Golf has a long history of Black people fighting for the right to play. Owning the course is another conversation entirely.
In Marion, Arkansas, just across the Mississippi River from Memphis, entrepreneur Dee Brown is having that conversation through ownership.
In July 2024, Brown’s company, The P3 Group, acquired the 122-acre Cypress View Golf Course and announced plans to transform it into Brownstone Country Club & Resort. The acquisition made Brown one of a relatively small number of Black golf course owners in the country.
Brown described himself at the time as the first African American to own a golf and country club in Arkansas. It was a significant moment, but the bigger story may be what he’s building around it.
From Real Estate to the Fairway
Brown isn’t new to developing properties.
As founder and CEO of The P3 Group, he has spent decades working in real estate, construction and public-private partnerships. His projects have included housing, government facilities, infrastructure and commercial development.
Golf adds another dimension to that portfolio.
When Brown acquired Cypress View, the club had approximately 300 members. His plans included improving the existing golf experience while expanding the property into a broader hospitality destination.
The original redevelopment announcement outlined a multimillion-dollar investment, including a luxury RV resort, pickleball courts, upgraded amenities and expanded dining.
Brown also committed to maintaining public access to the golf facilities.
That’s an important detail. Country clubs have historically represented exclusivity, particularly for Black golfers. Brownstone’s approach offers an opportunity to build a private membership experience without closing the door to the surrounding community.
A Different Kind of Golf Investment
Today, Brownstone operates as an 18-hole golf destination with a golf shop, dining, memberships and event facilities.
Brown’s ambitions extend beyond the course itself.
In September 2026, his company announced another development: Brownstone RV & Golf Club, a planned 50-site RV destination with golf suites featuring Toptracer technology.
It’s a business strategy that connects golf with travel, entertainment and hospitality.
And it raises an interesting question about the future of Black participation in the sport.
We’ve spent generations talking about getting more Black people onto golf courses. That work remains important. But what about owning the courses, developing the surrounding businesses and participating in the economics of the game?
Ownership creates opportunities that participation alone cannot.
It also comes with responsibility. Maintaining a golf course, attracting customers and turning a redevelopment vision into a sustainable business are substantial undertakings.
Brownstone’s long-term success will depend on those realities, not simply the significance of its ownership.
Beyond the First Tee
Brown’s investment doesn’t solve golf’s longstanding access challenges. Nor does owning a course automatically create a thriving golf community.
But it does expand the conversation.
In a sport where Black ownership remains uncommon, Brown is putting capital behind a different possibility.
Not just a seat at the table.
A stake in the property.
And in Marion, Arkansas, that stake comes with 18 holes.
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