The newly renovated clubhouse at San Joaquin Country Club reopened in January following nearly two years of construction and upgrades. Photo by Dylan Gonzales

After nearly two years of planning and construction, San Joaquin Country Club in northwest Fresno officially reopened its fully renovated 20,000-square foot clubhouse this January.

The project, which was in discussions for about five years before the start of construction, was completed two months ahead of schedule. The country club, which opened in 1961, was originally planning for a March completion date but received final occupancy clearance from the City of Fresno in January, which allowed the clubhouse to open earlier than expected.

General Manager Mike Best, who recently celebrated his one-year anniversary in his position, said the decision to renovate was pushed by a hope to elevate the member experience while also preserving the tradition of the club.

 

“They’ve been working and talking about this for about five years,” Best said. “It’s finally come to fruition, and the members have been really enthusiastic about getting back in and seeing the quality of what was done. It’s elegant, but it still has a comfortable, homey feel.”

One of the centerpieces of the remodel is the change of the former club room into an expanded space that now seats around 100 members comfortably and has a maximum capacity of 130. The redesign removed a central bar and adjusted seating to nearly double the usable dining area.

The Member’s Grill room serves as the main point of daily operations, as it hosts breakfast, lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. The main dining room, which has a capacity of 216, operates Wednesday through Saturday evenings and includes a separate fine-dining menu.

Best said some of the offerings include prime beef, wagyu rib-eye, Chilean sea bass and surf-and-turf options.

Behind the scenes, the renovation included new HVAC systems, updated plumbing and a technology package. The kitchen underwent a complete overhaul, with new appliances designed for efficiency.

 

Other improvements include updated locker rooms, expanded bar services at “The Turn” between holes nine and 10 and upgraded meeting spaces. The club also invested in aesthetic upgrades that highlight its bluff-top location that overlooks the San Joaquin River and the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

On Wednesday and Friday evenings, the grill room transitions to a 21-and-over setting after 5 p.m. During those times, families are directed to the seasonal pool house restaurant, which operates from mid-April through early fall and provides a more casual environment.

The clubhouse renovation represents a major capital investment in the future of the private club, which promotes itself as offering “the country club of a lifetime.” While the facility is not open to the public, Best said the improvements are intended to strengthen long-term member satisfaction.

“Everything that we do here is based around member experience,” Best said. “From the moment they come onto the property, it’s about the level of service we can provide.”

Work at the club is continuing. A remodel of the pro shop is scheduled to begin in March, including structural beam repairs, roofing work and exterior stucco improvements. During construction, golf operations will temporarily relocate to The Turn.

For Best, the project’s completion underscores what he values most about his role.

“My favorite part is the membership and the team,” he said. “This is something they’ll enjoy for years to come.”