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IN THE NEWS
NORTH COUNTY BUSINESS JOURNAL
x
FALL 2017
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sdnedc.org
P
lenty of changes have
been taking place at the
historic Warner Springs
Ranch Resort since the Pacific
Hospitality Group acquired the
property in 2013, and now a leg-
endary golfer is getting into the
swing of things there.
Johnny Miller, who won 25
times on the PGA Tour, includ-
ing two major championships,
and who battled Hall of Fame
players such as Jack Nicklaus
and Tom Watson in a career that
began in 1971, has been hired to
lend his golf course design ex-
pertise to upgrade the layout at
the resort.
"After our first
visit, my sons and I
were intrigued by
the opportunity to be
part of this amazing
property's legacy,"
Miller said. "We hope to host
championship-level events here
once the updates are complete."
Pacific Hospitality Group
has embarked on a massive
renovation at Warner Springs
Ranch Resort that included the
recent re-opening of 10 historic
cottages for overnight stays, on-
going improvements to the golf
course, and eventually, the prop-
erty's famed hot springs pool
complex.
Johnny Miller Design has built
more than 20 golf courses in the
western United States, including
Maderas Golf Club in Poway,
and the company's role with
Warner Springs Ranch Golf Club
will be to continue the improve-
ments to the course, which re-
opened in November 2015.
Miller's contributions will
begin "immediately and visitors
will start seeing enhancements
later this year," according to
Ashley Weaver, of J. Walcher
Communications.
Additionally, the partnership
could lead to the creation of nine
new holes, Weaver said.
All the refurbishments and
renovation will complement the
ambiance of the 2,500-acre West-
ern-style ranch property, located
in the Julian foothills. Originally
a working ranch in the mid-
1800s and a health and wellness
retreat in the 1920s, the facility is
imbued with an Old West feel.
Miller's company is family
owned and operated, as the sen-
ior Miller works closely with his
sons, Johnny Miller, Jr. and Andy
Miller. Along with his sons,
Miller possesses a wealth of
knowledge about both the game
of golf, as well as the industry.
His playing career resulted in
his induction in to the World
Golf Hall of Fame in 1998, and
he complemented that with a 28-
year career as a golf analyst with
NBC.
The family connection doesn't
end there: Miller was introduced
to the resort and its owner by
Byron Casper, the son of yet an-
other legendary golfer: San
Diego native Billy Casper. The
elder Casper, who passed away
in 2015, helped convince Miller's
mother to encourage her son to
become a professional golfer.
Other WSRR properties in-
clude Hacienda Hotel and Old
Town Tequila Factory in San
Diego's Old Town, and Chula
Vista's Salt Creek Golf Club.
AN ACE ON THE JOB
n
LEGENDARY GOLFER JOHNNY MILLER LENDS HIS EXPERTISE TO WARNER SPRINGS RANCH RESORT
BY JOEL BEERS
Improvements to the golf course are going to
be made at Warner Springs Ranch Resort.
›› CLICK HERE for more on
Warner Springs Ranch Resort.
Johnny Miller
