Virginia company buys ninth Florida golf club

The Club at Cheval in Lutz has been sold. 

The new owner is Heritage Golf Group, a Herndon, Virginia-based owner and operator of private country clubs and upscale daily-fee golf courses nationwide. Heritage acquired the club last month from LKJ Management, according to a release. Terms of the deal for the club, in Hillsborough, on the border of Pasco County, weren’t disclosed.

Heritage, according to the statement, now operates 42 clubs across the country, with nine in Florida. One of those in the Sunshine State is also in Lutz, TPC Tampa Bay. Heritage acquired Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club in March 2024.

Located within the gated Cheval community, The Club at Cheval, Heritage officials say, “boasts an excellent 18-hole golf course designed by Steve R. Smyers.” The property also features a newly renovated clubhouse and restaurant, nine Har-Tru tennis courts, two pickleball courts, a full-service fitness center and a temperature-controlled pool.

“Expanding our presence in Florida, particularly in the Tampa market, has been a strategic priority for Heritage,” Heritage COO Jim Oliver says in the April 21 statement. “The Club at Cheval is a natural complement to our portfolio, and its proximity to TPC Tampa Bay, Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club, and our four other Southwest Florida clubs makes it a strong addition.” 

The course, according to Heritage and the club’s website, is currently undergoing a complete multimillion-dollar renovation from tee to green, and is scheduled to reopen in the fall. Renovations include work on the greens; bunker enhancements; tee box expansions; and a reimagined practice facility.