‘Had to Take a Stand’: Valhalla Golf Club, Set to Host the 2024 PGA Championship, Faces Major Upheaval Ahead of Membership Termination

The USA features some of the oldest golf courses in the world, with each associating a deep, underlying connection to its members. It plays an important role in the history of the course itself, but problems arising from it are equally threatening. Henceforth, a self-detrimental situation has occurred at the iconic Valhalla Golf Club, which has led to many long-time members terminating their memberships.

Valhalla Golf Club in a spiral downfall

The path to decline began when the PGA of America sold the course in June last year. Its latest owners are a consortium led by ISCO Industries CEO, Jimmy Kirchdorfer, who sought to eliminate liabilities estimated between $4 million and $5 million.

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The move was seen as helpful initially, with the club’s new owners stating their intentions clearly. “We did not acquire the club with the intent of making money, but to protect and preserve this iconic Louisville property,” an email to the members dated Oct. 31, 2022, claimed.

However, the statement made for a false impression considering the new owners’ following moves. Some of its longest-standing members have been told to surrender their rights to a refund of initiation fees or lose their membership, as of Jan. 1, 2023.

Long-time fans clamor against the changes

The ruling has found critics among the course’s oldest members. John Berry, who claims to have played as many as 1,000 rounds on the course since its inception in 1986, was hard-hitting with his disgust for the rules.

“My wife told me, ‘Just give them the money. You love golf,’” Berry said, a Louisville attorney. “I said, ‘No, it’s not about the money.’ You don’t treat somebody like this. I’m not going to let somebody treat me like this and shake [their] hand and say, ‘Please sir, may I have another?’”

The situation was similar to a certain Tim Graven, who admitted that such delirious decisions must be tackled. “It’s insane,” he said. “I don’t need the money. I don’t care about the money. I had to take a stand against these guys.”

A certain source claimed that the number of members who quit the club was in the mid-40s. Whether the new owners make amends to their rules remains to be seen.

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