Meriwether Companies, a private real estate investment and development firm, has acquired Morgan Run Club & Resort in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., from Invited Corp., formerly Club Corp. The new hotel operator is Springboard Hospitality. Other terms were not disclosed.
Situated across 200 acres, the resort and private club is located five miles from the Pacific Ocean and Del Mar Racetrack, about 20 miles north of downtown San Diego.
Meriwether Companies will invest more than $25 million in a renovation of the property, including its racquet sports, golf, dining and hotel components. Design and planning are already underway, and the work will be completed over the next two to three years with minimal disruption.
Among its amenities, Morgan Run has a 27-hole championship golf course featuring its East, North and South course layouts, 320-yard driving range, short game practice facilities, 10 tennis hard courts, four pickleball courts, heated outdoor swimming pool, fitness facility and recreational programming and events. The resort also has a restaurant with indoor/outdoor dining, 17,000 square feet of private event space and 76 hotel rooms.
"We recognized an incredible opportunity to shape the future of what we consider to be a true diamond in the rough, a classic Southern California golf escape with rich history dating back to the 1960s," David Likins, partner, Meriwether Companies, said in a statement. "We believe there is a gap in the market for a more casual, vibrant and community-oriented club that aligns with the north coastal San Diego market."
The construction is set to take place in phases. Planned enhancements include upgrades to the common areas in the dining, banquet and fitness spaces of the clubhouse; converting the existing spa into a communal recovery area; investments in the golf course irrigation, bunkering and re-grassing; construction of a new pool and casual dining outlet; renovation of the racquet sports area including the tennis, pickleball and sports courts; and an improved pool. Estimated completion for the enhancements is slated for late 2025.