DeLaveaga Golf & Lodge

What DeLaveaga Golf & Lodge does

DeLaveaga Golf & Lodge is a family-owned recreational golf and hospitality venue operating under a concessionaire arrangement on city-owned parkland in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains at 401 Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz, California. Founded in 1970 on land originally donated by Jose Vicente de Laveaga in 1894 and designed by architect Bert Stamps, the venue offers an 18-hole par 70 championship ball golf course consistently ranked among California's top public courses, a world-famous 29-hole historic disc golf course hosting the PDGA World Championship and Masters Cup finals, and an 18-hole Muni disc golf course. Core operations encompass a 40-station lighted driving range, full-service golf shop, the Disc Shack retail outlet, PGA-certified golf instruction, tournament hosting for 16-144 players, and the award-winning Grille at DeLaveaga restaurant plus beverage service.

The business generates revenue across multiple streams: green fees and cart rentals (weekday $57-$71, weekend $74-$93), annual unlimited 5-day ($2,704-$2,923) and 7-day ($4,017-$4,342) passes, county and senior discount cards, F&B sales through The Grille restaurant (Wed-Sun 8am-3pm) and beverage carts, retail merchandise through the golf shop and Disc Shack, and event hosting fees. Ancillary offerings include social club memberships (NCGA-affiliated, PWGA Women's Golf Club, Women's Nifty Niners), golf lessons with Director of Instruction Parker Hammond and former LPGA professional Dodie Mazzuca, private events, and access to a network of hiking and mountain biking trails throughout DeLaveaga Park. Tee times are booked online via the quick18.com platform up to six days in advance, with ancillary services sold through cgmarketingsystems.com.

The company has been operated by the Loustalot family for over 50 years; Tim and Jamie Loustalot currently serve as co-owners and concessionaires, having taken over the golf business in 2001 and assumed restaurant ownership in 2016. Todd Pontti has served as COO/GM since May 2019. The 19-person operation serves a diversified base of individual golfers, families, tournament groups, school teams, nonprofit organizations, disc golfers, and recreation visitors from the Santa Cruz County region and beyond, with no external investors, parent company, or public listing identified.

Name

DeLaveaga Golf & Lodge

Legal name

DeLaveaga Golf & Lodge

Website

https://delaveagagolf.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DeLaveaga Golf & Lodge is a family-owned recreational venue in Santa Cruz, CA offering an 18-hole championship golf course, a world-renowned 29-hole disc golf course, dining, a driving range, retail, and event hosting under a single concession on city-owned parkland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Golf Course & Recreational Hospitality

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910), Drinking Places (Alcoholic Beverages) (722410), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

Keywords

• Public golf course
• Disc golf course
• Golf tournaments
• Course restaurant dining
• Golf lessons instruction

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz

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. Golf Green Fees & Cart Rentals: Revenue from 18-hole and 9-hole golf rounds, twilight and super twilight rates, and golf cart rentals at $25 per rider. Weekday 18-hole rates range from $57-$71, weekend rates from $74-$93. Annual unlimited passes are also sold (5-day pass from $2,704-$2,923, 7-day pass from $4,017-$4,342).
2. Golf Retail & Pro Shop: The golf shop sells equipment, apparel, and accessories from top manufacturers. Revenue from merchandise sales including clubs, balls, apparel, and accessories.
3. Restaurant & Bar Dining: The Grille at DeLaveaga serves breakfast and lunch with an award-winning restaurant. RangeSide Bar and beverage carts provide additional F&B revenue. The Grille is open Wed-Sun 8am-3pm for dining, bar service extends to 8pm.
4. Disc Golf: Revenue from disc golf on the Muni Course ($15 per player on Wednesdays and Sundays after 3pm). Golf carts available for Muni Course at $20 per rider. The historic 29-hole course is free to play with $2 parking fee.
5. Annual Passes & Discount Cards: Santa Cruz County Discount Cards ($125), Non-Resident Discount Cards ($165), and Santa Cruz City Senior Discount Cards ($116) provide recurring annual revenue from local and visiting golfers.
6. Golf Lessons: Revenue from golf instruction by PGA-certified instructors including Parker Hammond (Director of Instruction) and Dodie Mazzuca (former LPGA Tour Player, Golf PROformance founder).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DeLaveaga Golf & Lodge operates a championship 18-hole par 70 public golf course, a 29-hole historic disc golf course and 18-hole Muni disc golf course, an award-winning restaurant (The Grille) plus the RangeSide Bar and beverage carts, a two-level 40-station driving range, a golf shop, the Disc Shack retail store, and a network of hiking and biking trails. The venue also hosts golf tournaments, private events, social clubs, and golf lessons by PGA-certified instructors, all from a single scenic property in the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Product overview

DeLaveaga Golf & Lodge is a family-owned recreational facility offering a unified portfolio of outdoor leisure services centered around its championship 18-hole golf course. The core experience combines traditional ball golf with the property's acclaimed 29-hole historic disc golf course and Muni Course, complemented by diverse dining options (award-winning Grille restaurant and RangeSide Bar), a two-level driving range, retail shopping (pro shop and Disc Shack), trail networks, and venue rental for tournaments and private events. The 50+-year-old Santa Cruz institution is operated by the Loustalot family concession covering golf, disc golf, and restaurant operations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Grille at DeLaveaga: Award-winning restaurant offering Continental and California cuisine with carefully sourced ingredients from local and organic farms. Features stunning views, outdoor patio and deck seating, built-in fireplace, and full bar. Open for breakfast and lunch Wednesday-Sunday.
• RangeSide Bar
• Disc Shack

Products and services

• DeLaveaga Golf Course An 18-hole par 70 championship public golf course designed by Bert Stamps in 1968, featuring narrow landing areas, spectacular views, and challenging terrain in the Santa Cruz Mountains foothills. Open to individual golfers, families, and groups for pay-as-you-go play and annual passes.
• Disc Golf - Historic Course (DDGC) A 29-hole historic disc golf course designed by Tom Schot, one of the oldest and most highly rated disc golf courses, featuring the world-famous 'Top of the World' hole (#27) with ocean views. Free to play with a $2 parking fee; home to the PDGA World Championship and Masters Cup.
• Disc Golf - Muni Course An 18-hole disc golf course that parallels the front nine of the golf course, available for $15 per player on Wednesdays and Sundays after 3pm, with golf cart rentals at $20 per rider. Home to Masters Cup finals.
• The Grille at DeLaveaga An award-winning restaurant offering Continental and California cuisine featuring locally and organically sourced ingredients, with stunning views, outdoor patio seating, a full bar, and built-in fireplace. Open for breakfast and lunch Wednesday-Sunday.
• Driving Range A two-level, 40-station lighted driving range offering three sizes of practice buckets, thick mats, and protective screens. Open daily 7am-8pm with range cards available for discounts.
• Golf Lessons Instruction offered by PGA Teaching Professional Parker Hammond (Director of Instruction) and former LPGA Tour Player Dodie Mazzuca (founder of Golf PROformance), offering various teaching approaches for golfers of all skill levels.
• Tournaments Golf tournament hosting services accommodating 16-144 players with dedicated tournament director support from planning through event completion, including corporate outings, charity fundraisers, and the annual Santa Cruz City Amateur.
• Private Events Private event venue booking at the restaurant with indoor/outdoor seating, AV capabilities, full-service bar, and spectacular views, suitable for weddings, celebrations, and corporate gatherings.
• Social Clubs Membership-based golf clubs including the NCGA-affiliated DeLaveaga Golf Club, the Women's Golf Club (18-hole PWGA affiliated), and the Women's Nifty Niners 9-Hole Club, offering tournaments, social events, and NCGA/USGA numbers.
• Disc Shack A retail shop offering a variety of disc golf brands, molds, equipment, apparel, headwear, snacks and beverages, located in the disc golf course parking lot with online shopping available.
• Golf Shop & Retail Full-service golf pro shop offering equipment, apparel, and accessories from top manufacturers, with staff providing customer service and product knowledge.
• DeLaveaga Trails A network of hiking and mountain biking trails throughout DeLaveaga Park, including Branciforte Creek Trail, La Corona Trail, Redwood Lower Loop Trail, Upper DeLaveaga Loop Trail, Old Vineyard Trail, Parkway Trail, and Enchanted Trail.

Quantifiable outcome

• 3,000,000+ rounds of golf played since opening
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NCGA (Northern California Golf Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Golf Club at DeLaveaga is one of the largest and most active NCGA-affiliated member clubs in Northern California. Membership includes NCGA/USGA number, access to monthly tournaments, and summer twilight barbecues.
• Pacific Women's Golf Association (PWGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoth the DeLaveaga Women's Golf Club (18-hole) and Women's Nifty Niners 9-Hole Club are affiliated with the PWGA, providing competitive and social golf opportunities for women.
• PGA (Professional Golfers Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTodd Pontti is a 'Quarter Century' Class A Member of the PGA of America since 1991. The venue hosts PGA-certified instructors including Parker Hammond as PGA Director of Instruction. The course has an ongoing relationship with PGA golf professionals.
• Callaway GolfminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCallaway Performance Fitting Days held at the venue, offering club fitting appointments with Callaway representatives. Most recent event: Friday, July 17th, 2026, 10am-2pm.
• NCGA Youth on CourseminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDeLaveaga participates in the NCGA Youth on Course program, offering $5 green fees to qualified youth golfers at 1pm daily.
• Professional Disc Golf AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 29-hole Historic Course hosts the PDGA World Championship and Masters Cup finals, establishing DeLaveaga as a premier disc golf destination globally.
• Santa Cruz ShakespeareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSanta Cruz Shakespeare operates within DeLaveaga Park, utilizing the park's natural amphitheater setting. This partnership brings theatrical performances to the park property.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Topgolf: Tech-enabled golf entertainment venue chain. Comparable as a competitor for casual recreational golf spend, group outings, and corporate events, though operating a fundamentally different tech-driven entertainment model.
• Pebble Beach Resorts: Ultra-premium destination golf resort on the Monterey Peninsula. Comparable as a Northern California golf destination with on-site F&B and tournament hosting, but at a much higher price point and broader resort offering.
• Cog Hill Golf & Country Club: Multi-course public golf facility outside Chicago with on-site dining, events, and lessons. Comparable as an integrated venue with green fees, F&B, retail, and academy offerings bundled into a single multi-revenue destination model.

Regional players

• Laguna Seca Golf Ranch: Monterey-area public golf course previously operated by Todd Pontti (DeLaveaga's COO/GM). Comparable in operational model and regional market overlap, with shared management lineage.
• Rancho Cañada Golf Club: Carmel Valley public golf course previously run by Todd Pontti. Comparable as a Northern California public facility with similar tournament and Pass model targeting overlapping regional golfers.

Direct peers

• Pasatiempo Golf Club: Famed public-access golf course in Santa Cruz County (adjacent to DeLaveaga) designed by Alister MacKenzie. Directly comparable as a top-ranked public course in the same local market serving overlapping golfers and tournaments.
• Pacific Grove Golf Links: Municipal public golf course on the Monterey Peninsula. Comparable as a publicly-accessible coastal California course with a similar green-fee pass structure and overlapping tournament market.
• Baylands Golf Links: Northern California public golf course in Palo Alto. Comparable as a top-ranked daily-fee public course in the SF Bay Area competing for the same regional golf-tournament and corporate-outing customer base.
• Poppy Hills Golf Course: Northern California public championship course in Pebble Beach area operated by the NCGA. Directly comparable as a flagship NCGA-affiliated public course in the same regional market with similar green fee and membership-pass model.
• Maple Hill Disc Golf Course: Premier disc golf destination in Leicester, NC, hosting PDGA Professional Worlds and other major events. Directly comparable as a flagship disc golf tournament venue and retail destination competing for hosting rights and disc golfer destination traffic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/social-media
• YouTubedelaveagagolf.com/social-media
• Xdelaveagagolf.com/social-media
• Instagramdelaveagagolf.com/social-media
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/delaveaga-golf-&-lodge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 DeLaveaga Golf & Lodge