Blackhawk Golf Course

Blackhawk Golf Club

Ussery, 55, and his Austin-based golf management company, OnCourse Strategies, bought Blackhawk last November from GE Capital, the finance company which had taken the course back from its previous owner in 2007. Ussery began work immediately on an upgraded irrigation system, weed control, patching of bare spots and an upgrade of the cart fleet used by 95 percent of his customers.

“I hope people are recognizing the improvements and will put Blackhawk back higher on their list,” Ussery said. “I’ve operated a lot of golf courses with good systems and formulas which seem to have worked.”

Ussery is working to get golfers back through advertising, an enhanced website and most of all, through word of mouth. It may help that there are now more potential customers living near the golf course, compared to 20 years ago when Blackhawk was considered remote.

The course is 7,072 yards long on 155 acres and is considered a “middle market” daily fee golf course, according to Ussery.

“To set Blackhawk apart, it has to be a good value,” Ussery said. “The golfer has to leave saying it was a good experience.”

Ussery said he also wants to stabilize pricing while bringing the number of rounds back up. Although the majority of golfers pay Blackhawk’s daily fee, Ussery has instituted a player development program which allows golfers to hit unlimited range balls, take lessons and get reduced prices in the afternoon.

“We’re also hoping to grow our event business,” Ussery said. “We hope to be an attractive venue for corporate and charitable events, which are important to our revenues.”

Blackhawk employs 30 people, most of them holdovers from the previous owners. OnCourse operates three other golf facilities in Central Texas, including Forest Creek in Round Rock, Riverside in east Austin, and Oak Hill Golf Range in southwest Austin, which OnCourse also owns. The company also owns three Houston-area courses and operates another.

Ussery attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, on a golf scholarship and turned pro following graduation. After working for several Houston-area golf courses, he moved to Dallas, worked in real estate development and bought his first golf courses. In 1992, he sold them to become an executive with Club Corporation, one of the nation’s largest golf course operators, where he supervised up to 50 facilities.

He said he eventually tired of the travel and elected to stay home with his wife and three sons. In 2001, he founded his Austin company by buying several courses from his then-employer.

Blackhawk Golf Club

Ussery, 55, and his Austin-based golf management company, OnCourse Strategies, bought Blackhawk last November from GE Capital, the finance company which had taken the course back from its previous owner in 2007. Ussery began work immediately on an upgraded irrigation system, weed control, patching of bare spots and an upgrade of the cart fleet used by 95 percent of his customers.

“I hope people are recognizing the improvements and will put Blackhawk back higher on their list,” Ussery said. “I’ve operated a lot of golf courses with good systems and formulas which seem to have worked.”

Ussery is working to get golfers back through advertising, an enhanced website and most of all, through word of mouth. It may help that there are now more potential customers living near the golf course, compared to 20 years ago when Blackhawk was considered remote.

The course is 7,072 yards long on 155 acres and is considered a “middle market” daily fee golf course, according to Ussery.

“To set Blackhawk apart, it has to be a good value,” Ussery said. “The golfer has to leave saying it was a good experience.”

Ussery said he also wants to stabilize pricing while bringing the number of rounds back up. Although the majority of golfers pay Blackhawk’s daily fee, Ussery has instituted a player development program which allows golfers to hit unlimited range balls, take lessons and get reduced prices in the afternoon.

“We’re also hoping to grow our event business,” Ussery said. “We hope to be an attractive venue for corporate and charitable events, which are important to our revenues.”

Blackhawk employs 30 people, most of them holdovers from the previous owners. OnCourse operates three other golf facilities in Central Texas, including Forest Creek in Round Rock, Riverside in east Austin, and Oak Hill Golf Range in southwest Austin, which OnCourse also owns. The company also owns three Houston-area courses and operates another.

Ussery attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas, on a golf scholarship and turned pro following graduation. After working for several Houston-area golf courses, he moved to Dallas, worked in real estate development and bought his first golf courses. In 1992, he sold them to become an executive with Club Corporation, one of the nation’s largest golf course operators, where he supervised up to 50 facilities.

He said he eventually tired of the travel and elected to stay home with his wife and three sons. In 2001, he founded his Austin company by buying several courses from his then-employer.

Insiders' Guide to Austin

Insiders' Guide to Pittsburgh, 3rd

Wisconsin State atlas

The Best Advice Ever for Golfers

Golf USA