Major changes are ahead for Champions Landing come 2025.
In a social media post on the Champions Landing Facebook page dated December 28, owner Jeremy Rusco stated that while the last 10 months of operations have been “nothing short of extraordinary” it has been “far from easy.” According to the post, Rusco had informed the staff of Champions Landing on December 20 that he planned to close the establishment following its New Year’s Eve Party.
The next day, however, Rusco says he changed those plans and “went back to the drawing board” and concluded that major changes would be needed to keep the doors open. The main change will be a change in focus from traditional golf solely to disc golf.
Rusco says it “doesn’t make financial sense to continue to cater to a very small and select demographic” adding the revenue from the course has not allowed them to cover payroll for staff responsible for the course’s upkeep. Rusco also says that traditional golf “doesn’t work in a community of our size when the City of Emporia already has an 18-hole golf course that is subsidized.”
Additional operational changes will include:
*Changes in staffing, specifically streamlining the Champions Landing team to enhance service, professionalism, and consistency.
*The elimination of cash payments.
*Discontinuing all season passes, effective immediately.
*Closing the swimming pool which may be filled in to create outdoor spaces for weddings and live music. Rusco noted that the cost of operation for the pool in 2024 was over $25,000 to operate while generating less than $5,000 in revenue.
*Associated fees for room rentals, setup, and cleaning services to cover staffing costs and a simplification of catering options.
*Prioritization of weddings, private parties, live music, and community events.
Rusco says Champs coffee shop will remain open for now, however, it will be closed on Sunday and Monday. Rusco adds that if traffic does not see “meaningful” improvement in the coming months it will be closed.
There are currently no plans to alter operations for Champs Bar and Grill.
Rusco purchased the former Emporia Country Club back in February and announced the name change to Champions Landing shortly after. The operation opened to the public back in March and has hosted many notable events since that time including the Dynamic Discs Open, Pro Disc Golf Association Masters World Championships and the Turkey Day Dash on Thanksgiving Morning.
Champions Landing was also selected as the location of a new Emporia Recreation Center earlier in the year. It is unclear how the changes in operation and previously planned closure could impact those plans which are currently on hold after Rec Center Steering Committee members chose to postpone a March special vote on a funding mechanism for the facility in early December.
KVOE News has reached out to Rusco for additional comments and insight into the recently announced changes.
