$26M Santa Ana Country Club Clubhouse Redevelopment Signals Strong Demand for High-End Private Club Modernization Projects

Driver SPG begins construction on a 33,000-square-foot replacement clubhouse in Orange County, blending heritage preservation with modern hospitality infrastructure while maintaining full club operations during buildout.

Highlights

• Driver Special Projects Group has broken ground on a $26 million clubhouse project at Santa Ana Country Club in Santa Ana, California
• The 33,000-square-foot facility will replace the existing clubhouse at the historic Orange County club founded in 1901
• Project includes a 26,000-square-foot main level with dining, event, and member gathering spaces
• A 6,700-square-foot underground level will support golf cart and equipment storage and operations
• The club will remain operational throughout construction with phased demolition and build sequencing
• Completion is scheduled for 2027

Private Club Redevelopment Activity Reflects Growing Investment in Legacy Hospitality Infrastructure

Construction has officially begun on a $26 million clubhouse replacement at Santa Ana Country Club, marking another example of sustained investment in private club modernization across high-value residential and hospitality markets in Southern California.

The project is being delivered by Driver Special Projects Group, an affiliate of C.W. Driver Companies, and will replace the existing clubhouse at one of Orange County’s oldest golf clubs while preserving its historical identity and member experience.

A Full Replacement Built Around Preservation and Modern Use

The new 33,000-square-foot clubhouse will introduce updated hospitality infrastructure designed to support dining, events, and member amenities within a more efficient and accessible layout.

A major design feature is the consolidation of member-facing functions onto a single 26,000-square-foot main level, improving circulation between dining areas, social spaces, and event facilities. Below-grade construction will add approximately 6,700 square feet dedicated to operational storage, including golf cart and equipment handling.

The design incorporates premium materials and detailing intended to reflect the club’s long-standing heritage while modernizing aging infrastructure that had reached the end of its service life.

Construction While Maintaining Full Club Operations

A defining feature of the project is the requirement to keep the country club fully operational during construction. This includes phased demolition of the existing clubhouse and staged construction sequencing to avoid disruption to members and daily operations.

For contractors, this type of work typically requires careful logistics planning, safety coordination, and high levels of stakeholder communication, particularly in active hospitality environments where user experience remains a priority throughout construction.

Occupied-site execution is increasingly common in private club and resort redevelopment projects, where owners aim to maintain revenue streams while upgrading core facilities.

Private Club Market Continues to Drive Specialty Construction Demand

Private clubs across the U.S. have increasingly invested in capital upgrades over the past decade, driven by membership growth, aging infrastructure, and rising expectations for hospitality experiences.

Projects like the Santa Ana Country Club redevelopment reflect a broader shift toward replacing legacy clubhouses with multi-functional spaces that support dining, events, wellness, and expanded social programming.

For contractors, this segment often blends elements of hospitality, commercial interior construction, and high-end finishes, requiring specialized expertise in craftsmanship, sequencing, and premium material integration.

Regional Builder Experience in Hospitality and Club Projects

Driver SPG’s portfolio includes multiple hospitality and country club projects across Southern California, including work at Newport Beach Country Club and other private club environments. This background reflects a broader contractor specialization trend in luxury amenity construction, where repeat experience in similar operational settings is a competitive advantage.

What This Means for Construction Owners

For private developers, club operators, and hospitality owners, the Santa Ana Country Club project highlights continued strength in legacy amenity redevelopment markets.

Owners of aging hospitality assets are increasingly choosing full replacement or major modernization strategies rather than incremental renovation, particularly when infrastructure limitations begin to impact member experience or operational efficiency.

The project also reinforces the importance of construction approaches that allow facilities to remain operational during buildout—an increasingly critical requirement in membership-based and revenue-dependent environments.

More broadly, private club and high-end hospitality construction continues to represent a resilient niche within commercial construction, supported by long-term member investment, lifestyle demand, and sustained reinvestment in legacy properties.

Originally reported by Driver SPG.