0001175483falseFY2021http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#AccountingStandardsUpdate201409Memberhttp://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#OtherLiabilitiesCurrenthttp://fasb.org/us-gaap/2021-01-31#OtherLiabilitiesCurrent00011754832021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:CommonClassAMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2021-01-012021-12-3100011754832021-06-30iso4217:USD00011754832022-03-18xbrli:shares00011754832021-12-3100011754832020-12-31iso4217:USDxbrli:shares0001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2020-01-012020-12-31xbrli:pure0001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMember2019-01-012019-12-3100011754832020-01-012020-12-3100011754832019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:PreferredStockMember2018-12-310001175483us-gaap:CommonStockMember2018-12-310001175483us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2018-12-310001175483us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2018-12-310001175483us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2018-12-310001175483us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2018-12-3100011754832018-12-310001175483us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:CommonStockMember2019-01-012019-12-3100011754832018-01-012018-12-310001175483srt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMemberus-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2018-12-310001175483srt:CumulativeEffectPeriodOfAdoptionAdjustmentMember2018-12-310001175483us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:PreferredStockMember2019-12-310001175483us-gaap:CommonStockMember2019-12-310001175483us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2019-12-310001175483us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2019-12-310001175483us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2019-12-310001175483us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2019-12-3100011754832019-12-310001175483us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:CommonStockMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:PreferredStockMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:CommonStockMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:CommonStockMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:PreferredStockMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:CommonStockMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:AdditionalPaidInCapitalMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:RetainedEarningsMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:NoncontrollingInterestMember2021-12-310001175483ds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2021-12-31ds:propertyds:state0001175483ds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2021-12-310001175483ds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2020-03-012020-03-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMembersrt:MinimumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:BuildingAndBuildingImprovementsMembersrt:MaximumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:EquipmentMembersrt:MinimumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:EquipmentMembersrt:MaximumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:FurnitureAndFixturesMembersrt:MinimumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:FurnitureAndFixturesMembersrt:MaximumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupHeldforsaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMember2018-03-072018-03-070001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMember2020-10-160001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMember2020-10-162020-10-160001175483us-gaap:TradeNamesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ContractualRightsMembersrt:MinimumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ContractualRightsMembersrt:MaximumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:SoftwareDevelopmentMembersrt:MinimumMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483srt:MaximumMemberus-gaap:SoftwareDevelopmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:CustomerRelationships1Member2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:TrustsMember2021-12-3100011754832020-04-012020-06-300001175483ds:Cash1Member2021-12-310001175483ds:Cash1Member2020-12-310001175483ds:RestrictedCashConstructioninProgressMember2021-12-310001175483ds:RestrictedCashConstructioninProgressMember2020-12-310001175483ds:RestrictedCashMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2021-12-310001175483ds:RestrictedCashMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2020-12-310001175483ds:RestrictedCashMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2021-12-310001175483ds:RestrictedCashMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2020-12-310001175483ds:GolfCourseOperationsEntertainmentGolfVenuesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:GolfCourseOperationsPublicGolfPropertiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:GolfCourseOperationsPrivateGolfPropertiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:GolfCourseOperationsManagedGolfPropertiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:GolfCourseOperationsCorporateMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:GolfCourseOperationsEntertainmentGolfVenuesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:GolfCourseOperationsPublicGolfPropertiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:GolfCourseOperationsPrivateGolfPropertiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:GolfCourseOperationsManagedGolfPropertiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:FoodandBeverageEntertainmentGolfVenuesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:FoodandBeveragePublicGolfPropertiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:FoodandBeveragePrivateGolfPropertiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:FoodandBeverageManagedGolfPropertiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:FoodAndBeverageCorporateMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:FoodandBeverageEntertainmentGolfVenuesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:FoodandBeveragePublicGolfPropertiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:FoodandBeveragePrivateGolfPropertiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:FoodandBeverageManagedGolfPropertiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:EntertainmentGolfVenuesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:PublicGolfPropertiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:PrivateGolfPropertiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:ManagedGolfPropertiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:CorporateGolfPropertiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:EntertainmentGolfVenuesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:PublicGolfPropertiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:PrivateGolfPropertiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:ManagedGolfPropertiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:ManagementContractReimbursementsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:ManagementContractReimbursementsMember2020-01-012020-12-31ds:segment0001175483ds:DriveShackVenuesMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2021-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMemberus-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMemberus-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMemberus-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2021-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMemberus-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMemberus-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMemberus-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2020-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMemberus-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMemberus-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483ds:GolfOperationsMemberus-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:FoodAndBeverageMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:EntertainmentGolfSegmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:OperatingSegmentsMemberus-gaap:CorporateMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:LandMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:LandMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:BuildingImprovementsMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:BuildingImprovementsMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:FurnitureAndFixturesMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:FurnitureAndFixturesMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:EquipmentMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:EquipmentMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:ConstructionInProgressMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ConstructionInProgressMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:AssetsHeldUnderCapitalLeasesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:AssetsHeldUnderCapitalLeasesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:AssetsHeldUnderCapitalLeasesMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2020-10-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2020-10-012020-10-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2019-01-012019-03-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2019-03-31ds:contract0001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2019-04-012019-06-300001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2019-06-300001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2019-07-012019-09-300001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2019-09-300001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2019-10-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2019-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2020-10-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2020-12-310001175483ds:GolfPropertiesSoldDuringCurrentPeriodMemberus-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember2019-01-012019-03-310001175483ds:GolfPropertiesSoldDuringPriorPeriodMemberus-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember2019-01-012019-03-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMember2018-01-012018-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMember2019-03-310001175483ds:GolfPropertiesSoldDuringCurrentPeriodMemberus-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember2019-04-012019-06-300001175483ds:GolfPropertiesSoldDuringCurrentPeriodMemberus-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember2018-01-012018-12-3100011754832019-01-010001175483srt:MinimumMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2021-12-310001175483srt:MaximumMemberds:TraditionalGolfPropertiesandRelatedFacilitiesMember2021-12-31ds:renewal0001175483ds:GolfCartsandEquipmentMembersrt:MinimumMember2021-12-310001175483ds:GolfCartsandEquipmentMembersrt:MaximumMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:TradeNamesMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:TradeNamesMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:ContractualRightsMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ContractualRightsMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:SoftwareDevelopmentMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:SoftwareDevelopmentMember2020-12-310001175483ds:CustomerRelationships1Member2021-12-310001175483ds:CustomerRelationships1Member2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:LicensingAgreementsMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:LicensingAgreementsMember2020-12-310001175483ds:GolfVineyardIIMember2021-12-310001175483ds:GolfVineyardIIMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:GolfVineyardIIMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:CapitalLeaseObligationsMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:CapitalLeaseObligationsMembersrt:MinimumMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:CapitalLeaseObligationsMembersrt:MaximumMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:CapitalLeaseObligationsMember2020-12-310001175483ds:GolfCreditFacilitiesMember2021-12-310001175483ds:GolfCreditFacilitiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:GolfCreditFacilitiesMember2020-12-310001175483ds:CapitalLeasesCurrentPortionMember2021-12-310001175483ds:CapitalLeasesCurrentPortionMember2020-12-310001175483ds:CreditFacilitiesandCapitalLeasesLongtermPortionMember2021-12-310001175483ds:CreditFacilitiesandCapitalLeasesLongtermPortionMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:JuniorSubordinatedDebtMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:JuniorSubordinatedDebtMemberus-gaap:LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:JuniorSubordinatedDebtMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:JuniorSubordinatedDebtMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:DebtSecuritiesPayableMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:DebtSecuritiesPayableMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:DebtSecuritiesPayableMember2020-12-31ds:installmentds:round0001175483us-gaap:EquipmentMembersrt:MinimumMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:EquipmentMembersrt:MaximumMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:NonrecourseMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:RecourseMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:CarryingReportedAmountFairValueDisclosureMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:EstimateOfFairValueFairValueDisclosureMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberds:RealEstateSecuritiesAFSMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:MeasurementInputDiscountRateMemberus-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberds:RealEstateSecuritiesAFSMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberds:RealEstateSecuritiesAFSMemberus-gaap:MeasurementInputPrepaymentRateMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberds:RealEstateSecuritiesAFSMemberus-gaap:MeasurementInputDefaultRateMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:MeasurementInputLossSeverityMemberus-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberds:RealEstateSecuritiesAFSMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberds:RealEstateSecuritiesAFSMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:MeasurementInputDiscountRateMemberus-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberds:RealEstateSecuritiesAFSMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberds:RealEstateSecuritiesAFSMemberus-gaap:MeasurementInputPrepaymentRateMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberds:RealEstateSecuritiesAFSMemberus-gaap:MeasurementInputDefaultRateMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:MeasurementInputLossSeverityMemberus-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberds:RealEstateSecuritiesAFSMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2019-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ResidentialMortgageBackedSecuritiesMemberus-gaap:FairValueInputsLevel3Memberus-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMemberds:CommonStockEquivalentsMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMemberds:CommonStockEquivalentsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMemberds:CommonStockEquivalentsMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483srt:DirectorMember2018-01-012018-12-310001175483srt:DirectorMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMembersrt:DirectorMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployeeMemberus-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMembersrt:DirectorMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployeeMemberus-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483ds:FormerExecutiveMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMembersrt:DirectorMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployeeMemberus-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:FormerExecutiveMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:PublicOfferingMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483srt:BoardOfDirectorsChairmanMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:OmnibusIncentivePlan2018Member2020-12-310001175483ds:OmnibusIncentivePlan2018Memberds:NonEmployeeDirectorMember2018-01-012018-12-310001175483ds:OmnibusIncentivePlan2018Member2018-01-012018-12-310001175483ds:OmnibusIncentivePlan2018Memberds:NonEmployeeDirectorMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483srt:ManagementMember2021-12-310001175483srt:ManagementMember2020-12-310001175483ds:ManagementEmployeesMember2021-12-310001175483ds:ManagementEmployeesMember2020-12-310001175483srt:DirectorMember2021-12-310001175483srt:DirectorMember2020-12-310001175483ds:EmployeeMember2021-12-310001175483ds:EmployeeMember2020-12-310001175483srt:ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMembersrt:ChiefExecutiveOfficerMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployeeMember2018-04-012018-04-300001175483us-gaap:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployeeMember2017-02-012017-02-280001175483srt:ManagementMemberus-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMember2018-04-012018-04-300001175483srt:ManagementMemberus-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMember2017-02-012017-02-280001175483us-gaap:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployeeMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployeeMemberds:EmployeeMember2018-01-012018-12-310001175483us-gaap:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployeeMemberds:EmployeeMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementEmployeeMemberds:EmployeeMember2021-01-012021-12-3100011754832019-04-012019-04-3000011754832019-11-012019-11-300001175483us-gaap:EmployeeStockOptionMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:RestrictedStockUnitsRSUMemberus-gaap:ShareBasedPaymentArrangementNonemployeeMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2003-03-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2003-03-012003-03-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2005-10-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2005-10-012005-10-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2007-03-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2007-03-012007-03-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2010-03-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2010-03-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2010-03-310001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2021-03-112021-03-110001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2021-03-112021-03-110001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2021-03-112021-03-1100011754832021-04-292021-04-290001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2021-05-072021-05-070001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2021-05-072021-05-070001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2021-05-072021-05-0700011754832021-07-302021-07-300001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2021-08-052021-08-050001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2021-08-052021-08-050001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2021-08-052021-08-0500011754832021-10-292021-10-290001175483us-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2021-11-052021-11-050001175483us-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2021-11-052021-11-050001175483us-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2021-11-052021-11-050001175483ds:SymphonyVenturesMemberds:SLPMember2021-07-120001175483ds:SymphonyVenturesMember2021-07-120001175483ds:SLPMember2021-07-120001175483us-gaap:ScenarioPlanMemberds:SymphonyVenturesMemberds:SLPMember2021-11-112021-11-110001175483srt:AffiliatedEntityMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:SuretyBondMember2020-12-310001175483us-gaap:SuretyBondMember2021-12-31ds:lease0001175483ds:TraditionalGolfSegmentMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483ds:Cash3Member2021-12-310001175483srt:MinimumMember2021-12-310001175483srt:MaximumMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:StateAndLocalJurisdictionMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:CapitalLossCarryforwardMember2021-12-310001175483us-gaap:RealEstateInvestmentMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupHeldforsaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupHeldforsaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMemberds:GolfPropertiesMember2019-12-310001175483us-gaap:RealEstateInvestmentMember2019-01-012019-12-310001175483ds:NewYorkCorporateOfficeMember2021-01-012021-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfBySaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfByMeansOtherThanSaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember2020-01-012020-12-310001175483us-gaap:DisposalGroupDisposedOfByMeansOtherThanSaleNotDiscontinuedOperationsMember2019-01-012019-12-3100011754832021-01-012021-03-3100011754832021-04-012021-06-3000011754832021-07-012021-09-3000011754832021-10-012021-12-3100011754832020-01-012020-03-3100011754832020-07-012020-09-3000011754832020-10-012020-12-310001175483srt:ScenarioForecastMemberus-gaap:SeriesBPreferredStockMember2022-04-012022-04-010001175483srt:ScenarioForecastMemberus-gaap:SeriesCPreferredStockMember2022-04-012022-04-010001175483srt:ScenarioForecastMemberus-gaap:SeriesDPreferredStockMember2022-04-012022-04-01
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
| | | | | |
☒ | ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF |
| THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021
or
| | | | | |
☐ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF |
| THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the transition period from ________________________________ to ________________________________
Commission File Number: 001-31458
| | |
Drive Shack Inc. |
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) |
| | | | | | | | |
Maryland | | 81-0559116 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation | | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
or organization) | | |
| | | | | | | | |
10670 N. Central Expressway, Suite 700, Dallas, TX | | 75231 |
(Address of principal executive offices) | | (Zip Code) |
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (646) 585-5591
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Title of each class: | | Trading Symbol(s) | | Name of exchange on which registered: |
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share | | DS | | New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share | | DS-PB | | New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share | | DS-PC | | New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
8.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share | | DS-PD | | New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
o Yes x No
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
o Yes x No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).
x Yes o No
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Large Accelerated Filer o | Accelerated Filer x | Non-accelerated Filer o | Smaller Reporting Company ☐ |
Emerging Growth Company ☐ | | | |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. £
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management's assessment of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404 (b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
☐ Yes x No
The aggregate market value of the common stock held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2021 (computed based on the closing price on the last business day of the registrant's most recently completed second quarter as reported on the NYSE) was: $304,802,737.
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock was 92,093,425 as of March 18, 2022.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the registrant's definitive proxy statement for the registrant's 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed within 120 days of fiscal year-end, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, our operating performance, the performance of our investments, the stability of our earnings, and our financing needs. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “intend,” “expect,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “overestimate,” “underestimate,” “believe,” “could,” “project,” “forecast,” “predict,” “continue” or other similar words or expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions, discuss future expectations, describe future plans and strategies, contain projections of results of operations or of financial condition or state other forward-looking information. Our ability to predict results or the actual outcome of future plans or strategies is inherently uncertain. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, our actual results and performance could differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on our operations and future prospects include, but are not limited to:
| | | | | | | | |
| • | our ability to reopen and/or avoid future closure of our venues; |
| • | factors impacting attendance, such as local conditions, contagious diseases, including COVID-19, or the perceived threat of contagious diseases, disturbances, natural disasters, and terrorist activities; |
| • | regulations and guidance of federal, state and local governments and health officials regarding the response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, including with respect to business operations, safety protocols and public gatherings; |
| • | our financial liquidity and ability to access capital; |
| • | the ability to retain and attract members and guests to our properties; |
| • | changes in global, national and local economic conditions, including, but not limited to, increases in unemployment levels, changes in consumer spending patterns, a prolonged economic slowdown and a downturn in the real estate market, particularly due to the COVID-19 pandemic; |
| • | effects of unusual weather patterns and extreme weather events, geographical concentrations with respect to our operations and seasonality of our business; |
| • | competition within the industries in which we operate or may pursue additional investments, including competition for sites for our entertainment golf venues; |
| • | material increases in our expenses, including but not limited to unanticipated labor issues, monetary inflation, rent or costs with respect to our workforce, and costs of goods, utilities and supplies; |
| • | our inability to sell or exit certain properties, and unforeseen changes to our ability to develop, redevelop or renovate certain properties; |
| • | our ability to further invest in our business and implement our strategies; |
| • | difficulty monetizing our real estate debt investments; |
| • | liabilities with respect to inadequate insurance coverage, accidents or injuries on our properties, adverse litigation judgments or settlements, or membership deposits; |
| • | changes to and failure to comply with relevant regulations and legislation, including in order to maintain certain licenses and permits, and environmental regulations in connection with our operations; |
| • | inability to execute on our growth and development strategy by successfully developing, opening and operating new venues; |
| • | impacts of failures of our information technology and cybersecurity systems; |
| • | the impact of any current or further legal proceedings and regulatory investigations and inquiries; and |
| • | other risks detailed from time to time below, particularly under the heading “Risk Factors,” and in our other reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. |
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. The factors noted above could cause our actual results to differ significantly from those contained in any forward-looking statement.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements, which reflect our management’s views only as of the date of this report. We are under no duty to update any of the forward-looking statements after the date of this report to conform these statements to actual results.
| | |
DRIVE SHACK INC. |
FORM 10-K |
INDEX |
| | | | | | | | |
| | Page |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| Liquidity and Capital Resources | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
PART I
Item 1. Business.
Overview
Drive Shack Inc., a Maryland corporation, was formed in 2002, and its common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “DS.” Drive Shack Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is referenced herein as "Drive Shack Inc.", "the Company", "we", or "our". The Company owns and operates golf-related leisure and entertainment venues and courses focused on bringing people together through competitive socializing, by combining sports and entertainment with elevated food and beverage offerings. The Company conducts its business through the following segments: (i) entertainment golf, (ii) traditional golf and (iii) corporate. For a further discussion of the reportable segments, see Note 4.
•Entertainment golf | Drive Shack and Puttery
Drive Shack offers competitive, social entertainment through its golf-related leisure and large-format entertainment venues with gaming and premier golf technology, a chef-inspired menu, craft cocktails, and engaging social events throughout the year. Each Drive Shack venue features expansive, climate-controlled, suite style bays with lounge seating; augmented-reality golf games and virtual course play; a restaurant and multiple bars; an outdoor patio with lawn games; and arcade games.
As of December 31, 2021, the Company operated four Drive Shack venues located in Orlando, Florida; West Palm Beach, Florida; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Richmond, Virginia. Additionally, the Company is committed to a lease in Manhattan (Randall’s Island), New York for a Drive Shack venue. Drive Shack venues are freestanding, 50,000 - 60,000 square feet, open-air venues built on approximately 12 acres.
This segment also includes the Company's newest entertainment golf brand, Puttery, an adult-focused, modern spin on putting, re-defining the game within an immersive experience and innovative technology as guests move from one course to the next. With a high-energy atmosphere that combines plentiful curated culinary offerings and inventive craft cocktails centered around a lively bar area with great music, guests can relax and enjoy their evening before, during and after their tee time. Puttery venues range in size from 15,000 to 20,000 square feet and feature indoor putting courses anchored by bars and other social spaces that serve to create engaging and fun experiences for guests.
The Company launched its first Puttery venue in September 2021 in The Colony, Texas. As of December 31, 2021, the Company operated two leased Puttery venues located in The Colony, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina. The Company is committed to eight additional Puttery leases for venues in Washington, DC, Miami, Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York City (Manhattan), and Kansas City. Puttery venues are indoor venues typically located in urban and suburban dining and entertainment districts.
•Traditional golf | American Golf
American Golf, acquired by the Company in December 2013, is one of the largest operators of golf properties in the United States. As an owner, lessee, and manager of golf courses and country clubs for over 45 years, we believe American Golf is one of the most experienced operators in the traditional golf industry. As of December 31, 2021, we owned, leased or managed 55 properties across nine states. American Golf is focused on delivering lasting experiences for our guests, with over 35,000 members and over 1.6 million rounds played at our properties during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021.
Public Properties. Our twenty-eight (28) leased public properties generate revenues principally through daily green fees, golf cart rentals and food, beverage and merchandise sales. Amenities at these properties generally include practice facilities, pro shops and food and beverage facilities. At certain locations, our public properties have larger clubhouses with extensive banquet facilities. In addition, The Players Club is a fee-based monthly membership program offered at most of our public properties, with membership benefits ranging from daily range access and off-peak course access to the ability to participate in golf clinics.
Private Properties. Our five (5) leased or owned private properties, which are open primarily to members and their guests, generate revenues principally through initiation fees, membership dues, food, beverage and merchandise sales, and guest fees. Amenities at these properties typically include practice facilities, full-service clubhouses with a pro shop, locker room facilities and multiple food and beverage outlets, including grills, restaurants and banquet facilities.
Managed Properties. Our twenty-two (22) managed properties are operated by American Golf pursuant to management agreements with the owners of each property. We recognize revenue from each of these properties in an amount equal to a management fee and the reimbursements of certain operating costs.
During 2021, the Company exited a total of three management agreements and two leases that had expired, bringing our total number of managed properties to twenty-two (22) and leased properties to thirty-two (32).
See Note 5 in Part II, Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for additional information.
Growth Strategy
We believe Drive Shack Inc. is the only company comprised of a truly integrated portfolio of both entertainment and traditional golf businesses, which provides us with a unique opportunity to unlock top site locations by leveraging the operational experiences and municipal relationships developed by our traditional golf business. The Company strives to forward innovate and revolutionize next generation experiences. In September 2021, the Company launched Puttery, its newest competitive indoor socializing and entertainment platform.
We expect Puttery to expand our business by diversifying our experiential offerings with an adult-focused modern spin on putting through innovative technology featuring a series of indoor putting courses anchored by bars and other social spaces that will serve to create engaging and fun experiences for our guests. Our Puttery venues require much less space than a Drive Shack venue at approximately 15,000 - 20,000 square feet of indoor new or existing retail space. Puttery expands store potential by hundreds of markets due to the vast availability of real estate, shorter development timelines, less capital risk and higher development yields. We believe that advanced data and demographic analytics will allow us to strategically evaluate and develop a robust pipeline of target sites in prioritized markets across the United States. As we look to further grow our Puttery brand, the smaller format offers us the opportunity to improve investment returns and take advantage of the vast availability of retail space at favorable rates.
As we build our brand through the existing operation of Drive Shack locations and new Puttery locations, we continue to strengthen our position in this growing industry. We believe there is significant opportunity to capture market share given the industry disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic and the structural decline of dated businesses, coupled with the rising demand for social and interactive entertainment options. We have strategically aligned our Drive Shack and Puttery businesses to provide competitive, social and interactive experiences to capitalize on this unique and timely opportunity, as we feel other entertainment concepts in our industry have failed to address the shift in consumer preferences. There are a variety of consumers who seek out active socializing options. We will use data and testing to understand unique drivers, test consumer behaviors, and understand spending habits, seeking to optimize the most effective way to target, acquire, and retain consumers.
In addition to our first two Puttery locations in The Colony and Charlotte, we currently have executed lease agreements with landlords to develop additional locations in Washington, DC, Miami, Chicago, Houston, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York City (Manhattan), and Kansas City. We continuously analyze the performance of our first two locations and if necessary, adjustments will be made, if necessary, to further refine our operational and financial models as we expand our Puttery national footprint. We plan to open seven locations during 2022 and expect to end the year with a total of nine Puttery venues in operation.
•A Modernized Socializing Experience
Current Consumer Preferences. Our portfolio of current and future entertainment venues directly addresses consumers’ changing preferences and provides a new type of leisure with multiple experiences under one roof, including:
•Social Entertainment – A unique and curated experience where guests can interact, compete and socialize in a sophisticated, fun setting.
•Sports – Technology forward activities and robust gaming platforms that promote competition and create unique and lasting experiences.
•Food & Beverage – A complete social experience is rounded out by exceptional food and beverage options. Along with heightened visual cues, craft cocktails and curated food choices will enhance the overall experience for every consumer.
•Inclusivity – An activity and experience that allows everyone to participate and enjoy, regardless of skill level.
Our focus is on creating an environment that enables sociable competition and connecting with friends and family, providing our guests with memorable and meaningful experiences. These experiences are designed to cater to a range of audiences and competitive appetites, to attract new guests and to drive loyalty and advocacy among our existing guests.
Innovation. Golf as a sport and form of entertainment continues to transform. We believe innovation is at the essence of creating the modernized, broadly appealing golf and entertainment experience. In an industry with a high degree of competition, innovation serves as a key differentiator. We strive to innovate across all our offerings including technology powered golf games, food and beverage menu offerings, and venue formats. Our proprietary gaming software allows us the ability to consistently develop and launch new games.
Technology. Our Drive Shack venues are equipped with radar-based TrackMan™ technology, which provides precision ball tracking, in real time, affording us the ability to bring our augmented reality gaming to the next level.
Our proprietary gaming software provides us with the unique ability to continuously develop and release cutting edge, fun and engaging games. Our current suite of proprietary games includes Darts, Monster Hunt, ShackJack, Pro Range and our newest game launched in 2021, Snowman. We refresh our existing games and supplement with new releases periodically. In addition, our partnership with TrackMan™ provides our guests with access to an extensive portfolio of world-famous virtual golf courses. These games and virtual golf courses are suitable for all skill sets and competitive appetites.
Elevated Food & Beverage. Our venues feature chef-inspired food offerings alongside inventive craft cocktails. Our menus feature a thoughtfully curated selection of shareable food options, further enabling the socializing nature of our venues. They are designed and tailored to consumer preferences and lifestyle trends, offering unique flavors, and high-quality fresh ingredients to create a premium selection of options to appeal to our broad range of guests.
Alongside our food menu, we have a beverage offering that features a variety of beers, craft cocktails, non-alcoholic cocktails, canned wine and seltzers, and premium spirits. Our beer selection consists of local and regional craft beers and varies by venue locations. In certain locations, we have partnerships with local breweries which source and produce exclusive beverages in both our Drive Shack and Puttery venues.
We plan to rollout new seasonal or limited time offerings, to supplement our core menu and give our guests more reasons to keep coming back as well as attract new guests.
Events. Our venues provide an electric atmosphere for experiential event options spanning corporate events to social gatherings. Each Drive Shack venue features climate-controlled bays, 300-plus television screens, a rooftop terrace with fire pits, and private indoor and outdoor meeting spaces fully equipped with A/V technology and wi-fi, that can accommodate a variety of group sizes up to 1,200 guests. Our Puttery venues have dedicated VIP event spaces as well as other areas throughout each venue, such as lounge areas and outdoor patios. Our event packages feature an elevated chef-inspired catering menu and beverage packages, that are customizable to our guests. Our dedicated event team handles everything from planning to execution to create memorable and meaningful experiences for all our event participants.
•Site selection, development, and the experience
Site Selection. Our site selection process is integral to the successful execution of our growth strategy and is led by our Real Estate Committee, integrating a variety of analytical measures with an evaluation of key factors of the overall quality and viability of potential sites. These factors include but are not limited to size and quality of land and existing real estate space; population demographics, such as target population density, age, and household income levels; competition levels in the market; site visibility, accessibility and traffic volume; proximity to other entertainment facilities, restaurants and bars; and market or landlord incentives.
Venue Development. Our Drive Shack venue formats are generally open-air 60,000 square feet venues on average built on approximately 12 to 15 acres of land. This format features 72 to 96 climate-controlled bays with lounge seating and an approximately 200 yard outfield. The total investment cost of a new Drive Shack venue ranges from $25 to $40 million. We may either enter into a long-term ground lease or purchase the land for our Drive Shack venue format. The average development time for our large format Drive Shack venue is 18 to 24 months.
We currently have a lease commitment in Manhattan (Randall’s Island), New York for a future Drive Shack entertainment golf venues. The Company continues to hold its lease in New Orleans, Louisiana, but suspended development activities for the venue during 2021 and, as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, is considering alternatives to the development of a Drive Shack venue on such site.
Our new Puttery venues average between 15,000 to 20,000 square feet of existing indoor space. These venues each feature anywhere from two to four uniquely themed nine-hole courses, depending on venue size and layout. The total investment cost of a Puttery venue is expected to range from $7 to $11 million, exclusive of landlord incentives. We believe the development timeline for a Puttery venue averages six to nine months and will vary based on the unique layout of each venue.
On occasion, we expect that our various venue formats may be smaller or larger or cost more or less than our targeted range, depending on the specific circumstances of the selected site or market.
Transcending the Experience. We look to create meaningful and memorable experiences by combining world class golf technology, great drinks, delicious food and welcoming environments. Our Drive Shack venues are organized and designed to spread and amplify guest energy and revolutionize the golf and competitive socializing experience. We encourage guest interaction with other guests by way of carefully placed bars and lounges, social event areas, outdoor patios and climate-controlled bays. The lighting, finishes and furniture are contemporary yet comfortable and are purposely organized for group interaction and a social atmosphere. Whether a golfer or not we want everyone to feel comfortable experiencing our version of golf.
Our new Puttery venues consist of exciting, adult focused mini-golf and leisure spaces with social interaction in mind, character-filled with innovative interior designs (including course thematics consisting of libraries, lodges, redwood forests and cityscape rooftops). Each location is customized to create unique ways to socialize with friends for a night out, have drinks with colleagues or meet new people. These bar forward mini-golf spaces blend vintage putting with upscale casual lifestyle through the strategic placement of the lounges, bars, courses, and VIP spaces within each venue. The courses are intimate, transformative and designed specifically to keep guests connected and socializing while playing enhanced mini golf. Beverage and food opportunities are plentiful with multiple bars and a full-service kitchen. Our lounge furniture and finishes are all created with a comfortable yet upscale experience.
Marketing
•Growing Brand Awareness
Continuing to build and grow brand awareness is a top priority. Our strategy consists of multiple layers, which includes local and national data and demographic profiles to identify interests and behaviors, competitors and consumption habits of our target consumers. Our agency partners assist us in developing creative content and messaging that we believe will both continue to grow our Drive Shack and American Golf business and bring the Puttery brand successfully to market. Marketing is a full funnel strategy, including paid and earned media, digital, social, video, out-of-home, events, customer relationship management, influencer marketing, content creation, and celebrity collaboration.
•Embracing Local Communities
Local Partnerships. Each Drive Shack venue prides itself on forging bonds with local partners in the community. For example, our Drive Shack location in Richmond partnered with a local brewery to create an exclusive premium beer for our venue, while our Drive Shack location in Raleigh has partnered with a local female-owned brewery. We have also collaborated with a local specialty ice cream shop to create a new scratch rendition of the classic ice cream sandwich inspired by Arnold Palmer, called the Chilly Palmer. We plan to continue to explore local partnerships and collaborations that may vary by venue and geographic location.
•Customized Programming and Promotions
Unique Programs. Our guest experience is enhanced by ongoing events and programs designed to engage a range of guest desires, including quarterly Social Leagues and Summer Swing Academy, which introduces young kids to golf in a fun, relaxed environment. Intended to drive new and repeat guests to our venues, we feature Limited Time Offers ("LTOs") that are generally rolled out on a quarterly basis. The LTOs typically include three new food and three new beverage offerings that have been created and inspired by our talented chefs in each of our Drive Shack venues
We also have designed programming around seasonal events, including March Madness, National Beer Day, and Easter, with our family themed Easter Egg Hunt. We continually innovate new ways for guests to compete within the venue, such as our new, repeatable tournament model, Drive Shack Open, for use at our large format entertainment venues. The Drive Shack Open is geared towards more competitive, avid golfers and is structured as a single-day tournament, with four-person teams, a team entry fee and prizes awarded to teams based on scores. In December 2020, we debuted our first Drive Shack Open tournament, which was met with huge demand and sold out in advance of the tournament. Given its success, we have continued through 2021. We have also developed an in-venue tournament model, Monster Hunt Challenge, that is geared towards less serious players and non-golfers. The Monster Hunt Challenge is structured as a 4-week tournament model built specifically for competition with "high score" tournament mentality for both groups and solo players, with unlimited entries at a low cost per entry fee and prizes awarded based on highest score.
Promotional Campaigns. We periodically develop promotional programs to attract new guests and increase the length of stay and spend per visitor. Our promotional programs include Happy Hour specials, offering discounted food and beverage selections during specified periods of time as well as various holiday promotions. These promotions are intended to appeal to our existing guests and to encourage new guests to experience our version of golf in climate-controlled bays. We also launched a 2-Bay promotional package in Fall 2020 to address restrictions on large group gatherings. This promotional package allows groups of 10 guests or less to reserve two bays and includes a generous food and beverage credit and two hours of play for a reasonable set price. The promotion was successful during the height of COVID-related restrictions and we continue to offer this package today during non-peak seasonal times throughout the year.
Intellectual Property
We have registered the trademarks Drive Shack®, Puttery® and American Golf® and their primary logos have registered or applied to register certain additional trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in various foreign countries. We consider our trade names and our logos to be important features of our operations and seek to actively monitor and protect our interest in this property in the various jurisdictions where we operate. We also have certain trade secrets, such as our recipes, processes, proprietary information and certain software programs that we protect by requiring all of our employees to accept an agreement to keep trade secrets confidential in connection with their onboarding process.
Policies with Respect to Certain Other Activities
Subject to the approval of our board of directors, we have the authority to offer our common stock or other equity or debt securities to raise cash financing, in exchange for property and to repurchase or otherwise reacquire our shares or any other securities and may engage in such activities in the future. We also may make loans to, or provide guarantees of certain obligations of, our subsidiaries. We may engage in the purchase and sale of investments. Our officers and directors may change any of these policies and any investment guidelines without a vote of our stockholders. Our board of directors has the authority, without stockholder approval (subject in certain cases to NYSE shareholder approval requirements), to issue additional
common stock or preferred stock in any manner and on such terms and for such consideration it deems appropriate, including in exchange for cash or property.
Competition
We operate in a highly competitive industry and compete primarily on the basis of location, featured facilities, quality and breadth of product offerings and price. As a result, competition for market share in the industry in which we compete is significant.
Our entertainment golf business competes with restaurants, dining and social clubs and other entertainment attractions including movie theaters, sporting events, bowling alleys, sports activity centers, arcades and entertainment centers, nightclubs and theme parks. Many of the entities operating these businesses are larger and better capitalized, have a greater number of stores, have been in business longer and are better established with stronger name recognition in the markets where our Drive Shack and Puttery venues are located or are planned to be located. As a result, they may be able to invest greater resources than we can in attracting customers and succeed in attracting customers who would otherwise come to our venues. In addition, the competition is subject to frequent innovations in the products and services offerings which could significantly impact our ability to attract and retain new and recurring guests.
Our traditional golf properties compete on a local and regional level with other country clubs and golf properties. The level of competition in the traditional golf business varies from region to region and is subject to change as existing facilities are renovated or new facilities are developed.
For more information about the competition we face generally and in our entertainment and traditional golf businesses specifically, see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors-Risks Related to Our Business-Competition in the industry in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.”
Seasonality
Seasonality can affect our results of operations. Our traditional golf business is subject to seasonal fluctuations as colder temperatures and shorter days reduce the demand for outdoor activities. As a result, the traditional golf business generates a disproportionate share of its annual revenue in the second and third quarters of each year. In addition, our Drive Shack and Puttery venues could be significantly impacted on a season-to-season basis, based on corporate event and social gathering volumes during holiday seasons and school vacation schedules. For this reason, a quarter-to-quarter comparison may not be a good indicator of our current and/or future performance.
Government Regulation of Our Business
Our properties and operations are subject to a number of environmental laws. As a result, we may be required to incur costs to comply with the requirements of these laws, such as those relating to water resources, discharges to air, water and land, the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous waste and the cleanup of properties affected by regulated materials. Under these and other environmental requirements, we may be required to investigate and clean up hazardous or toxic substances or chemical releases from currently owned, formerly owned or operated facilities.
Environmental laws typically impose cleanup responsibility and liability on a property owner without regard to whether the property owner knew of or caused the presence of the contaminants. We may use certain substances and generate certain wastes that may be deemed hazardous or toxic under such laws, and from time to time have incurred, and in the future may incur, costs related to cleaning up contamination resulting from historic uses by us or by previous owners of certain of our current or former properties or our treatment, storage or disposal of wastes at facilities owned by others. Our facilities are also subject to risks associated with mold, asbestos and other indoor building contaminants. The costs of investigation, remediation or removal of regulated materials may be substantial, and the presence of those substances, or the failure to remediate a property properly, may impair our ability to use, transfer or obtain financing for our property. We may be required to incur costs to remediate potential environmental hazards, mitigate environmental risks in the future, or comply with other environmental laws and regulations.
In addition, in order to build, improve, upgrade or expand some of our facilities, we may be subject to environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act and, for projects in California, the California Environmental Quality Act. Both acts require that a specified government agency study any proposal for potential environmental impacts and include in its analysis various alternatives. Any improvement proposal may not be approved or may be approved with modifications that substantially increase the cost or decrease the desirability of implementing the project.
We are also subject to regulation by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration and similar health and safety laws in other jurisdictions. These regulations impact a number of aspects of operations, including golf course maintenance and food handling and preparation.
The ownership and operation of our facilities subjects us to federal, state and local laws regulating zoning, land development, land use, building design and construction, and other real estate-related laws and regulations.
Our facilities and operations are subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended by the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, which we refer to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as the ADA. The ADA generally requires that we remove architectural barriers when readily achievable so that our facilities are made accessible to people with disabilities. In addition, the ADA Amendments Act of 2008, included additional compliance requirements for golf facilities and recreational areas. Noncompliance could result in imposition of fines or an award of damages to private litigants. Federal legislation or regulations may further amend the ADA to impose more stringent requirements with which we would have to comply.
We are also subject to various local, state and federal laws, regulations and administrative practices affecting our business. For instance, we must comply with provisions regulating equal employment, wage and hour practices and licensing requirements and regulations for the sale of food and alcoholic beverages.
Human Capital Management
Entertainment Golf
As of December 31, 2021, there were approximately 837 employees in our entertainment golf segment including: 776 hourly venue employees, and 61 venue managers.
Traditional golf
As of December 31, 2021, there were approximately 2,465 employees in our traditional golf segment: 2,206 hourly course employees, 259 course managers and 22 corporate personnel.
Corporate
As of December 31, 2021, there were 68 employees in our corporate segment.
The number of Company employees represented by unions, and solely within the traditional golf business, is insignificant. We believe our current relations with our employees are good. While the Company has not adopted any systematic human capital metrics, management focuses on fostering diversity including gender diversity in the executive suite and the Company conducts training on respectful workplace practices for its employees on a regular basis. The Company also employs safety management resources internally in order to ensure safety in our traditional golf and entertainment golf venues. The Company also offers financial benefits and rewards for performance in the discretion of individual departments in order to increase retention and reduce turnover.
Corporate Governance
We emphasize the importance of professional business conduct and ethics through our corporate governance initiatives. Our board of directors consists of a majority of independent directors under the NYSE listing standards. The Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees of our board of directors are composed exclusively of independent directors. We have adopted corporate governance guidelines and a code of business conduct and ethics, which delineate our standards for our directors, officers and employees.
Where Readers Can Find Additional Information
The Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as the Exchange Act, with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
Our website for our stockholders and other interested parties is http://ir.driveshack.com. We make available free of charge through our internet site our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, proxy statements and Forms 3, 4 and 5 filed on behalf of directors and executive officers and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Also posted on our website in the "Investor Relations-Corporate Governance” section are charters for the Company’s Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, as well as our Corporate Governance Guidelines and our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics governing our directors, officers and employees. Information on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this report.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
An investment in our common stock involves risk and uncertainties. In addition to the information contained elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings that we make with the SEC, the following risk factors should be carefully considered in evaluating our business or making an investment decision involving our common stock. The occurrence or manifestation in whole or in part of any of the following risks could harm our business, financial conditions and results of operations, cash flows and/or the trading price of our common stock. In addition, our actual performance could differ materially from any results expressed or implied by forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, in any of our other filings with the SEC and other communications by us, both written and oral, depending on a variety of factors, including the risks and uncertainties described below. Our business is also subject to general risks and uncertainties that affect many other companies, including, but not limited to, overall economic and industry conditions, and additional risks and uncertainties that are currently not known or we believe are immaterial may also have a material negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Business and Industry
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted, and may continue to disrupt, our business, and may in the future have a material adverse effect on our business, operations and results of operations.
Pandemics or disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have, and may in the future have, a negative impact on customer traffic at our entertainment golf and traditional golf venues, and make it more difficult to staff our venues. We have experienced, and may in the future experience, closures, difficulty in obtaining supplies and/or increases to commodity costs, potentially for prolonged periods of time. We also may need to limit the number of people that use our facilities at any given time. State and local governmental authorities may impose various restrictions and other measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, or other pandemics or disease outbreaks. For example, we may be required to limit the hours in which we are permitted to serve food and beverages.
In addition, our operations may be disrupted when our employees or employees of our business partners are suspected of having COVID-19 or other illnesses since this may require us or our business partners to quarantine some or all such employees and close and disinfect our impacted restaurant facilities. If a significant percentage of our workforce or the workforce of our business partners are unable to work, including as result of illness or travel or government restrictions in connection with pandemics or disease outbreaks, our operations may be negatively impacted, potentially materially adversely affecting our business, liquidity, financial condition or results of operations. This could also cause a delay in our ability to build our facilities and implement our strategies.
Furthermore, such viruses may be transmitted through human contact, and the risk of contracting viruses, or the perceived risk of infection or health risk, could cause employees or guests to avoid gathering in public places, such as our venues, which adversely impacts our guest traffic and our ability to adequately staff venues. We could be adversely affected when government authorities impose restrictions on public gatherings, human interactions, operations of restaurants or mandatory closures, seek voluntary closures, restrict hours of operations or impose curfews, restrict the import or export of products or if suppliers issue mass recalls of products.
We opened the first two of our Puttery venues in 2021, and plan to complete development of additional Puttery venues that will open in 2022. There can be no assurance that the Puttery venues will open or operate as expected.
We opened our first two Puttery venues in 2021 and plan to open another seven (7) during 2022 for which we have executed leases. This plan depends on the completion of construction of seven (7) additional locations, all of which remain in various stages of planning or process and may not occur on the timelines that we expect. Following the execution of any leases, we have in the past terminated, and may in the future terminate, such leases for various reasons prior to the construction or opening of the venue, which could delay our plans. In addition, we have in the past replaced or repaired and may in the future replace or repair the technology at our various venues which could further delay our plans. For example in 2019, we closed our Orlando location for approximately one month in order to install our TrackMan™ radar-based system, replacing our older technology. In the past, the construction time of our existing Drive Shack locations has exceeded our expected build timelines. For instance, our Orlando location opened approximately one month later than we had projected. If we are unable to develop and open the Puttery venues as expected, or, when and if opened, they do not accomplish the goals described herein, or if we experience delays or cost overruns in development, our business, operating results, cash flows and liquidity could be materially and adversely affected.
We may experience time delays, unforeseen expenses and other complications while developing the Puttery venues as well as supply chain disruptions. These complications can delay the commencement of revenue-generating activities, reduce the amount of revenue we earn and increase our costs. Delays in development beyond our estimated timelines, or amendments or change orders to development contracts we have entered into and will enter into in the future, could increase the cost of completion beyond the amounts that we estimate. Increased costs could require us to obtain additional sources of financing to continue development on our estimated development timeline or to fund our operations during such development. Any delay in completion of a Puttery venue could cause a delay in the receipt of revenues estimated therefrom. As a result of any one of these factors, any significant development delay, whatever the cause, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results, cash flows and liquidity.
The amount of revenue we generate at our venues may decrease in connection with changes in consumer spending patterns, particularly discretionary expenditures for leisure and recreation.
Consumer spending patterns, particularly discretionary expenditures for leisure and recreation, are subject to factors beyond our control. Should consumers decrease their discretionary spending in general, and in particular on leisure and entertainment, our revenues could decline and our operating margins could decrease, either of which would adversely affect our business. In general, economic recessions or downturns, increased unemployment, low consumer confidence and outlook, and depressed housing markets could cause a decrease in discretionary spending among our customers and potential customers. In addition, because we generate revenues at physical locations that require our customers to travel, consumer spending could also be impacted in a way that is material for our business as a result of war, terrorist activities or threats and heightened travel security measures instituted in response to these events and the financial condition of the airline, automotive and other transportation-related industries and its impact on travel, gasoline prices and natural disasters, such as earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, wildfires, blizzards, droughts and floods and outbreaks of epidemic, pandemic or influenza, coronavirus and other contagious diseases afflicting the geographic regions in which we operate. These factors and other global, national and regional conditions can adversely affect, and from time to time have adversely affected, individual properties, particular regions or our business as a whole. Any one or more of these factors could negatively affect the sales volume and profitability of our services, food and beverages at our Entertainment Golf venues and Traditional Golf properties, and rounds played at our Traditional Golf properties. In addition, in the case of our traditional golf venues, during such periods of adverse economic conditions, we may experience increased rates of resignations of existing members, a decrease in the rate of new member enrollment, a decrease in golf rounds played or reduced spending, any of which may result in, among other things, financial losses and decreased revenues.
Our growth strategy may be materially and adversely affected by our inability to fund, develop and open new entertainment venues and operate them profitably.
Our business strategy relies on our ability to develop, open and operate golf entertainment venues, including Drive Shack venues and Puttery venues. As of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we have four open and operating Drive Shack venues and two open and operating Puttery venues. Our strategy includes the continued expansion of our geographic footprint by opening seven additional Puttery venues during 2022. Opening new venues requires us to identify locations with a favorable consumer market, enter into contracts to lease and/or purchase land, construct our venues in compliance with applicable zoning, licensing, land use and environmental regulations and finance our development, construction and opening costs. Thus, there can be no assurance that we will successfully open new Drive Shack or Puttery venues in accordance with the timing and cost assumptions inherent in our strategic plan. In addition, if the construction and compliance costs of any venue exceeds our budgeted estimates, our expected return on investment would be diminished, which could increase our cost of capital relative to returns and slow our growth strategy or ability to fund it.
In order to operate venues profitably, we must maintain efficient levels of costs, including hiring, training and retaining skilled management and other employees necessary to meet staffing needs and in procuring and pricing our products, including bay-play and food and beverages. Our failure to staff our venues on a cost-effective basis or set appropriate pricing levels creates the risk of diminished operating margins at the venue level. In addition, if we do not successfully attract consumers to our venue, or if they suffer a negative customer experience, we are at risk of not generating adequate revenues to create a favorable margin over our operating costs. Factors that could inhibit our ability to attract consumers to our venues include competition from other food and leisure venues, poor customer service at our venues and technological failures in our consumer-facing technology. Thus, there can be no assurance that we will achieve profitability at any individual venue, which could have a significant adverse effect on our overall operating results.
We have a limited operating history at our Drive Shack and Puttery venues, which may not be sufficient to evaluate our business and prospects.
We have a limited operating history and track record at Drive Shack and Puttery venues, in part because the COVID-19 pandemic occurred early in our operating history. A number of our entertainment golf venues are, and in the future others will be, located in areas where we have little or no meaningful operating experience. Those markets may have different competitive conditions, local regulatory requirements, consumer tastes and discretionary spending patterns than our existing markets, which may cause our new venues to be less successful than we expect. As a result, our prior operating history and historical financial statements may not be a reliable basis for evaluating our business prospects or the future value of our shares. Our strategy may not be successful, and if unsuccessful, we may be unable to modify it in a timely and successful manner. We cannot give you any assurance that we will be able to implement our strategy on a timely basis, if at all, or achieve our internal model or that our assumptions will be accurate. Our limited operating history also means that we continue to develop and implement various policies and procedures including those related to data privacy and other matters. We will need to continue to build our team to implement our strategies.
We will continue to incur significant capital and operating expenditures while we expand the geographic footprint of our Drive Shack venues and launch new Puttery venues, which are currently under construction, as well as other future projects. We will need to invest significant amounts of additional capital to implement our strategy. Any delays beyond the expected development period for these assets would prolong, and could increase the level of, operating losses and negative operating cash flows. Our future liquidity may also be affected by the timing of financing availability in relation to the incurrence of construction costs and other outflows and by the timing of receipt of cash flows in relation to the incurrence of project and operating expenses. Our ability to generate any positive operating cash flow and achieve profitability in the future is dependent on, among other things, the successful expansion of Drive Shack and new Puttery venues.
Our business is dependent upon obtaining substantial additional funding from various sources, which may not be available or may only be available on unfavorable terms.
In the future, we expect to incur additional indebtedness to continue to develop our operations, and we are considering alternative financing options. If we are unable to secure additional funding, or amendments to existing financing, or if additional funding is only available on terms that we determine are not acceptable to us, we may be unable to fully execute our business plan and our business, financial condition or results of operations may be adversely affected. Additionally, we may need to adjust the timing of our planned capital expenditures and venue development depending on the availability of such additional funding. Our ability to raise additional capital will depend on financial, economic and market conditions, our progress in executing our business strategy and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that such additional funding will be available on acceptable terms, or at all. To the extent that we raise additional equity capital by issuing additional securities at any point in the future, our then-existing shareholders may experience dilution. Debt financing, if available, may subject us to restrictive covenants that could limit our flexibility in conducting future business activities and could result in us expending significant resources to service our obligations. If we are unable to comply with these covenants and service our debt, we may lose control of our business and be forced to reduce or delay planned investments or capital expenditures, sell assets, restructure our operations or submit to foreclosure proceedings, all of which could result in a material adverse effect upon our business. A variety of factors beyond our control could impact the availability or cost of capital, including domestic or international economic conditions, increases in key benchmark interest rates and/or credit spreads, the adoption of new or amended banking or capital market laws or regulations, the re-pricing of market risks and volatility in capital and financial markets, risks relating to the credit risk of our customers and the jurisdictions in which we operate, as well as general risks applicable to the consumer discretionary spending sector.
The success of our growth and operational strategy depends in part on our ability to procure or develop and protect our intellectual property rights and technology.
Our growth strategy depends on our ability to procure or develop and protect technologies to be used at our Drive Shack venues and our Puttery venues, and we may not be able to adequately procure or develop these technologies or protect the intellectual property rights in these technologies. Further, our competitors may adapt technologies or business models more quickly or effectively than we do, creating products that are technologically superior to ours or more appealing to consumers. As a result, we may lose an important advantage in the markets in which we open our entertainment golf venues. In addition, if third parties misappropriate or infringe, or otherwise inhibit access to, our intellectual property, our brand may fail to achieve and maintain market recognition and our growth strategy may be harmed. To protect the right to use our technologies and
intellectual property, we may become involved in litigation, which could result in substantial expenses, divert the attention of management and adversely affect our revenue, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, our ball-tracking technology in our Drive Shack entertainment golf venues is provided by a single vendor, TrackMan™. If that vendor were to cease operations or default on its obligations to provide technology, we could suffer a material adverse effect on our business or operations. In addition, this vendor may provide services to other competitors, as we do not maintain exclusive rights to the technology. Further, this vendor could choose not to implement its technology at new venues.
Competition in the industry in which we operate could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We operate in a highly competitive industry and compete primarily on the basis of reputation, featured facilities, location, quality and breadth of product offerings and price. As a result, competition for market share in the industry in which we compete is significant.
Each market in which we operate is highly competitive and includes competition on a local and regional level with restaurants, dining and social clubs and other entertainment attractions including movie theaters, sporting events, bowling alleys, sports activity centers, arcades and entertainment centers, nightclubs and theme parks. Many of the entities operating these businesses are larger and better capitalized, have a greater number of stores, have been in business longer and are better established with stronger name recognition in the markets where our entertainment golf venues are located or are planned to be located. As a result, they may be able to invest greater resources than we can in attracting customers and succeed in attracting customers who would otherwise come to our venues. The legalization of casino and sports gambling in geographic areas near any current or future venues would create the possibility for entertainment alternatives, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition. We also face competition from increasingly sophisticated home-based forms of entertainment, such as internet and video gaming and home movie streaming and delivery.
The number and variety of competitors in our business vary based on the location and setting of each facility, with some situated in intensely competitive upscale urban areas characterized by frequent innovations in the products and services offered by competing restaurants, dining and social clubs and other entertainment attractions. In addition, new restaurants and other social and meeting venues may open or expand their amenities. As a result, the supply in a given region may exceed the demand for such facilities, and any increase in the number or quality of restaurants and other social and meeting venues, or the products and services they provide, in such region could significantly impact the ability of our properties to attract and retain members, which could harm our business and results of operations.
Our traditional golf properties compete on a local and regional level with other country clubs and golf properties. The level of competition in the traditional golf business varies from region to region and is subject to change as existing facilities are renovated or new facilities are developed. An increase in the number or quality of similar clubs and other facilities in a particular region could significantly increase competition, which could have a negative impact on our business and results of operations. In addition, member-owned and individual privately-owned clubs may be able to create a perception of exclusivity that we have difficulty replicating given the diversity of our portfolio and the scope of our holdings.
Unusual weather patterns and extreme weather events, as well as forecasts of bad or mixed weather conditions or periodic and quasi-periodic weather patterns, could adversely affect the value of our golf courses or negatively impact our business and results of operations.
Our businesses are subject to unusual weather patterns and extreme weather events, such as heavy rains, prolonged snow accumulations, high winds, extended heat waves and drought, which could negatively affect the income generated by our properties. Because our entertainment and traditional golf businesses are primarily or partially outdoors, attendance at our facilities could be adversely affected by forecasts of bad weather conditions since individuals may instead choose to participate in indoor activities.
The maintenance of satisfactory turf grass conditions on our traditional golf properties requires significant amounts of water. Our ability to irrigate a golf course could be adversely affected by a drought or other cause of water shortage, such as government imposed restrictions on water usage. Additionally, we may be subject to significant increases in the cost of water. We have a concentration of traditional golf properties in states such as California and New York that experience periods of unusually hot, cold, dry or rainy weather. Unfavorable weather patterns in such states, or any other circumstance or event that causes a prolonged disruption in the operations of our properties in such states (including, without limitation, economic and
demographic changes in these areas), could have an adverse impact on our traditional golf segment which is vulnerable to all these factors.
Food safety incidents at our properties or in our industry or supply chain may adversely affect customer perception of our brands or industry and result in declines in sales and profits.
We cannot guarantee that our supply chain and food safety controls and training will be fully effective in preventing all food safety issues at our properties and venues, including any occurrences of foodborne illnesses such as salmonella, E. coli, norovirus, or hepatitis A. Some foodborne illness incidents could be caused by third-party vendors and distributors outside of our control. New illnesses may develop resistance to our current precautions in the future, or diseases with long incubation periods could arise, that could give rise to claims or allegations on a retroactive basis. One or more instances of foodborne illness in any of our properties or related to food products we sell could negatively affect our sales nationwide if highly publicized on national media outlets or through social media. This risk exists even if it were later determined that the illness was wrongly attributed to us or one of our properties. Further, any instances of food contamination, whether or not at our facilities, could subject us or our suppliers to a food recall, including pursuant to regulations of the Food and Drug Administration under the Food Safety Modernization Act.
Our large workforce subjects us to risks associated with increases in the cost of labor as a result of increased competition for employees, higher employee turnover rates and required wage increases and health benefit coverage, lawsuits or labor union activity.
Labor is one of our primary property-level operating expenses. We face the risks of labor shortages or increased labor costs because of increased competition for employees, higher employee turnover rates, or increases in the federal or state minimum wage or other employee benefit costs. For example, if the federal minimum wage were increased significantly, we would have to assess the financial impact on our operations as we have a large population of hourly employees. If labor-related expenses increase, our operating expense could increase in a manner that materially and adversely affects our operating margins and profitability.
We are subject to the Fair Labor Standards Act and various federal and state laws governing such matters as minimum wage requirements, gratuity policies, overtime compensation and other working conditions, citizenship requirements, discrimination and family and medical leave. In recent years, a number of companies have been subject to lawsuits, including class action lawsuits, alleging violations of federal and state law regarding workplace and employment matters, overtime wage policies, discrimination and similar matters. A number of these lawsuits have resulted in the payment of substantial damages by the defendants. Similar lawsuits have been threatened or instituted against us from time to time, and we may incur substantial damages and expenses resulting from lawsuits of this type, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Our operations are susceptible to changes in the availability and the cost of food, goods, rent, water, utilities, repairs, maintenance and taxes, which could reduce our operating margins and harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our most significant operating costs, other than labor, are our cost of goods, water, utilities, rent and property taxes. Many, and in some cases all, of the factors affecting these costs are beyond our control. Increases in operating costs due to inflation, commodity prices and other factors may not be directly offset by increased revenue. Our cost of goods such as food and beverage costs account for a significant portion of our total property-level operating expense in our Entertainment and traditional golf segments. If our cost of goods increased significantly and we are not able to pass along those increased costs to our customers or members in the form of higher prices or otherwise, our operating margins would decrease, which would have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
In addition, rent accounts for a significant portion of our property-level operating expense. Significant increases in our rent costs would increase our operating expense and our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely impacted. The prices of utilities are volatile, and shortages sometimes occur. In particular, in the case of our traditional golf business, municipalities are increasingly placing restrictions on the use of water for golf course irrigation and increasing the cost of water. Significant increases in the cost of our utilities, or any shortages, could interrupt or curtail our operations and lower our operating margins, which could have a negative impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Each of our properties is subject to real and personal property taxes. The real and personal property taxes on our properties may increase or decrease as tax rates change and as our properties are assessed or reassessed by taxing authorities. If real and personal property taxes increase, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely impacted.
We could be required to make material cash outlays in future periods if the number of initiation deposit refund requests we receive materially increases or if we are required to surrender unclaimed initiation deposits to state authorities under applicable escheatment laws.
We may be required to make significant cash outlays in connection with initiation deposits at our traditional golf properties. Until 2021 members of our private properties were generally required to pay an initiation deposit upon their acceptance as a member and, in most cases, such deposits are fully refundable after a fixed number of years (typically thirty (30) years) and upon the occurrence of other contract-specific conditions, whether or not the applicable golf property has undergone a transfer of ownership since the time of the deposit. While we will make a refund to any member whose initiation deposit is eligible to be refunded, we may be subject to various states’ escheatment laws with respect to initiation deposits that have not been refunded to members. All states have escheatment laws and generally require companies to remit to the state cash in an amount equal to unclaimed and abandoned property after a specified period of dormancy, which is typically three to five years. Moreover, most of the states in which we conduct business hire independent agents to conduct unclaimed and abandoned property audits. We currently do not remit to states any amounts relating to initiation deposits that are eligible to be refunded to members based upon our interpretation of the applicability of such laws to initiation fee deposits. The analysis of the potential application of escheatment laws to our initiation deposits is complex, involving an analysis of constitutional and statutory provisions and contractual and factual issues. While we do not believe that initiation deposits must be escheated, we may be forced to remit such amounts if we are challenged and fail to prevail in our position.
Our investments in real estate and facilities are subject to numerous risks, including the risk that the values of our investments may decline if there is a prolonged downturn in real estate values.
Our operations encompass a large amount of real estate holdings, primarily in the form of leasehold interests. Accordingly, we are subject to the risks associated with holding real estate investments. Our real estate holdings (including our long-term leaseholds) are subject to risks typically associated with investments in real estate. The investment returns available from equity investments in real estate depend in large part on the amount of income earned, expenses incurred, and capital appreciation generated by the related properties. In addition, a variety of other factors affect income from properties and real estate values, including governmental regulations, real estate, insurance, zoning, tax and eminent domain laws, interest rate levels and the availability of financing. For example, new or existing real estate zoning or tax laws can make it more expensive and time-consuming to expand, modify or renovate older properties. Under eminent domain laws, governments can take real property. Sometimes this taking is for less compensation than the owner believes the property is worth. Any of these factors could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We may not be able to retain members at our public and private traditional golf properties, and attract golf rounds played, which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Our success depends on our ability to attract and retain members and other customers at our public and private traditional golf properties, attract golf rounds played and maintain or increase revenues generated from our traditional golf properties. Changes in consumer financial condition, leisure tastes and preferences, particularly those affecting the popularity of golf, and other social and demographic trends could adversely affect our business. Significant periods where attrition rates exceed enrollment rates or where facilities usage is below historical levels at our traditional golf properties would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. A portion of our member base may not regularly use our facilities and may be more likely to cancel their membership. Factors that could lead to a decrease in membership include a decline in our ability to deliver quality service at our current membership prices, a decrease in public interest in the sport of golf, and direct and indirect competition in our industry. If we cannot attract new members and other customers, retain our existing members and other customers, or maintain golf rounds played at our traditional golf properties, our financial condition and results of operations could be harmed.
We have significant operations concentrated in certain geographic areas, and any disruption in the operations of our properties in any of these areas could harm our results of operations.
As of December 31, 2021, we operated multiple traditional golf properties in several metropolitan areas, including over two dozen in the greater Los Angeles, California region. As a result, any prolonged disruption in the operations of our properties in
any of these markets, whether due to technical difficulties, power failures or destruction or damage to the properties as a result of a natural disaster, such as hurricanes or earthquakes, fire or any other reason, could harm our results of operations or may result in property closures. In addition, some of the metropolitan areas where we operate properties could be disproportionately affected by regional economic conditions, such as declining home prices and rising unemployment. Concentration in these markets increases our exposure to adverse developments related to competition, as well as economic and demographic changes in these areas.
Seasonality may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Seasonality can affect our results of operations. Usage of traditional golf properties tends to decline significantly during the first and fourth quarters, when colder temperatures and shorter days reduce the demand for outdoor activities. As a result, we expect the traditional golf business to generate a disproportionate share of its annual revenue in the second and third quarters of each year. Accordingly, our traditional golf business is especially vulnerable to events that may negatively impact its operations during the second and third quarters, when guest and member usage is highest. In addition, operations in the entertainment golf business could be significantly impacted on a season-to-season basis; including based on corporate events volume during holiday seasons and school vacation schedules. For this reason, a quarter-to-quarter comparison may not be a good indicator of our current and/or future performance.
If the owner for any of our managed traditional golf properties defaults on its obligation to pay us our management fee under the management contract, we may not obtain the full amount, or any, of the revenue associated with that contract.
Our managed traditional golf properties are properties that American Golf manages pursuant to a management agreement with the owner of each property. In the ordinary course of business, our property owners request modifications to our management agreements, and we may not agree on the scope or content of such requests, which could cause a dispute to arise. If any property owner defaults on its obligation to pay us the management fee that we are entitled to receive under the management for the property, we are at risk of losing some or all of the revenue associated with that management agreement. In addition, we may decide to enforce our right to damages for breach of contract and related claims, which may cause us to incur significant legal fees and expenses. On the other hand, we may determine that cost of enforcing any claims would be prohibitive and expose us to the risk of high litigation fees or adverse judgments. Any damages we ultimately collect may be less than the projected future value of the fees and other amounts we would have otherwise collected under the management agreement, which may result in, among other things, financial losses and decreased revenues.
Our insurance policies may not provide adequate levels of coverage against all claims and we may incur losses that are not covered by our insurance.
There are certain types of losses, generally of a catastrophic nature, such as pandemics, earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, terrorism or acts of war, that may be uninsurable or not economically insurable. Inflation, changes in building codes and ordinances, environmental considerations, and other factors, including terrorism or acts of war, also might make the insurance proceeds insufficient to repair or replace a property, if it is damaged or destroyed. Under such circumstances, the insurance proceeds received might not be adequate to restore our economic position with respect to the affected real property. For example, we may suffer losses from acts of terrorism that are not covered by insurance.
Accidents or injuries at our properties or in connection with our operations may subject us to liability, and accidents or injuries could negatively impact our reputation and attendance, which would harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
There are inherent risks of accidents or injuries at our properties or in connection with our operations, including injuries from premises liabilities such as slips, trips and falls. If accidents or injuries occur at any of our properties, we may be held liable for costs related to such incidents. We maintain insurance of the type and in the amounts that we believe are commercially reasonable and that are available to businesses in our industry, but there can be no assurance that our liability insurance will be adequate or available at all times and in all circumstances. There can also be no assurance that the liability insurance we have carried in the past was adequate or available to cover any liability related to previous incidents. The expansion of social media over recent years to report such incidents could increase the impact of the resulting negative publicity on our business. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be harmed to the extent claims and associated expenses resulting from accidents or injuries exceed our insurance recoveries.
The failure to comply with regulations applicable to our properties or the failure to retain licenses or permits relating to our properties may harm our business and results of operations.
Our business is subject to extensive federal, state and local government regulation in the various jurisdictions in which our properties are located, including regulations relating to alcoholic beverage control, public health and safety, environmental hazards and food safety. Alcoholic beverage control regulations require each of our properties to obtain licenses and permits to sell alcoholic beverages on the premises. Typically, licenses must be renewed annually and may be revoked or suspended for cause at any time. In some states, the loss of a license for cause with respect to one location may lead to the loss of licenses at all locations in that state and could make it more difficult to obtain additional licenses in that state. Alcoholic beverage control regulations relate to numerous aspects of the daily operations of each venue, including minimum age of patrons and employees, hours of operation, advertising, wholesale purchasing, inventory control and handling and storage and dispensing of alcoholic beverages.
The failure of a property to obtain or retain its licenses and permits would adversely affect that property’s operations and profitability, as well as our ability to obtain such a license or permit in other locations. We may also be subject to dram shop statutes in certain states, which generally provide a person injured by an intoxicated person the right to recover damages from an establishment that wrongfully served alcoholic beverages to the intoxicated person. Even though we are covered by general liability insurance, a settlement or judgment against us under a dram shop lawsuit in excess of liability coverage could have a material adverse effect on our operations. In addition, any of our locations located near airports must comply with land-use zoning ordinances related to the height of objects around airports, which are promulgated at the federal level based on advice and guidance published by the Federal Aviation Administration.
We are also subject to the Americans with Disabilities Act (the “ADA”) which, among other things, may require certain renovations to our facilities to comply with access and use requirements. A determination that we are not in compliance with the ADA or any other similar law or regulation could result in the imposition of fines or an award of damages to private litigants. While we believe we are operating in substantial compliance, and will continue to remove architectural barriers in our facilities when readily achievable, in accordance with current applicable laws and regulations, there can be no assurance that our expenses for compliance with these laws and regulations will not increase significantly and harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are also subject to numerous other federal, state and local governmental regulations related to building and zoning requirements and the use and operation of clubs, including changes to building codes and fire and life safety codes, which can affect our ability to obtain and maintain licenses relating to our business and properties. If we were required to make substantial modifications at our properties to comply with these regulations or if we fail to comply with these regulations, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be negatively impacted.
Environmental compliance costs and liabilities related to real estate that we own, or in which we have interests, may adversely affect our results of operations.
Our operating costs may be affected by the cost of complying with existing or future environmental laws, ordinances and regulations with respect to the properties (or loans secured by such properties) or by environmental problems that materially impair the value of such properties. Under various federal, state and local environmental laws, ordinances and regulations, a current or previous owner or operator of real property may be liable for the costs of removal or remediation of hazardous or toxic substances on, under, or in such property. Such laws often impose liability whether or not the owner or operator knew of, or was responsible for, the presence of such hazardous or toxic substances. In addition, the presence of hazardous or toxic substances, or the failure to remediate properly, may adversely affect the owner’s ability to borrow using such real property as collateral. Certain environmental laws and common law principles could be used to impose liability for releases of hazardous materials, including asbestos-containing materials, into the environment, and third parties may seek recovery from owners or operators of real properties for personal injury associated with exposure to released asbestos-containing materials or other hazardous materials. Environmental laws may also impose restrictions on the manner in which a property may be used or transferred or in which businesses it may be operated, and these restrictions may require expenditures. In connection with the direct or indirect ownership and operation of properties, we may be potentially liable for any such costs. The cost of defending against claims of liability or remediating contaminated property and the cost of complying with environmental laws could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.
Our procurement of certain materials for developing, redeveloping or renovating our venues is dependent upon a few suppliers.
Our ability to continue to procure certain materials is important to our business strategy for developing, redeveloping or renovating our venues. The number of suppliers from which we can purchase our materials is limited. In addition, the materials necessary to construct entertainment golf venues are subject to price fluctuation. To the extent that the number of suppliers declines, or the price of materials necessary to construct our entertainment golf venues increases, we could be subject to the risk increased capital expenditure costs, of distribution delays, pricing pressure, lack of innovation and other associated risks which could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Changes in laws, regulations and other requirements could adversely affect our business, results of operations or financial condition.
We are also subject to federal, state and local environmental laws, regulations and other requirements. More stringent and varied requirements of local and state governmental bodies with respect to zoning, land use and environmental factors could delay or prevent development of new venues in particular locations. Environmental laws and regulations also govern, among other things, discharges of pollutants into the air and water as well as the presence, handling, release and disposal of and exposure to hazardous substances. These laws provide for significant fines and penalties for noncompliance. Third parties may also make personal injury, property damage or other claims against us associated with actual or alleged release of, or exposure to, hazardous substances at our properties. We could also be strictly liable, without regard to fault, for certain environmental conditions at properties we formerly owned or operated as well as our current properties. The failure to receive or retain a liquor license, or any other required permit or license, in a particular location, or to continue to qualify for, or renew licenses, could have a material adverse effect on operations and our ability to obtain such a license or permit in other locations. In addition, changes in federal law relating to the height of objects around airports may interfere with the planned design, construction and operation of any of our entertainment golf venues located near airports.
Lawsuits, investigations and indemnification claims could result in significant liabilities and reputational harm, which could materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
From time to time, we are and may become involved in lawsuits, inquiries or investigations or receive claims for indemnification. Our efforts to resolve any such lawsuits, inquiries, investigations or claims could be very expensive and highly damaging to our reputation, even if the underlying claims are without merit. We could potentially be found liable for significant damages or indemnification obligations. Such developments could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Our risk of litigation includes, but is not limited to, lawsuits that could be brought by users of our properties and property-level employees. For instance, we are subject to federal and state laws governing minimum wage requirements, overtime compensation, discrimination and family and medical leave. Any lawsuit alleging a violation of any such laws could result in a settlement or other resolution that requires us to make a substantial payment, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. In addition, accidents or injuries in connection with our properties could subject us to liability and reputational harm.
A failure in our systems or infrastructure which maintain our internal and customer data, or those of our third-party service providers, including as a result of cyber-attacks, could result in faulty business decisions or harm to our reputation or subject us to costs, fines or lawsuits.
Certain information relating to our members and guests, including personally identifiable information and credit card numbers, is collected and maintained by us, or by third-parties that do business with us or facilitate our business activities. This information is maintained for a period of time for various business purposes, including maintaining records of member and guest preferences to enhance our customer service and for billing, marketing and promotional purposes. We also maintain personally identifiable information about our employees. The integrity and protection of our customer, employee and company data is critical to our business. Our members and guests and our employees expect that we will adequately protect their personal information, and the regulations applicable to security and privacy are increasingly demanding. Privacy regulation is an evolving area and compliance with applicable privacy regulations may increase our operating costs or adversely impact our ability to service our members and guests and market our properties and services.
While we have cyber security procedures and related insurance coverage in place, given the evolving nature of these threats, there can be no assurance that we will not suffer material losses in the future due to cyber-attacks or other systems or
infrastructure failures. The theft, loss, misappropriation, fraudulent or unlawful use of customer, employee or company data, including in connection with one or more cyber-attacks on us or one of our third-party providers, could harm our reputation, result in loss of members or business disruption or result in remedial and other costs, fines or lawsuits. In addition, non-compliance with applicable privacy regulations by us (or in some circumstances non-compliance by third-parties engaged by us) could result in fines or restrictions on our use or transfer of data. Any of these matters could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
We rely on information technology in our operations, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption or security failure of that technology could harm our business.
We rely on information technology networks and systems, including the Internet, to process, transmit and store electronic information and to manage or support a variety of our business processes, including financial transactions and maintenance of records, which in the case of our business, may include personal identifying information. We rely on commercially available systems, software, tools and monitoring to provide security for processing, transmitting and storing this confidential information, such as individually identifiable information relating to financial accounts. Although we have taken steps to protect the security of the data maintained in our information systems, it is possible that our security measures will not be able to prevent the systems’ improper functioning, or the improper disclosure of personally identifiable information such as in the event of cyber-attacks. Security breaches, including physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses, attacks by hackers and similar breaches, can create system disruptions, shutdowns or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Any failure to maintain proper function, security and availability of our information systems could interrupt our operations, damage our reputation, subject us to liability claims or regulatory penalties and could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If our incident response and disaster recovery plans do not resolve these issues in an efficient manner, remediation of these problems could result in significant, unexpected capital expenditures.
Our investments may be subject to significant impairment charges, which would adversely affect our results of operations.
We are required to periodically evaluate our investments for impairment indicators. The value of an investment is impaired when our analysis indicates that, with respect to a loan, it is probable that we will not be able to collect the full amount we intended to collect from the loan or, with respect to a security or property, it is probable that the value of the security or property is other than temporarily impaired. The judgment regarding the existence of impairment indicators is based on a variety of factors depending upon the nature of the investment and the manner in which the income related to such investment was calculated for purposes of our financial statements. If we determine that an impairment has occurred, we are required to make an adjustment to the net carrying value of the investment and the amount of accrued interest recognized as income from such investment, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
Our investments in real estate related preferred equity and other direct and indirect interests in pools of real estate properties may be subject to additional risks relating to the structure and terms of these transactions, which may result in losses to us.
We have investments in direct and indirect interests in pools of real estate properties, including an approximately 22% economic interest in a limited liability company which owns preferred equity secured by a commercial real estate project. These types of investments involve a higher degree of risk than long-term senior lending secured by business assets or income producing real property because the investment may become unsecured as a result of foreclosure by a senior lender. As a result, we may not recover some or all of our investment.
Many of our investments are illiquid, and this lack of liquidity could significantly impede our ability to vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions, these illiquid investments may be difficult to sell to generate cash to meet our needs and we may not realize the value at which such investments are carried if we are required to dispose of them.
The real estate properties that we own and operate and our other direct and indirect investments in real estate and securities are generally illiquid. In addition, the real estate securities that we purchase in connection with privately negotiated transactions are not registered under the relevant securities laws, resulting in a prohibition against their transfer, sale, pledge or other disposition except in a transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of, or is otherwise in accordance with, those laws. In addition, there are no established trading markets for a majority of our investments. As a result, our ability to vary our portfolio in response to changes in economic and other conditions may be limited.
Our real estate securities are valued using internal models that use significant estimates. Although we seek to adjust our cash and short-term investment positions to minimize the likelihood that we would need to sell illiquid investments, if we are
required to liquidate all or a portion of our illiquid investments quickly, we may realize significantly less than the amount at which we have previously valued these investments.
Changes in accounting rules could occur at any time and could impact us in significantly negative ways that we are unable to predict or protect against.
As has been widely publicized, the SEC, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and other regulatory bodies that establish the accounting rules applicable to us have recently proposed or enacted a wide array of changes to accounting rules. Moreover, in the future these regulators may propose additional changes that we do not currently anticipate. Changes to accounting rules that apply to us could significantly impact our business or our reported financial performance in negative ways that we cannot predict or protect against. We cannot predict whether any changes to current accounting rules will occur or what impact any codified changes will have on our business, results of operations, liquidity or financial condition.
We have assumed the role of manager of CDOs previously managed by a third party. Each such engagement exposes us to a number of potential risks.
In February 2011, one of our subsidiaries became the collateral manager of certain collateralized debt obligations ("CDOs") previously managed by C-BASS Investment Management LLC (“C-BASS”).
Being engaged as the collateral manager of CDOs entails a number of risks that could harm our reputation, results of operations and financial condition. For example, we purchased the management rights with respect to the C-BASS CDOs pursuant to a bankruptcy proceeding. As a result, we were not able to conduct extensive due diligence on the CDO assets even though many classes of securities issued by the CDOs were rated as “distressed” by the rating agencies as of the most recent rating date prior to our becoming the collateral manager of the CDOs. We may willingly or unknowingly assume actual or contingent liabilities for significant expenses, we may become subject to new laws and regulations with which we are not familiar, and we may become subject to increased risk of litigation, regulatory investigation or negative publicity. For example, we determined that it would be prudent to register the subsidiary that became the collateral manager of the C-BASS CDOs as a registered investment adviser, which has increased our regulatory compliance costs. In addition to defending against litigation and complying with regulatory requirements, being engaged as collateral manager may require us to invest other resources for various other reasons, which could detract from our ability to capitalize on future opportunities. Moreover, being engaged as collateral manager may require us to integrate complex technological, accounting and management systems, which may be difficult, expensive and time-consuming and which we may not be successful in integrating into our current systems. In addition to the risk that we face if we are successful in becoming the manager of additional CDOs, we may attempt but fail to become the collateral manager of CDOs in the future, which could harm our reputation and subject us to costly litigation. Finally, if we include the financial performance of the C-BASS CDOs or other CDOs for which we become the collateral manager in our public filings, we are subject to the risk that, particularly during the period immediately after we become the collateral manager, this information may prove to be inaccurate or incomplete. The occurrence of any of these negative integration events could negatively impact our reputation with both regulators and investors, which could, in turn, subject us to additional regulatory scrutiny and impair our relationships with the investment community. The occurrence of any of these problems could negatively affect our reputation, financial condition and results of operations.
Risks Related to Our Stock
We may be unable—or elect not—to pay dividends on our common or preferred stock in the future, which would negatively impact our business in a number of ways and decrease the price of our common and preferred stock.
All future dividend distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other things, our earnings, investment strategy, financial condition and liquidity, and such other factors as the board of directors deems relevant. No assurance can be given that we will pay any dividends on our common stock in the future.
We currently have unpaid accrued dividends on our preferred stock. So long as dividends remain accrued and not paid on our preferred stock, the terms of our preferred stock prohibit us from paying any dividends on our common stock, from repurchasing or otherwise acquiring shares of our common stock and from redeeming any shares of any series of our preferred stock without redeeming all of our outstanding preferred shares. If we do not pay dividends on any series of preferred stock for six or more periods, then holders of each affected series obtain the right to call a special meeting and elect two members to our board of directors. We cannot predict whether the holders of our preferred stock would take such action or, if taken, how long
the process would take or what impact the two new directors on our board of directors would have on our company, including with respect to the management of our business.
Maryland takeover statutes may prevent a change of our control, which could depress our stock price.
Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include certain mergers, consolidations, share exchanges, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification of equity securities or a liquidation or dissolution. An interested stockholder is defined as:
•any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation’s outstanding shares; or
•an affiliate or associate of a corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then outstanding stock of the corporation.
A person is not an interested stockholder under the statute if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which he or she otherwise would have become an interested stockholder.
After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between the Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
•80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation voting together as a single group; and
•two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder voting together as a single voting group.
The business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer, including potential acquisitions that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.
Our staggered board and other provisions of our charter and bylaws may prevent a change in our control.
Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors. Directors of each class are chosen for three-year terms upon the expiration of their current terms, and each year one class of directors is elected by the stockholders. The staggered terms of our directors may reduce the possibility of a tender offer or an attempt at a change in control, even though a tender offer or change in control might be in the best interest of our stockholders. In addition, our charter and bylaws also contain other provisions that may delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.
Our charter authorizes us to issue additional authorized but unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock. In addition, our board of directors may classify or reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and may set the preferences, rights and other terms of the classified or reclassified shares. As a result, our board of directors may establish a series of preferred stock that could delay or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.
Risks Related to Our Tax Status
In January 2013, we experienced an “ownership change” for purposes of Section 382 of the Code, which limits our ability to utilize our net operating loss and net capital loss carryforwards and certain built-in losses to reduce our future taxable income, potentially increases the net taxable income on which we must pay corporate-level taxes, and potentially adversely affects our liquidity, and we could experience another ownership change in the future or forgo otherwise attractive opportunities in order to avoid experiencing another ownership change.
As a result of our January 2013 “ownership change,” our future ability to utilize our net operating loss and net capital loss carryforwards to reduce our taxable income may be limited by certain provisions of the Code.
Specifically, the Code limits the ability of a company that undergoes an “ownership change” to utilize its net operating loss and net capital loss carryforwards and certain built-in losses to offset taxable income earned in years after the ownership change. An ownership change occurs if, during a three-year testing period, more than 50% of the stock of a company is acquired by one or more persons (or certain groups of persons) who own, directly or constructively, 5% or more of the stock of such company. An ownership change can occur as a result of a public offering of stock, as well as through secondary market purchases of our stock and certain types of reorganization transactions. Generally, when an ownership change occurs, the annual limitation on the use of net operating loss and net capital loss carryforwards and certain built-in losses is equal to the product of the applicable long-term tax exempt rate and the value of the company’s stock immediately before the ownership change. We have substantial net operating and net capital loss carry forwards which we have used, and will continue to use, to offset our taxable income. In January 2013, an “ownership change” for purposes of Section 382 of the Code occurred. Therefore, the provisions of Section 382 of the Code impose an annual limit on the amount of net operating loss and net capital loss carryforwards and built in losses that we can use to offset future taxable income.
The ownership change we experienced in January 2013 (and any subsequent ownership changes) could materially increase our income tax liability. As described above, the ownership change we experienced in January 2013 resulted in a limitation on our use of net operating losses and net capital loss carryforwards. These limitations could result in us incurring materially greater tax liability than if we had not undergone such an ownership change.
In addition, if we were to undergo an ownership change again in the future, our net operating losses and net capital loss carryforwards could become subject to additional limitations, which could result in us incurring materially greater tax liability than if we had not undergone such an ownership change. The determination of whether an ownership change has occurred or will occur is complicated and depends on changes in percentage stock ownership among stockholders. In addition, to the extent not prohibited by our charter, we may decide in the future that it is necessary or in our interest to take certain actions that could result in an ownership change. Therefore, no assurance can be provided as to whether an ownership change has occurred or will occur in the future.
Moreover, the potential negative consequences of the limitations that would result from an ownership change may discourage us from, among other things, redeeming our stock or issuing additional common stock to raise capital or to acquire businesses or assets. Accordingly, our desire to preserve our net operating losses and net capital loss carryforwards may cause us to forgo otherwise attractive opportunities.
Tax matters, including changes in tax rates, disagreements with taxing authorities and imposition of new taxes could impact our results of operations and financial condition.
Tax rates in the United States, state and local jurisdictions have been and may be subject to significant change. The future effective tax rate of the Company could be effected by changes in mix of earnings in different jurisdictions with differing statutory tax rates, changes in valuation of deferred tax asset and liabilities, or changes in tax laws or their interpretation, which includes recently enacted U.S. tax reform.
We are also subject to regular reviews, examinations and audits by the Internal Revenue Service and other taxing authorities. Although we believe the positions we have taken are reasonable, if a taxing authority disagrees with the positions we have taken, we could face additional tax liability, including interest and penalties. There can be no assurance that payment of such additional amounts upon final adjudication of any disputes will not have a material impact on our results of operations and financial position.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
We have no unresolved staff comments received more than 180 days prior to December 31, 2021.
Item 2. Properties.
We lease our principal office in Dallas, TX. We also lease a corporate office in New York, NY that previously supported our entertainment golf business, which is currently subleased to a subtenant, and we lease a corporate office in El Segundo, CA, that previously supported our traditional golf business. As of December 31, 2021, our New York offices were subleased for the remaining term of the lease through August 2026 and we had ceased using the El Segundo offices which will remain unused until lease expiration in May 2022.
Entertainment Golf Venues
As of December 31, 2021, we operate four Drive Shack and two Puttery venues as shown in the following table by location, category and number of bays.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Venue | City | | State | | Category | | # of Bays |
Drive Shack | Orlando | | FL | | Leased | | 90 | |
Drive Shack | Raleigh | | NC | | Owned | | 96 | |
Drive Shack | Richmond | | VA | | Leased | | 96 | |
Drive Shack | West Palm Beach | | FL | | Leased | | 96 | |
Puttery | The Colony | | TX | | Leased | | N/A |
Puttery | Charlotte | | NC | | Leased | | N/A |
Traditional Golf Properties
As of December 31, 2021, we own, lease or manage fifty-five (55) traditional golf properties located in nine (9) states, as shown in the following table by location, category and number of golf holes.
Owned Properties
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property Name | | City | | State | | Category | | Golf Holes |
Tanoan | | Albuquerque | | NM | | Private | | 27 | |
Leased Properties
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property Name | | City | | State | | Category | | Golf Holes |
Chester Washington | | Los Angeles | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Clearview | | Bayside Queens | | NY | | Public | | 18 | |
Coyote Hills | | Fullerton | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Diamond Bar | | Diamond Bar | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Dyker Beach | | Brooklyn | | NY | | Public | | 18 | |
El Dorado | | Long Beach | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Heartwell | | Long Beach | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Knollwood | | Granada Hills | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
La Mirada | | La Mirada | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
La Tourette | | Staten Island | | NY | | Public | | 18 | |
Lake Forest | | Lake Forest | | CA | | Public | | 9 | |
Lake Tahoe | | S. Lake Tahoe | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Lakewood | | Lakewood | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Lely | | Naples | | FL | | Private | | 54 | |
Los Coyotes | | Buena Park | | CA | | Private | | 27 | |
Los Verdes | | Rancho PV | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Mission Trails | | San Diego | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Mountain Meadows | | Pomona | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
MountainGate | | Los Angeles | | CA | | Private | | 27 | |
National City | | National City | | CA | | Public | | 9 | |
Pelham Split Rock | | Bronx | | NY | | Public | | 36 | |
Recreation Park 18 | | Long Beach | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Recreation Park 9 | | Long Beach | | CA | | Public | | 9 | |
San Dimas | | San Dimas | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Saticoy | | Ventura | | CA | | Public | | 9 | |
Scholl Canyon | | Glendale | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Skylinks | | Long Beach | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
South Shore | | Staten Island | | NY | | Public | | 18 | |
Tecolote Canyon | | San Diego | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Vineyard at Escondido | | Escondido | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Waterview | | Rowlett | | TX | | Public | | 18 | |
Whittier Narrows | | Rosemead | | CA | | Public | | 27 | |
Managed Properties
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Property Name | | City | | State | | Category | | Golf Holes |
Anaheim Hills | | Anaheim | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Bear Creek | | Woodinville | | WA | | Private | | 18 | |
Brookside | | Pasadena | | CA | | Public | | 36 | |
Canyon Oaks | | Chico | | CA | | Private | | 18 | |
Dad Miller | | Anaheim | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
El Camino | | Oceanside | | CA | | Private | | 18 | |
Fullerton | | Fullerton | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
John A White | | Atlanta | | GA | | Public | | 9 | |
Lomas Santa Fe (Executive) | | Solana Beach | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Marbella | | SJ Capistrano | | CA | | Private | | 18 | |
Monarch Bay | | San Leandro | | CA | | Public | | 27 | |
Monterey | | Palm Desert | | CA | | Private | | 27 | |
Oregon Golf Club | | West Linn | | OR | | Private | | 18 | |
Oso Creek | | Mission Viejo | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Palm Valley | | Palm Desert | | CA | | Private | | 36 | |
Rancho San Joaquin | | Irvine | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
River Club | | Boise | | ID | | Private | | 18 | |
River Ridge | | Oxnard | | CA | | Public | | 36 | |
Sunset Hills | | Thousand Oaks | | CA | | Private | | 18 | |
Vista Valencia | | Valencia | | CA | | Public | | 27 | |
Westchester | | Los Angeles | | CA | | Public | | 18 | |
Wood Ranch | | Simi Valley | | CA | | Private | | 18 | |
We maintain our properties in good condition and believe that our current facilities are adequate to meet the present needs of our business. We do not believe any individual property is material to our financial condition or results of operations.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
We are and may become involved in legal proceedings, including but not limited to regulatory investigations and inquiries, in the ordinary course of our business. Although we are unable to predict with certainty the eventual outcome of any litigation, regulatory investigation or inquiry, in the opinion of management, we do not expect our current or threatened legal proceedings to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial position or results of operations. Given the inherent unpredictability of these types of proceedings, however, it is possible that future adverse outcomes could have a material effect on our business, financial position or results of operations.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
None.
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters, and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
We have one class of common stock and our initial public offering was in October 2002. We are listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol “DS”.
Our board of directors elected not to pay common stock dividends in 2020 or 2021 to retain capital for growth. All future dividend distributions will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other things, our earnings, investment strategy, financial condition and liquidity, and such other factors as the board of directors deems relevant. We may declare quarterly distributions on our preferred stock at the discretion of our board of directors. The Company paid preferred dividends in the amount of $5.6 million for the year 2021.
We currently have $0.9 million of unpaid accrued dividends on our preferred stock. As a result, we cannot pay any dividends on our common stock or pay any consideration to repurchase or otherwise acquire shares of our common stock unless full cumulative preferred dividends have been authorized and paid in accordance with the governing documentation.
On March 18, 2022, the closing sale price for our common stock, as reported on the NYSE, was $1.25. As of March 18, 2022, there were approximately 16 registered holders of record of our common stock. This number does not reflect the beneficial owners of shares held in nominee name by record holders on their behalf.
Nonqualified Option and Incentive Award Plans
See Note 11 in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further information.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table summarizes certain information about securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2021:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Plan Category | | (a) Number of Securities to be Issued Upon Exercise of Outstanding Options, Warrants, RSUs and Rights | | (b) Weighted Average Exercise Price of Outstanding Options, Warrants, RSUs and Rights | | (c) Number of Securities Remaining Available for Future Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans (Excluding Securities Reflected in Column (a) | |
Equity Compensation Plans Approved by Security Holders: | | | | | | | |
Newcastle Investment Corp. Nonqualified Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan | | 787,757 | | | $ | 1.00 | | | — | | |
2012 Newcastle Investment Corp. Nonqualified Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan | | 2,893,078 | | | 2.45 | | | 25,820 | | (D) |
2014 Newcastle Investment Corp. Nonqualified Stock Option and Incentive Award Plan | | 765,416 | | | 4.01 | | | — | | (E) |
2015 Newcastle Investment Corp. Nonqualified Option and Incentive Award Plan | | 333 | | | 3.78 | | | — | | (F) |
Drive Shack Inc. 2018 Omnibus Incentive Plan | | 259,238 | | (A) | 2.45 | | (C) | 5,395,701 | | (G) |
Total Approved | | 4,705,822 | | (B) | $ | 2.53 | | (C) | 5,421,521 | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders: | | | | | | | |
November 2013 Manager Option Award | | 489,148 | | | $ | 3.57 | | | — | | |
| | | | | | | |
Total Not Approved | | 489,148 | | | $ | 3.57 | | | — | | |
See notes to table below.
(A)Includes 143,609 RSUs granted to employees (net of forfeitures and releases),and (ii) 115,629 RSUs granted to our directors, net of forfeitures and releases, other than Mr. Wesley R. Edens, representing the aggregate annual automatic stock awards to each such director for the periods subsequent to the adoption of the 2018 Plan.
(B)Includes (i) 3,138,097 options held by an affiliate of the former Manager; (ii) 1,308,154 options granted to the former Manager and assigned to certain of Fortress’s former employees, (iii) 333 options and 115,629 RSUs granted to our directors, other than Mr. Edens, and (iv) 143,609 RSUs granted to employees.
(C)Represents the weighted average exercise price of the 259,238 RSUs.
(D)The maximum available for issuance is 3,333,333 shares in the aggregate over the term of the 2012 Plan and no award shall be granted on or after May 7, 2022 (but awards granted may extend beyond this date). The number of securities remaining available for future issuance is net of (i) an aggregate of 13,312 shares of our common stock awards to our directors, other than Mr. Edens, representing the annual stock awards to each such director for the periods subsequent to the adoption of the 2012 Plan and prior to the adoption of the 2014 Plan and (ii) an aggregate of 3,294,201 options which have been previously granted under the plan.
(E)The maximum available for issuance was 166,666 shares in the aggregate over the term of the 2014 Plan and no award (other than a tandem award) may be granted after April 8, 2015 (but awards granted may extend beyond that date).
(F)The maximum available for issuance was 300,000 shares in the aggregate over the term of the 2015 Plan and no award (other than a tandem award) may be granted after April 16, 2016 (but awards granted may extend beyond that date).
(G)The maximum available for issuance is 5,395,701, subject to an annual limitation as detailed in the 2018 Plan, out of a total of 6,697,710 over the entire five-year term of the 2018 Plan.
Material Features of the Equity Compensation Plans Not Approved by Security Holders
November 2013 Manager Option Award
In November 2013, options to acquire a total of 489,148 shares of the Company’s common stock were granted to an affiliate of the former Manager as compensation to the former Manager for its successful efforts in raising capital for the Company. The options have a per-share exercise price of $3.57. The options were fully vested on the date of grant and became exercisable over
a 30-month period in equal monthly installments beginning on the first of each month following the month in which the options
were granted.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
None.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
None.
Item 6. [Reserved]
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
The following should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” and Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors.”
General Overview
The Company is an owner and operator of golf-related leisure and entertainment venues focused on bringing people together through competitive socializing. Our common stock is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “DS.”
The Company conducts its business through two primary operating segments:
Entertainment Golf Business | Drive Shack and Puttery
Our entertainment golf business is primarily focused on competitive socializing within the leisure and social entertainment industry, combining chef-inspired food and beverage offerings, with innovative technology modernizing ways to experience golf as a sport and form of entertainment that appeals to a broad range of audiences and competitive appetites.
During 2021, we opened our first two Puttery venues in The Colony, Texas and Charlotte, North Carolina.
We opened our first Drive Shack venue in Orlando, Florida in April 2018, which has largely served as our research and development and testing venue.During the second half of 2019, we opened three Generation 2.0 Drive Shack venues in Raleigh, North Carolina; Richmond, Virginia and West Palm Beach, Florida.
During the fourth quarter of 2019, we briefly closed our Orlando, Florida venue to retrofit with Generation 2.0 enhancements, including new ball tracking technology (TrackMan™), enhanced gaming and a redesigned outfield to provide a more engaging guest experience.
Additionally, the Company is committed to a lease in Manhattan (Randall’s Island), New York for a Drive Shack entertainment golf venues. The Company also continues to hold its lease in New Orleans, Louisiana, but suspended development activities for the venue during 2021 and is currently exploring alternatives including a potential lease disposal.
Traditional Golf Business
Our traditional golf business, American Golf, is one of the largest operators of golf properties in the United States. As of December 31, 2021, we owned, leased or managed fifty-five (55) properties across nine states and have more than 30,000 members.
During 2021, the Company exited three management agreements and two leases that had expired.
For further information relating to our business, see “Item 1. Business.”
Market Considerations
Our ability to execute our business strategy, particularly the development of our entertainment golf business, depends to a degree on our ability to monetize our remaining investments in loans and securities, optimize our traditional golf business, including sales of certain owned properties, and obtain additional capital. We have substantially monetized our historical investments in loans and securities and have a small number of positions remaining that we could sell or use as collateral or support in a lending transaction. We raised capital through the equity markets in February 2021; however, rising interest rates or stock market volatility could impair our future ability to raise equity capital on attractive terms.
Our ability to generate income is dependent on, among other factors, our ability to raise capital and finance properties on favorable terms, deploy capital on a timely basis at attractive returns, and exit properties at favorable yields. Market conditions outside of our control, such as interest rates, inflation, consumer discretionary spending and stock market volatility affect these objectives in a variety of ways.
Entertainment Golf Business
Our ability to open our targeted number of entertainment golf-related venue formats in 2022 and beyond will depend on many factors, including our ability to identify sites that meet our requirements and negotiate acceptable purchase or lease terms. There is competition within the bid process, and land development and construction are subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory approvals. Delays in these processes, as well as completing construction and recruiting and training the necessary talent, could impact our business.
Trends in consumer spending, as well as climate and weather patterns, could have an impact on the markets in which we currently, or will in the future operate. In addition, our entertainment golf business could be impacted on a season-to-season basis, based upon corporate event and social gatherings during peak and off-peak times.
Traditional Golf Business
Our traditional golf business is subject to trends in consumer discretionary spending, as well as climate and weather patterns, which has a significant impact on the markets in which we operate. traditional golf is generally subject to seasonal fluctuations caused by significant reductions in golf activities due to shorter days and colder temperatures in the first and fourth quarters of each year. Consequently, a significantly larger portion of our revenue from our traditional golf operations is earned in the second and third quarters of our fiscal year. In addition, severe weather patterns can also negatively impact our results of operations.
While consumer spending in the traditional golf industry has not grown in recent years, we believe improving economic conditions and improvements in local housing markets have helped and will continue to help drive membership growth and increase the number of golf rounds played. In addition, we believe growth in related industries, including leisure, fitness and entertainment, may positively impact our traditional golf business.
Application of Critical Accounting Policies
Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our Consolidated Financial Statements, which have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires the use of estimates and assumptions that could affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses. Our estimates are based on information available to management at the time of preparation of the Consolidated Financial Statements, including the result of historical analysis, our understanding and experience of the Company’s operations, our knowledge of the industry and market-participant data available to us.
Actual results have historically been in line with management’s estimates and judgments used in applying each of the accounting policies described below, and management periodically re-evaluates accounting estimates and assumptions. Actual results could differ from these estimates and materially impact our Consolidated Financial Statements. However, the Company does not expect our assessments and assumptions below to materially change in the future.
A summary of our significant accounting policies is presented in Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, which appear in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.” The following is a summary of our accounting policies that are most affected by judgments, estimates and assumptions.
Impairment of Property and Equipment, Right of Use Assets and Intangible Assets
Long-lived property, equipment and definite-lived intangible assets are tested for potential impairment when changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of the assets, or other appropriate grouping of assets, may not be fully recoverable. Indicators of impairment include material adverse changes in the projected revenues and expenses, significant underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, changes to our intent and ability to hold and use each asset, as well as any significant cost overruns on development of new venues, and significant negative industry or economic trends. An impairment is determined to have occurred if the future net undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated is less than the carrying value of an asset. The impairment is measured as the difference between the carrying value and the fair value. Significant judgment is required both in determining impairment and in estimating the fair value. We may use assumptions and estimates derived from a review of our operating results, business projections, expected growth rates, discount rates, and tax rates. We also make certain assumptions about future economic conditions interest rates, and other market data. Many of the factors used in these assumptions and estimates are outside the control of management and can change in future periods.
Membership Deposit Liabilities
In our traditional golf business, until 2021, private country club members generally paid an advance initiation deposit upon their acceptance as a member to their country club. Initiation deposits are refundable 30 years after the date of acceptance as a member. The difference between the initiation deposit paid by the member and the present value of the refund obligation is considered to be deferred revenue and recognized as revenue in the Consolidated Statements of Operations on a straight-line basis over the expected life of an active membership, which is estimated to be seven years. The determination of the estimated average expected life of an active membership is based on company-specific historical data and involves judgment and estimation. The present value of the refund obligation is recorded as a membership deposit liability in the Consolidated Balance Sheets and accretes over a 30-year nonrefundable term using the effective interest method. This accretion is recorded as interest expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
As of the end 2021, all private country club members generally pay an advance initiation fee upon their acceptance as a member to their country club. Initiation fees are non-refundable after the date of acceptance as a member. The initiation fee revenue is deferred and recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Operations on a straight-line basis over the expected life of an active membership, which is estimated to be seven years. The determination of the estimated average expected life of an active membership is based on company-specific historical data and involves judgment and estimation.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
See Note 2 in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for information about recent accounting pronouncements.
Results of Operations
The following tables summarize the changes in our consolidated results of operations from year-to-year (dollars in thousands):
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Comparison for Results of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 |
| | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, | | Increase (Decrease) |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | Amount | | % |
Revenues | | | | | | | |
Golf operations (A) | $ | 232,560 | | | $ | 189,972 | | | $ | 42,588 | | | 22.4 | % |
Sales of food and beverages | 49,304 | | | 30,015 | | | 19,289 | | | 64.3 | % |
Total revenues | 281,864 | | | 219,987 | | | 61,877 | | | 28.1 | % |
| | | | | | | |
Operating costs | | | | | | | |
Operating expenses (A) | 222,260 | | | 188,745 | | | 33,515 | | | 17.8 | % |
Cost of sales - food and beverages | 12,814 | | | 8,834 | | | 3,980 | | | 45.1 | % |
General and administrative expense | 33,809 | | | 31,284 | | | 2,525 | | | 8.1 | % |
Depreciation and amortization | 24,018 | | | 27,152 | | | (3,134) | | | (11.5) | % |
Pre-opening costs | 4,552 | | | 1,328 | | | 3,224 | | | 242.8 | % |
(Gain) Loss on lease terminations and impairment | 5,035 | | | (721) | | | 5,756 | | | (798.3) | % |
Total operating costs | 302,488 | | | 256,622 | | | 45,866 | | | 17.9 | % |
Operating loss | (20,624) | | | (36,635) | | | (16,011) | | | (43.7) | % |
| | | | | | | |
Other income (expenses) | | | | | | | |
Interest and investment income | 684 | | | 565 | | | 119 | | | 21.1 | % |
Interest expense, net | (10,698) | | | (10,968) | | | (270) | | | (2.5) | % |
Other (loss) income, net | 655 | | | (7,611) | | | 8,266 | | | 108.6 | % |
Total other income (expenses) | (9,359) | | | (18,014) | | | 8,655 | | | 48.0 | % |
| | | | | | | |
Loss before income tax | $ | (29,983) | | | $ | (54,649) | | | $ | (24,666) | | | (45.1) | % |
N.M. – Not meaningful
(A)Includes $54.4 million and $50.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively, due to management contract reimbursements reported under revenue accounting standard, ASC 606.
Revenues from Golf Operations
Revenues from golf operations increased by $42.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to a $32.6 million increase in traditional golf revenue, which included $13.0 million of managed course expense reimbursements and $10.0 million increase in entertainment golf revenue. The increase in traditional golf revenue was primarily due to strong public green and cart fees, private course total rounds and memberships, and higher event revenue. Entertainment golf revenue increased by $10.0 million, of which $6.4 million is primarily due to higher traffic and increased events at Drive Shack venues as COVID-19 restrictions lifted and $3.6 million related to our Colony location completing its first full quarter of operations and our Charlotte location opening in mid-December.
Sales of Food and Beverages
Sales of food and beverages increased by $19.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to a $9.4 million increase in traditional golf sales and a $9.9 million increase in entertainment golf sales. The increase in traditional golf sales was primarily due to the return of tournament and large group event-related revenues as COVID-19 related restrictions were lifted. Entertainment golf increased by $9.9 million of which $8.1 million is due to higher traffic at the venues related to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and $1.8 million related to the openings of Puttery Colony and Puttery Charlotte.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses increased by $33.6 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to a $27.5 million increase in traditional golf operating expenses, and a $6.1 million increase in entertainment golf operating expenses. The increase in traditional golf expenses was due to $8.6 million of increased payroll and payroll related compensation costs due to the return of furloughed employees after the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, $4.8 million in increased variable rent expenses, and $4.0 million of additional reimbursed expenses for our managed courses. Entertainment golf expenses increased $6.1 million due to $3.3 million of additional payroll and payroll related costs to support increased operations following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions, $1.4 million of supplies and general operating expenses, $1.0 million of property tax and insurance expenses and additional expenses related to the openings of Puttery Colony and Puttery.
Cost of Sales - Food and Beverages
Food and beverage cost of sales increased by $4.0 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to a $2.0 million increase in traditional golf cost of sales and a $2.0 million increase in entertainment golf cost of sales. The increase in traditional golf cost of sales was due to higher food and beverage sales related to the return of tournament and large group related revenues as COVID-19 relate restrictions were lifted. Entertainment golf cost of sales increased by $2.0 million due to higher food and beverage sales from increased traffic at the venues related to the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions and the openings of Puttery Colony and Puttery Charlotte.
General and Administrative Expense
General and administrative expense increased by $2.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 and included a $0.5 million increase in traditional golf expense offset by a $1.5 million increase in entertainment golf expense, and a $0.5 million increase in corporate expense. The increase is primarily due to entertainment golf expense increases related to $1.0 million of business development mainly related to Puttery and $0.7 million of payroll and payroll-related expenses.
Depreciation and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization decreased by $3.1 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to the dispositions of the Lomas Santa Fe Country Club, SeaCliff Country Club, Tustin Ranch Golf and Yorba Linda Country Club, and Lomas Santa Fe Country Clubs during 2020.
Pre-Opening Costs
Pre-opening costs increased by $3.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 due to the recent openings of our first two Puttery locations in The Colony and Charlotte. Pre-opening costs for each future opening of Puttery locations are expected to decline significantly.
(Gain) Loss on Lease Terminations and Impairment
During the year ended December 31, 2021, impairment and other losses primarily consisted of a $0.8 million loss on the traditional golf lease termination for the SeaCliff Country Club, a $1.0 million loss on traditional golf retired assets, and a $3.2 million asset impairment related to our New York, NY corporate office.
During the year ended December 31, 2020, impairment and other losses consisted of: a $2.9 million gain on the termination of two traditional golf leases in 2020 primarily due to the derecognition of long-lived asset, intangible asset, and ROU asset and liability balances and, a $2.0 million gain on sale of entertainment golf equipment, partially offset by $3.9 million of impairment on two traditional golf properties and $0.2 million of losses on asset retirements.
Interest and Investment Income
There was no significant change in Interest and investment income during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
Interest Expense, net
There was no significant change in interest expense, net during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020.
Other Income, Net
Net other income increased by $8.3 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to the year ended December 31, 2020 primarily due to an other-than-temporary impairment charge of $24.7 million in 2020 on the Company's equity method investment, offset by a 2020 gain of $16.6 million on the sale of a traditional golf property.
| | |
Comparison of Results of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 |
For details on Results of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, please see our 2020 10-K filed on March 16, 2021.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview
Our primary sources of liquidity are our current balances of cash and cash equivalents. We also generated liquidity through our common stock offering completed during the first quarter of 2021.
As of December 31, 2021, we had $58.3 million of available cash, including $17.1 million of cash from the traditional golf business.
Our primary cash needs are capital expenditures for developing and opening new Puttery venues and one Drive Shack venue, remodeling and maintaining existing facilities, funding working capital, operating lease and finance lease obligations, servicing our debt obligations, paying dividends on our preferred stock, and for general corporate purposes.
The Company’s growth strategy is capital intensive and our ability to execute is dependent upon many factors, including the current and future operating performance of our entertainment golf venues and traditional golf properties, the pace of expansion, real estate markets, site locations, our ability to raise financing and the nature of the arrangements negotiated with landlords. Based upon current levels of operations and anticipated growth, we expect that cash flows from operations, combined with other financing alternatives in place or available will be sufficient to meet our working capital and capital expenditure requirements for the foreseeable future.
As of December 31, 2021, we are actively exploring the capital markets to meet our near term liquidity requirements to fund our planned growth, including new venue development and construction, product innovation, and general corporate needs. Our financial objectives include diversifying our financing sources, optimizing the mix and maturity of new debt financings, public or private equity issuances, and strategically monetizing our remaining real estate securities and other investments. We continually monitor market conditions for these financing and capital opportunities, and at any given time, may enter into or pursue one or more of the transactions described above. However, we cannot ensure that capital will be available on reasonable terms, if at all.
In February 2021, the Company raised $54.6 million in net proceeds through an equity offering. See Note 17 in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for information about this transaction.
We also generated capital through the completion of the sales of 25 of our 26 owned traditional golf properties which was completed by December 31, 2020. The proceeds generated by these transactions were reinvested in our entertainment golf business and used to pay overhead expenses.
For a further discussion of risks that could affect our liquidity, access to capital resources and our capital obligations, see Part I, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” above.
Summary of Cash Flows
The following table and discussion summarize our key cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year ended December 31, |
| | 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 |
Net cash (used in) provided by: | | | | | | |
Operating activities | | $ | 254 | | | $ | (1,325) | | | $ | (28,118) | |
Investing activities | | (32,587) | | | 24,942 | | | (11,993) | |
Financing activities | | 44,064 | | | (4,748) | | | (10,744) | |
Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash, noncurrent | | $ | 11,731 | | | $ | 18,869 | | | $ | (50,855) | |
Operating Activities
Cash flows used in operating activities consist primarily of net losses adjusted for certain items including depreciation and amortization of assets, amortization of prepaid golf member dues, impairment losses, other gains and losses from the sale of assets, stock-based compensation expense, and the effect of changes in operating assets and liabilities.
Net cash flow used in operating activities changed from $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020 to net cash flow provided by operating activities of $0.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. It changed from $2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019 to $1.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. These changes resulted primarily from the factors described below:
2021 compared to 2020
•Operating cash flows increased due to the following:
◦$16.7 million in net operating cash flows generated from the entertainment venues;
◦$1.8 million reduction in corporate payroll primarily due to reductions in headcount;
◦$0.5 million reduction in interest payments associated with the junior subordinated notes due to a lower coupon rate.
•Operating cash flows decreased due to the following:
◦$8.6 million in net operating cash flows used from traditional golf operations;
◦$7.0 million primarily due to additional general and administrative payments;
◦$1.2 million in tax payments;
◦$0.6 million in payment of annual bonuses in 2021 that were earned in 2020.
2020 compared to 2019
•Operating cash flows decreased due to the following:
◦$17.1 million decrease of general and administrative expenses due to decreased headcount and professional fees primarily due to COVID-19 related reductions
◦$7.3 million increase in operating cash flows from the Traditional Golf business primarily due to addition of managed courses during 2019 and 2020 and the exit of non-profitable courses in 2019
◦$2.3 million increase in operating cash flows primarily due to the more months in operation in 2020 for the Entertainment Golf venues in Raleigh, North Carolina, Richmond, Virginia and West Palm Beach, Florida as compared to 2019.
Investing Activities
Cash flows used in investing activities primarily relate to capital expenditures related to the development of the entertainment golf venues, and renovations of existing facilities.
Cash used in investing activities decreased by $32.6 million in 2021 compared to 2020. Cash provided by investing activities increased by $24.9 million in 2020 compared to 2019.
Capital Expenditures. Our total capital expenditures for 2021, 2020, and 2019 were $32.6 million, $10.7 million, and $74.9 million respectively.
We expect our capital expenditures over the next 12 months to range between $46.0 and $50.0 million, which includes developing new Puttery venues and one Drive Shack venue remodeling and maintaining existing facilities.
Traditional Golf property dispositions. We continue to own one traditional golf property, which is classified as held-for-use. We may continue to pursue the monetization of our owned golf property to generate capital for reinvestment in the entertainment golf business.
Financing Activities
Cash flows used in or provided by financing activities consist primarily of cash from the repayment of debt obligations, deposits received on golf memberships, and the payment of preferred dividends.
Cash provided by financing activities increased by $48.8 million in 2021 compared to 2020. Cash used in financing activities decreased by $6.0 million in 2020 compared to 2019.
Dividends. The Company has paid preferred dividends declared in the amount of $5.6 million in 2019 and 2021. The Company did not declare preferred dividends in 2020. The Company has an ongoing obligation to satisfy the distribution requirements of the preferred shares, in accordance with the terms of the issuance. The timing and amount of distributions on our common stock are in the sole discretion of its board of directors, which has elected not to declare common stock dividends for 2018 through 2021 to retain capital for growth.
Debt Obligations. The Company made contractual payments on its finance leases in 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Golf Membership Deposits. Until 2021, private country club members generally paid an advance initiation deposit upon their acceptance as a member to the respective country club, which are refundable 30 years after the date of acceptance as a member.
Debt Instruments
See Note 8 in Part II, Item 8. “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” for further information related to our debt obligations and contractual maturities as of December 31, 2021.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of December 31, 2021, we had the following material off-balance sheet arrangements. We believe that these off-balance sheet structures presented the most efficient and least expensive form of financing for these assets at the time they were entered, and represented the most common market-accepted method for financing such assets.
•In April 2006, we securitized Subprime Portfolio I. The loans were sold to a securitization trust, of which 80% were treated as a sale, which is an off-balance sheet financing.
•In July 2007, we securitized Subprime Portfolio II. The loans were sold to a securitization trust, of which 90% were treated as a sale, which is an off-balance sheet financing.
We have no obligation to repurchase any loans from either of our subprime securitizations. Therefore, it is expected that our exposure to loss is limited to the carrying amount of our retained interests in the securitization entities, in the amount of $3.5 million as of December 31, 2021. A subsidiary of ours gave limited representations and warranties with respect to the second securitization; however, it has no assets and does not have recourse to the general credit of the Company.
Contractual Obligations
The following table summarizes our contractual arrangements as of December 31, 2021, and the timing and effect that such commitments are expected to have on our liquidity and capital requirements in future periods:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Fixed and Determinable Payments Due by Period |
Contract | | 2022 | | 2023-2024 | | 2025-2026 | | Thereafter | | Total |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Finance lease obligations - Equipment (A) | | 5,897 | | | 7,650 | | | 2,144 | | | 14 | | | 15,705 | |
Junior subordinated notes payable (B) | | 1,215 | | | 2,430 | | | 2,430 | | | 61,129 | | | 67,204 | |
Operating lease obligations (C) | | 31,246 | | | 28,284 | | | 41,835 | | | 166,982 | | | 268,347 | |
Membership deposit liabilities (D) | | 18,164 | | | 9,429 | | | 19,713 | | | 202,019 | | | 249,325 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Total | | $ | 56,522 | | | $ | 47,793 | | | $ | 66,122 | | | $ | 430,144 | | | $ | 600,581 | |
(A)Includes interest based on rates existing at lease inception or ASC 842 adoption on January 1, 2019. Leases that are repayable prior to maturity at our options are reflected as their contractual maturity dates. See Note 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussions.
(B)Includes interest based on rates existing at December 31, 2021 and assumes no prepayments. Obligations that are repayable prior to maturity at our option are reflected at their contractual maturity dates. See Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussions.
(C)Includes leases of golf courses and related facilities, carts and equipment. Excludes escalation charges which per our lease agreements are not fixed and determinable payments. Also excludes four month-to-month property leases which are cancellable by the parties with 30 days written notice and various month-to-month operating leases for carts and equipment. The aggregate monthly expense of these leases was $0.1 million. See Notes 2 and 6 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussions.
(D)Amounts represent gross initiation deposits refundable 30 years after the date of acceptance of a member. See Notes 2 and 13 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Market risk is the exposure to loss resulting from changes in interest rates, credit spreads, foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and equity prices. We substantially exited our real estate related debt positions, which significantly reduced our market risk exposure related to interest rate risk, credit spread risk and credit risk. We are also exposed to inflationary factors in our business.
Commodity Price Risk
We are exposed to market price fluctuation in food and beverage product prices and these fluctuations can materially impact our costs. There is no assurance that supply and demand factors such as disease or inclement weather will not cause the prices of the commodities used in our operations to fluctuate. Significant increases in the price of commodities could have a material impact on our operating results to the extent that such increases cannot be offset by menu price increases or other operating efficiencies.
Inflation
The primary inflationary factors affecting our operations include materials and labor costs. We have a substantial number of hourly employees who are paid wage rates at or based on the applicable federal, state or city minimum wage and increases in the minimum wage will increase our labor costs. In general, we have been able to partially offset cost increases resulting from inflation by increasing prices, improving productivity, or other operating changes. We may or may not be able to offset cost increases in the future. In addition, our leases require us to pay taxes, maintenance, repairs and utilities and these costs are subject to inflationary increases. In some cases, some of our lease commitments are tied to consumer price index increases.
Trends
See Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Market Considerations” for a further discussion of recent trends and events affecting our liquidity, unrealized gains and losses.
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
Index to Financial Statements:
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, (PCAOB ID: 42).
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020.
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Equity for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
All schedules have been omitted because either the required information is included in our Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto or it is not applicable.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Drive Shack Inc. and Subsidiaries
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Drive Shack Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, changes in equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated March 18, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective or complex judgments. The communication of the critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
| | | | | | | | |
| Impairment of Long-Lived Assets | |
| | |
Description of the Matter | As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company periodically evaluates its long-lived assets, including finite-lived intangible assets and right-of-use assets, for indicators of impairment. This evaluation includes, among other things, judgments based on factors such as operational performance, market conditions, the Company’s intent and ability to hold and use each asset, as well as any significant cost overruns on development of new venues.
Auditing the Company’s evaluation for indicators of impairment was complex due to the subjectivity in the identification of events or changes in circumstances that may indicate an impairment of its long-lived assets. Differences or changes in these judgments could have a material impact on the Company’s analysis. | |
How We Addressed the Matter in Our Audit | We obtained an understanding, evaluated the design and tested the operating effectiveness of controls over the Company's long-lived asset impairment process. These procedures included testing controls over management’s review of the determination and the considerations used in the impairment indicator analysis.
Our procedures with regards to the Company’s evaluation for indicators of impairment included, among others, testing the completeness and accuracy of management’s impairment analysis including evaluating management’s judgments determining whether indicators of impairment were present. For example, we performed inquires of management, read the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors, and considered historical operating results and current market conditions.
| |
| | |
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2000.
Dallas, Texas
March 18, 2022
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Drive Shack Inc. and Subsidiaries
Opinion on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Drive Shack Inc. and Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 Framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Drive Shack Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on the COSO criteria.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the 2021 consolidated financial statements of the Company and our report dated March 18, 2022 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Dallas, Texas
March 18, 2022
DRIVE SHACK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands, except share data)
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| December 31, |
| 2021 | | 2020 |
Assets | | | |
Current Assets | | | |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 58,286 | | | $ | 47,786 | |
Restricted cash | 3,480 | | | 2,252 | |
Accounts receivable, net | 5,563 | | | 4,446 | |
| | | |
Real estate securities, available-for-sale | 3,486 | | | 3,223 | |
Other current assets | 30,034 | | | 14,410 | |
Total Current Assets | 100,849 | | | 72,117 | |
Restricted cash, noncurrent | 798 | | | 795 | |
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation | 179,260 | | | 169,425 | |
Operating lease right-of-use assets | 181,915 | | | 192,828 | |
Intangibles, net of accumulated amortization | 13,430 | | | 15,124 | |
| | | |
Other assets | 6,538 | | | 6,765 | |
Total Assets | $ | 482,790 | | | $ | 457,054 | |
| | | |
Liabilities and Equity | | | |
Current Liabilities | | | |
Obligations under finance leases | $ | 5,400 | | | $ | 6,470 | |
Membership deposit liabilities | 18,039 | | | 14,692 | |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 34,469 | | | 29,596 | |
Deferred revenue | 26,301 | | | 23,010 | |
Other current liabilities | 26,524 | | | 28,217 | |
Total Current Liabilities | 110,733 | | | 101,985 | |
Credit facilities and obligations under finance leases - noncurrent | 9,075 | | | 12,751 | |
Operating lease liabilities - noncurrent | 166,031 | | | 167,837 | |
Junior subordinated notes payable | 51,174 | | | 51,182 | |
Membership deposit liabilities, noncurrent | 104,430 | | | 99,862 | |
Deferred revenue, noncurrent | 10,005 | | | 9,953 | |
Other liabilities | 1,487 | | | 3,447 | |
Total Liabilities | $ | 452,935 | | | $ | 447,017 | |
| | | |
Commitments and contingencies | | | |
| | | |
Equity | | | |
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 1,347,321 shares of 9.75% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, 496,000 shares of 8.05% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, and 620,000 shares of 8.375% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, liquidation preference $25.00 per share, issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 | $ | 61,583 | | | $ | 61,583 | |
Common stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000,000,000 shares authorized, 92,093,425 and 67,323,592 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively | 921 | | | 673 | |
Additional paid-in capital | 3,233,608 | | | 3,178,704 | |
Accumulated deficit | (3,268,876) | | | (3,232,391) | |
Accumulated other comprehensive income | 1,163 | | | 1,468 | |
Total equity of the company | $ | 28,399 | | | $ | 10,037 | |
Noncontrolling interest | 1,456 | | | — | |
Total Equity | $ | 29,855 | | | $ | 10,037 | |
| | | |
Total Liabilities and Equity | $ | 482,790 | | | $ | 457,054 | |
See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
DRIVE SHACK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
(dollars in thousands, except share data)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 |
Revenues | | | | | |
Golf operations | $ | 232,560 | | | $ | 189,972 | | | $ | 216,497 | |
Sales of food and beverages | 49,304 | | | 30,015 | | | 55,567 | |
Total revenues | 281,864 | | | 219,987 | | | 272,064 | |
Operating costs | | | | | |
Operating expenses | 222,260 | | | 188,745 | | | 229,306 | |
Cost of sales - food and beverages | 12,814 | | | 8,834 | | | 15,217 | |
General and administrative expense | 33,809 | | | 31,284 | | | 47,976 | |
Depreciation and amortization | 24,018 | | | 27,152 | | | 22,396 | |
Pre-opening costs | 4,552 | | | 1,328 | | | 9,040 | |
(Gain) Loss on lease terminations and impairment | 5,035 | | | (721) | | | 15,413 | |
| | | | | |
Total operating costs | 302,488 | | | 256,622 | | | 339,348 | |
Operating loss | (20,624) | | | (36,635) | | | (67,284) | |
Other income (expenses) | | | | | |
Interest and investment income | 684 | | | 565 | | | 955 | |
Interest expense, net | (10,698) | | | (10,968) | | | (8,760) | |
Other (loss) income, net | 655 | | | (7,611) | | | 20,876 | |
Total other income (expenses) | (9,359) | | | (18,014) | | | 13,071 | |
Loss before income tax | (29,983) | | | (54,649) | | | (54,213) | |
Income tax expense | 1,779 | | | 1,705 | | | 641 | |
Consolidated net loss | (31,762) | | | (56,354) | | | (54,854) | |
Less: net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | (393) | | | — | | | — | |
Net loss attributable to the Company | (31,369) | | | (56,354) | | | (54,854) | |
Preferred dividends | (5,580) | | | (5,580) | | | (5,580) | |
Loss applicable to common stockholders | $ | (36,949) | | | $ | (61,934) | | | $ | (60,434) | |
| | | | | |
Loss Applicable to Common Stock, per share | | | | | |
Basic | $ | (0.41) | | | $ | (0.92) | | | $ | (0.90) | |
Diluted | $ | (0.41) | | | $ | (0.92) | | | $ | (0.90) | |
| | | | | |
Weighted Average Number of Shares of Common Stock Outstanding | | | | | |
Basic | 89,733,378 | | | 67,158,745 | | | 67,039,556 | |
Diluted | 89,733,378 | | | 67,158,745 | | | 67,039,556 | |
See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
DRIVE SHACK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
(dollars in thousands)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, |
| 2021 | | 2020 | | 2019 |
Net loss | (31,762) | | | (56,354) | | | (54,854) | |
Other comprehensive loss: | | | | | |
Net unrealized (loss) on available-for-sale securities | (305) | | | (242) | | | (168) | |
| | | | | |
Other comprehensive loss | (305) | | | (242) | | | (168) | |
Total comprehensive loss | $ | (32,067) | | | $ | (56,596) | | | $ | (55,022) | |
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest | (393) | | | — | | | — | |
Comprehensive loss attributable to the Company | $ | (31,674) | | | $ | (56,596) | | | $ | (55,022) | |
| | | | | |
| | | | | |
See notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.
DRIVE SHACK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Drive Shack Inc. Stockholders |
| | | | | | | | | Accumulated Other Comp. Income (Loss) | | | | Total Equity (Deficit) |
(dollars in thousands, except share data) | | | | | | | | | Additional Paid in Capital | | | | | | |
| Preferred Stock | | Common Stock | | | Accumulated Deficit | | | Noncontrolling interest | |
| Shares | | Amount | | Shares | | Amount | | | | | |
Equity (deficit) - December 31, 2018 | 2,463,321 | | | $ | 61,583 | | | 67,027,104 | | | $ | 670 | | | $ | 3,175,843 | | | $ | ( |