Northwood Golf Club

What Northwood Golf Club does

Northwood Golf Club operates a single 9-hole public golf course located at 19400 Highway 116 in Monte Rio, California, along the Russian River within Sonoma County wine country. Founded in 1928 and designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie (architect of Augusta National, Pasatiempo, and Cypress Point) in collaboration with Jack Neville, the course is set among towering California Redwood trees. The facility is operated by a small team (11-50 employees) under PGA Golf Professional Vern Ayres, with no disclosed parent company, outside investors, or funding rounds. Its core product is the golf course itself, complemented by a tee-time booking system (online and via the Northwood Mobile App), an online pro shop selling merchandise, Ten-Play cards, and virtual gift cards, and two on-site dining concepts (Northwood Bistro and Bia Cafe).

The club generates revenue across five primary streams: daily public-play green fees (one-time), annual and mid-season memberships (subscription/recurring), pro shop and online store sales (gift cards, merchandise, Ten-Play cards), group events and tournaments (corporate outings, family/class reunions, scrambles, best ball events), and on-site managed dining services. Distribution is direct-to-consumer: public play and memberships are sold via the website and mobile app, group events are booked through a dedicated PGA-managed channel, and the club extends its reach through stay-and-play partnerships with Casa Secoya (primary lodging partner) and a broader network of recommended lodging and dining providers (Village Inn, Dawn Ranch, Farmhouse Inn, Applewood Inn, Inn on the Russian River, Russian River Vacation Homes, Casini Ranch). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company relies on three core marketing channels — its website, the E-Club email newsletter, and earned media (Golf.com, TravelAwaits.com, Golf Magazine, California Golf and Travel Magazine, and the Adventures in Golf YouTube series).

The company's competitive positioning is anchored on its MacKenzie architectural pedigree and irreplaceable natural setting, evidenced by multiple third-party rankings: top-5 MacKenzie-designed courses globally (Golf Magazine), 30th best 9-hole course in the world (Golf.com, 2020), and 8th best public course in California (TravelAwaits.com). Sustainability is operationalized through solar-powered golf carts, and customer development is extended to youth players via the national Youth on Course program. The overall operating model is a mature, single-site, destination-driven hospitality business with diversified but small-scale revenue streams.

Name

Northwood Golf Club

Legal name

Northwood Golf Club

Website

https://northwoodgolf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1928

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Northwood Golf Club operates a single 9-hole public golf course in Monte Rio, California, designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie and set among California Redwoods along the Russian River, serving public golfers, members, group events, and youth players through green fees, memberships, events, and lodging partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Monte Rio

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Public Golf Play: Daily green fees for public play on the 9-hole Alister MacKenzie-designed course
2. Membership Programs: Annual and mid-season memberships offering unlimited or restricted play access
3. Pro Shop and Online Store: Golf merchandise, apparel, equipment, virtual gift cards in increments of $25, $50, and $100, and Ten-Play cards
4. Group Events and Tournaments: Corporate outings, family reunions, scramble events, best ball tournaments, and class reunions
5. Dining: Northwood Bistro restaurant and Bia Cafe on property

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Northwood Golf Club operates a 9-hole public golf course designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie (architect of Augusta National, Pasatiempo, and Cypress Point), set among towering California Redwoods along the Russian River in Sonoma County. Its offering is centered on daily-fee public play, annual and mid-season memberships, a pro shop and online store for merchandise and gift cards, golf outing and tournament event planning, on-site dining at Northwood Bistro, and stay-and-play lodging packages.

Product overview

Northwood Golf Club operates as a single-location public golf facility offering a 9-hole Alister MacKenzie-designed golf course as its core product. The course is complemented by tee time booking services, an online store/pro shop with gift cards and merchandise, annual and mid-season membership programs, a mobile app, and golf cart rentals. The club also provides event planning services for tournaments and outings, operates the Northwood Bistro restaurant on-site, and partners with nearby lodging properties for stay-and-play packages. Solar-powered golf carts and youth development programs represent additional service offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Northwood Golf Course (9-hole public play) A 9-hole public golf course designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie (with Jack Neville), set among towering California Redwood trees along the Russian River in Sonoma County, California. Open to the general public for daily-fee play. Ranked 30th best 9-hole course in the world by Golf.com and 8th best public course in California by TravelAwaits.com.
• Annual Membership Full-year golf membership providing unlimited play access for individual golfers, with tier options for weekday, weekend, or any-time play. Targets frequent local golfers seeking cost predictability and tee time priority.
• Mid-Season Membership Limited-season golf membership offering play access during specific periods for golfers who want shorter commitment than a full annual membership.
• Pro Shop and Online Store E-commerce and on-site retail platform selling golf merchandise, apparel, equipment, virtual gift cards in $25, $50, and $100 increments (or custom amounts), and Ten-Play cards redeemable for rounds of golf.
• Golf Outings and Events Group event and tournament planning service offering golf scrambles, best ball tournaments, class reunions, family reunions, and corporate outings. Available in 9- or 18-hole formats with planning support from PGA Golf Pro Vern Ayres.
• Stay and Play Packages Bundled lodging and golf packages offered in partnership with Casa Secoya (formerly Northwood Lodge) and other regional lodging partners, combining overnight stays with green fees for golf tourists.
• Northwood Bistro (On-site Dining) On-site restaurant overlooking the golf course nestled among towering Redwoods, offering comfort food and libations to golfers and visitors.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Casa SecoyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecently remodeled lodging property steps away from first tee, replacing the long-time Northwood Lodge. Offers stay-and-play packages with Northwood Golf Club featuring Alister MacKenzie greens, Redwoods, and Russian River access.
• Northwood BistrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOn-site restaurant overlooking the golf course nestled among towering Redwoods, offering comfort food and libations for golfers and visitors.
• Bia CafeminorOthersOn-site cafe offering morning coffee, teas, and fresh baked treats for golfers and visitors.
• Village Inn RestaurantminorOthersFine dining and accommodations in Monte Rio for Northwood Golf Club visitors.
• Casini RanchminorOthersFamily camping along the river, recommended for Northwood visitors seeking extended stays.
• Russian River Vacation HomesminorOthersVacation home rentals in the Russian River area featuring redwood groves, wineries, and golf access.
• Inn on the Russian RiverminorOthersCharming inn minutes from the course offering direct river access and golf packages.
• Dawn RanchminorOthersLuxury accommodations with 86 units including cabins, chalets, and tents, plus dining at Fernando Trocca restaurant.
• Farmhouse InnminorOthersLuxury bed and breakfast in Sonoma-Russian River Wine Country recommended for upscale stays.
• Applewood InnminorOthersSonoma-Russian River Wine Country bed and breakfast, part of the lodging recommendations.
• Youth on CoursecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational youth golf program providing subsidized play access for young golfers at Northwood Golf Club.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bennett Valley Golf Course: Sonoma County public golf course. Comparable as a same-region, public-fee, municipal-style course competing for the local Sonoma golfer base.
• Pasatiempo Golf Club: Alister MacKenzie-designed public-accessible course in Northern California (Santa Cruz). Comparable in architectural pedigree, public access, and Northern California destination-golf positioning.
• The Meadow Club: Alister MacKenzie-designed golf course in Sonoma. Comparable on architectural pedigree (MacKenzie) and regional Sonoma County setting, though it operates as a private club.
• Bodega Harbour Golf Links: Public golf course in Sonoma County near the coast. Comparable as a Sonoma County public-access destination course competing for the same tourist and regional golfer market.
• Sonoma Golf Club: Public golf course in Sonoma. Directly comparable on geography (same county), business model (public play + memberships), and target customer (Sonoma wine country visitors and Bay Area drive market).
• Sequoia Woods Country Club: California 9-hole-style golf course set among trees in a scenic natural setting. Comparable as a smaller-format course whose core value proposition is an immersive natural-environment experience.

Broad incumbents

• Spyglass Hill Golf Course: California public-access course at Pebble Beach Resorts. Ranked in the same TravelAwaits.com list as Northwood; comparable as a public-access California destination course though at much larger scale.
• Half Moon Bay Golf Links: California public-access destination golf on the coast. Comparable as a publicly accessible California golf destination in the same broader category ranked by similar outlets, though materially larger scale and 18-hole format.
• Pebble Beach Golf Links: Iconic California public-access course. Northwood is explicitly ranked alongside Pebble Beach by TravelAwaits.com; comparable as a public California destination course, though vastly larger scale and brand.

Regional players

• Rooster Run Golf Club: Public golf course in Sonoma County wine country. Comparable regional competitor for public-access rounds, though differentiated by Petaluma flatland setting versus Northwood's river/redwood setting.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gaylordschaap
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northwood-golf-course

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northwood Golf Club