types of the world's best golf experiences, made possible through our partnership with PGA TOUR."

When we asked Broussard of The Markers Club about The Tour Club, he told us it was "Great news," and that he had close ties with two of the club's founders.

We are planning on meeting with Michael Broussard to discuss these new programs in more detail next month. Check back soon for more details on these new experiments by The Markers Club.