‘Business as usual’ at NBCC as Toshiba Classic nears
The 20th anniversary for Newport Beach Country Club as host of the Toshiba Classic doesn’t appear to be ideal. But new NBCC General Manager Casey Kaut urged the coming week will be “business as usual,” and there are some hospitality bonuses amid the construction for a new state-of-the-art clubhouse.
This is the 21st year of the Toshiba Classic, the pro senior golf tournament, in Orange County, but the 20th at NBCC. All the club’s members are assuredly excited about the palatial type clubhouse coming soon. Yet they, along with the rest of Orange County, are also thrilled about the upcoming Toshiba Classic, which features another grand field, including defending champion and Newport Beach resident Fred Couples.
Mark O’Meara, the World Golf Hall of Famer from Mission Viejo, is the featured speaker at the annual Breakfast With a Champion on Tuesday and Vijay Singh will make his Toshiba Classic debut when the first round begins on Friday. Pro-Am action begins on Monday.
When people walk up to the Toshiba Classic entrance, they’ll notice the mass construction. It can’t be missed. But it actually won’t truly affect the three-day tournament or weeklong activities, Kaut says.
“Working in and around the construction zones for the clubhouse has presented some curveballs, but for the most part the tournament preparations have gone beautifully and we’re excited about the event,” said Kaut, who began work at NBCC last month, leaving Balboa Bay Resort as director of operations.
“The construction zone is completely sequestered from the tournament grounds so there will be zero impact in terms of what the players and the attendees will experience.”
Kaut believes what NBCC has to offer this year in terms of hospitality is better than in years past.
There will be a 6,500 square foot tent set up that will serve the purpose of what the old clubhouse had done. The area is bigger than what the former clubhouse was.
“It’s kind of going to be hospitality central for the Newport Beach Country Club members and event patrons,” Kaut said. “The players hospitality is in our temporary village structure.”
Kaut hit the ground running when he came on board last month. He said he was excited to return to a job associated with golf and a competitive tournament like the Toshiba Classic. He spent 10 years on the PGA Tour, working in tournament operations, which included three Players Championships at the TPC at Sawgrass.
“I feel like I’m like the most privileged person in Orange County and all of California to be charged with the responsibility of opening this fantastic clubhouse,” said Kaut, who added there will eventually be a pool constructed adjacent to the clubhouse. “Our owners are investing $40 million on a 56,000-square foot facility, that’s going to be second to none in terms of private course clubhouses in California. It’s going to be fantastic.”
He said the goal is to have NBCC be the best private golf club in Southern California. Having a tournament like the Toshiba Classic will only help. Because of NBCC’s strong relationship with the Champions Tour and the Toshiba Classic, there was never talk of moving the site of the Toshiba, Kaut said.
It made sense for the 20th to be at NBCC, regardless of the construction.
“It’s got the best field in its history,” Kaut said of the Toshiba Classic. “This is the 20th anniversary of NBCC hosting Toshiba. Everyone is excited about all the changes taking place with the new clubhouse and so we’re excited to get through this transition year.”
