Club + Resort Business January 2020

January 2020

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The New Awakening at

Hammock Dunes Club SPECIAL REPORT:

Leaders in Clubs + Resorts

Recognizing Leaders in Club Industry Service

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INSIDE

Januar y 2020 • Vol. 16 • No. 1

THIS

ISSUE

16

The New Awakening at Hammock Dunes Club

After a $6.8M clubhouse revitalization that added new fitness and dining amenities, and with golf rounds trending at their highest level in a decade, the Palm Coast, Fla. property is once again opening eyes to the special appeal of an “oceanfront state of mind.”

(Cover photo by Alex Hirschler and courtesy Hammock Dunes Club)

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

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+ Recreation 22 Design POOLS FOR ALL

SEASONS, AND REASONS New features add to the value and appeal of pool facilities.

6

The Rob Report

9

C+RB News Roundup

32 HOME-GROWN PRIDE Chef to Chef

Chef Randy Zerfass makes a special local connection with the members of Lehigh CC.

Editor’s Memo

SENIOR MOMENTS REDEFINED

GRAMPS HAD IT RIGHT

WYCLIFFE G&CC COMPLETES CLUBHOUSE RENOVATION Plus other industry, supplier and people news

45

Super In Spotlight

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Jake Mendoza went right on stage at Detroit GC.

48

GIS/CMAA Show Coverage

SHOW SEASON GETS INTO FULL SWING

55 + Grounds 38 Course LIFE LESSONS

Continuing education helps superintendents enhance their properties, and their careers.

8 Club Index 4

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Operations 42 Golf WINNING THE

SPACE RACE

New golf performance centers are popping up all over.

50 GIS/CMAA Shows Exhibitors List

Special Report

LEADERS IN CLUBS + RESORTS

Recognizing Leaders in Club Industry Service

82

Idea Exchange

PROGRESS IN WORK

Successful internships at Boca West CC

81 Ad Index www.clubandresortbusiness.com

EDITOR’S MEMO

Senior Moments Redefined “Golf courses and country clubs are no longer required features” of housing communities intended for those ages 55 and older, according to an article I recently came across in a major city newspaper. The article—which was actually a paid placement from a real estate/ financial advice website—went on to describe what Baby Boomers should, and should not, look for if they are thinking of moving to communities targeted to their age group.

Even if you’re not a manager at a club that’s part of a community, the points that were made still bear notice, as insights into what you should—and shouldn’t—be thinking about if you’re trying to attract, or keep, members from that demographic.

The 55-and-older market recently got a “big makeover” and is now marked by a much wider selection of amenities, homes and target buyers than in the past, according to the article. Developments featuring hiking and biking trails, big-name entertainment, athletic sports, community gardens, and upscale and solar-powered homes are now “in.”

Big developers like Del Webb, the article continued, are now building “massive projects” for the 55+ market, with “resort-like” features such as BMX “pump tracks” (a continuous loop of dirt berms and smooth dirt mounds that you ride without pedaling, on any kind of bicycle). Smaller developments target niche populations, such as equestrians, small-plane hobbyists, or retirees from specific professions. Private beaches, pickleball, film festivals, RV clubs and serious cooking classes are also popular.

Again, it sounds like these are all things that club members and resort guests of that age (or any age) might also like to have an opportunity to experience even if the property isn’t part of a community. And indeed, we’ve already www.clubandresortbusiness.com

You’d be surprised how many prospective club members come to the C+RB website to read our articles and learn how the clubs, and communities, they’re considering are managed and operated. And it appears more are being advised to do so. covered how clubs and resorts of all types have successfully introduced many of these kinds of activities and amenities.

The article also counseled those looking into “active adult communities” to carefully research how they are managed and operated. Here, too, some relevant questions and points were raised that club and resort managers at every property should be prepared to address from prospective buyers/members, such as: • What are the rules about non-adults’ use of the facilities? Are facilities designed for families and kids kept separate and isolated from those that are for adults only?

• What are the skills, priorities and budgets of those who manage the facilities and amenities? How are fees, rules

and budget priorities determined and changed?

• How do decisions like turning tennis courts into pickleball courts, or restricting cigar smoking, get made, and what are the recourses/appeal processes for those who object to what’s decided?

• What exit plans are available, especially in situations of failing health?

I see a lot of “FAQ” sheets in clubs’ membership packets or on their websites, whether they’re part of communities or not. But few of these take a deep-dive beyond very general questions and answers.

I’m not suggesting a club would need to post answers to these other types of questions. But it might be a good idea to make sure membership directors and others on the management team are all on the same page with the answers you’d want everyone to give, should any like these come up.

You’d be surprised how many prospective club members come to the C+RB website to read our articles and learn more about how the clubs, and communities, they’re considering are managed and operated. And it appears that more of them are being advised to do so.

Joe Barks • Editor jbarks@wtwhmedia.com

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THE ROB REPORT

Gramps Had It Right As the Golf Industry Show (GIS) takes over the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando this month, golf course superintendents will sit in on myriad education sessions and traverse aisle after aisle of exhibitors in an effort to better themselves at their chosen craft.

The latest in everything from maintenance equipment and golf course products to turfseed and fertilizers will be front and center in Central Florida.

Owners, operators, builders and more will be on hand to take it all in. Check out our show preview on pages 48-54.

Being surrounded by all of this takes me back to my childhood, when my grandfather and I would be in his backyard on a makeshift putting green that he created to occupy his time after his playing days were over. An accomplished player back in his day, he suffered a stroke and was unable to play up to his previous level. But he taught me a love for the game that I still have today.

One thing Gramps would emphasize was how hard it was to maintain a golf course. He’d show me how much effort it took for him to keep his roughly 40sq. ft. green alive and rolling at around 20 on his fictional Stimpmeter. Then he put it all in perspective by asking me to imagine doing that for an entire golf course, multiplying the level of intensity many times over, inviting the greatest players on the planet to play the course, and then having it on display for the world to judge.

Maintaining a golf course is hard work, and I appreciate the effort it takes every time I play, whether it’s at a prestigious private club, world-class resort or an unheralded muni.

He probably thought I wasn’t paying attention while beating plastic balls all over the yard, trying to replace my “banana-ball slice” with a “baby fade.”

But I distinctly remember him lowering the blades on his lawnmower, doublecutting his green and then rolling it with some odd-looking and heavy device he’d fashioned in his welding shop.

He would even strap long spikes to his shoes and walk every inch of the green, in an attempt to aerate it. That was dedication!

Fast-forward many years: Gramps is now playing daily at the Pearly Gates Country Club, but his lessons remain.

Maintaining a golf course is hard work, and I appreciate the effort it takes every time I play, whether I’m teeing it up at a prestigious private club, a world-class resort or an unheralded muni. It’s not natural for turf to be put through so many stresses, but today’s superintendents are more scientists than grounds crew. The education credits received at the GIS are invaluable, and the CGCS designation that comes with years of commitment is a badge of honor.

Thank you, superintendents, for all that you and your crews do to keep your courses in incredible condition. I look forward to hearing your stories while we’re in Orlando, and then sharing them with our audience in the weeks and months to come.

Rob Thomas • Senior Editor

rthomas@wtwhmedia.com

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l Club + Resort Business l January 2020

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JANUARY CLUB INDEX

CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE

Club and resort properties featured in this issue

Jane Cooper

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Aronimink Golf Club, Newtown Square, Pa. ............................40 Boca West Country Club, Boca Raton, Fla. ..............................82 Colbert Hills Golf Course, Manhattan, Kan. ...........................40 Country Club of Lincoln, Lincoln, Neb. ....................................42

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Destination Kohler, Kohler, Wis. .......................................................42 2011 - 2019

Detroit Golf Club, Detroit, Mich. .......................................................45 Hammock Dunes Club, Palm Coast, Fla. ......................................16

SUBSCRIPTION INQUIRIES To enter, change or cancel a subscription: Web (fastest service):www.ezsub.com/crb Phone: 844-862-9286 (U.S. only, toll-free) Mail: Club & Resort Business, P.O. Box 986, Levittown, PA 19058 Copyright 2020, WTWH Media, LLC

Lakewood Country Club, Westlake, Ohio. ..............................44

Club + Resort Business ISSN 1556-13X is published monthly by WTWH Media, LLC, 1111 Superior Avenue, 26th Floor, Cleveland, OH 44114. Copyright ©2020.Periodicals postage paid at Cleveland, Ohio, and additional mailing offices.

Subscriptions: Qualified U.S. subscribers receive Club + Resort Business at no charge. For all others the cost is $75 U.S. and possessions, $90 Canada, and $145 all other countries. Per copy price is $3. Postmaster: Send change of address notices to Club + Resort Business, P.O. Box 986, Levittown, PA 19058. Club + Resort Business does not endorse any products, programs or services of advertisers or editorial contributors. Copyright© 2020 by WTWH Media, LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

Philadelphia Country Club, Gladwyne, Pa. ...........................24

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Lehigh Country Club, Allentown, Pa. .............................................32 Northmoor Country Club, Highland Park, Ill. ........................38 Timuquana Country Club, Jacksonville, Fla. ............................22 University Club of MSU, Lansing, Mich. ......................................28 www.clubandresortbusiness.com

INDUSTRY ROUNDUP WYCLIFFE G&CC COMPLETES $18.2M CLUBHOUSE RENOVATION WYCLIFFE GOLF & COUNTRY Club in Wellington, Fla. unveiled the results of its $18.2 million renovation project to its membership just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday. The club served over 7,000 meals that day and showcased new contemporary spaces, including “The Cliffe” bar and lobby lounge and “Flavours” formal restaurant. The project was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, with maximized engagement from the membership along the way.

In addition to how Wycliffe’s food-and-beverage program has been improved by the addition of the new dining venues, a phased approach to the renovation also refreshed the club’s Spa & Fitness Center, ballroom, driving range and short-game area, and an outdoor event pavilion.

“We embarked on this construction journey in May 2018 with a ‘rolling renovation’-style project,” explained Rob Martin, Wycliffe’s General Manager and COO. “The phasing and construction schedule was extremely complex, but well-executed by our operational team to deliver high-quality member service at a time when most clubs would have limited services and cut back.

“We experienced a 5 percent growth in utilization, which is not the norm while completing a project of this size,” Martin added.

“We can really attribute this to the logistical planning and execution that limited the inconvenience factor for our members during

The $18.2 million renovation project at Wycliffe Golf & Country Club included new dining venues and updates to the fitness center, ballroom and golf facilities. the heavy construction periods.”

While the club was under construction for 18 months, Wycliffe also successfully merged with its homeowners association, resulting in $1 million in annual efficiencies, and also instituted a streamlined governance structure. The club completed a thorough branding study to differentiate itself in the market and highlight its identity with brand-new, contemporary facilities and programming.

Design partners for the project included Mouw Construction, Glidden Spina + Partners, Larson/Nichols Design, WGI and CBRE.

CMAA MEMBER CLUBS DELIVER $24 BILLION IMPACT THE CLUB MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION of America (CMAA) released its 2019 Economic Impact Report, a semi-annual report that details the economic impact of the more than 2,500 clubs managed by members of the CMAA. The report found that annual revenue for CMAA-member clubs has reached nearly $21 billion, leading to a total direct economic impact of $24 billion. Of that $24 billion, $13 billion was credited to products and services, expenditures; $9 billion to payroll; and $2 billion to taxes.

Golf (21.4 percent) and country clubs (57.2 percent) make up the majority of clubs included in the report, while city/athletic (9.6 percent) and yacht (4.9 percent) round out the rest. There were 6.9 percent listed as “other.”

Food and beverage and social events were reported as a core revenue source for most clubs, accounting for 29 percent of gross revenue on average. Yacht clubs (38 percent) and city/athletic clubs (36 percent) reported even higher percentages of revenue derived from those categories.

The CMAA member clubs employ approximately 350,000 people (fulltime, part-time and seasonal) and collectively count around 2 million members. Of the 350,000 employees, 233,000 work at country clubs, with golf (61,000), city/athletic (32,000) and yacht (13,000) following.

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INDUSTRY ROUNDUP TRADITION GC STARTS $6.3M CLUBHOUSE RENOVATION

ADDISON RESERVE CC UNVEILS $25M LIFESTYLE COMPLEX ADDISON RESERVE COUNTRY CLUB in Delray Beach, Fla. unveiled its new 40,000-sq. ft. Lifestyle Complex. Members had approved the expansion by an overwhelming majority in 2017.

The Lifestyle Complex is adjacent to the main 70,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse and to the tennis courts, pickleball courts and full basketball court.

“We foresee that this area will be the hub of outdoor activity and wellness for the community,” said Michael J. McCarthy, CEO and General Manager. “The Lifestyle Complex was designed with the free-form pool as the focal point, which may be seen from The Grill restaurant, as well as from the fitness and tennis centers. A separate children’s aquatic area with waterspouts is adjacent to the main pool and the activities center, which features games and equipment for all ages.”

The complex incorporates green space for outdoor concerts as well as waterfalls and fire pits for evening enjoyment.

Unique to the design is the sky-lit gazebo that houses the whirlpool, just steps away from the entrance to The Spa and cabana baths.

AN UPDATED CLUBHOUSE THAT retains the club’s charm and its devotion to the Spanish hacienda-style of architecture is part of a $6.3 million renovation currently underway at the Tradition Golf Club in La Quinta, Calif., The Desert Sun of Palm Springs, Calif. reported. The renovations are spilling into the season and won’t be finished until sometime in the first three months of 2020.

While the renovations won’t impact the size of the building at the Tradition, the interior is being completely changed, The Desert Sun reported. And most of those changes are centered on foodand-beverage services. The club’s pro shop is being moved into what had been the cart barn, with the old pro shop rebuilt into what officials say will now be a bar that the club members have wanted.

In addition to a new bar area, to be called the Tavern at Tradition, the expansion at the club includes 1,100 sq. ft. more of outdoor dining, The Desert Sun reported. But that dining expansion is all outdoors. The only interior expansion is to the kitchen itself, adding 500 sq. ft.

Other changes include a kitchenette being added to the women’s locker room, and changing some of the interior dining areas to make them feel a bit more like a restaurant, The Desert Sun reported.

The renovation project was approved by the club’s just over 200 members in December of 2018, with a more than 70 percent yes vote, The Desert Sun reported.

THE SEAWANE CLUB’S NEW OWNERS HAVE FAMILIES IN MIND JARED BRECHER AND DAN Klein, two longtime friends who attended the same college and live in Manhattan, are the new owners of the 92-year-old The Seawane Club in Hewlett Harbor, N.Y., the Long Island Herald reported. The purchase price was not disclosed.

After closing on the 120-acre club on November 19, Brecher and Klein said they planned to transform Seawane from a traditional male-centered club to a family-focused facility, the Herald reported. The club has a 6,725-yard, par-72 golf course, 10 tennis courts, a swimming pool, a bar, a restaurant, a grill room, men’s and women’s card and locker rooms, health-club facilities with trainers, and a barbershop.

The idea, Brecher said, is to create a more resort-style facility with a new playground, cabanas and a renovated pool without the lanes it has had since the 1980s, when the club had a swim team, the Herald reported.

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PROPERTIES VOW TO REBUILD AFTER FIRES INDIAN HILLS CC LOSES CLUBHOUSE

Photo by Andrew Scott/The Morning Call, Allentown, Pa.

HISTORIC POCONO MANOR RESORT DESTROYED A WIND-WHIPPED BLAZE THAT apparently broke out in a kitchen near a dining area early on the morning of November 1 at the 117-year-old Pocono Manor (Pa.) Resort and Spa was still being battled more than 40 hours after it started, The Allentown Morning Call reported, with responding firefighters calling it one of the most difficult to contain in their experience.

The fire destroyed much of the main inn at the property, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and features an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Donald Ross and William Flynn, The Morning Call reported. The inn’s iconic clock tower toppled as a result of the blaze. The resort was scheduled to close at the end of November for a massive, two-year renovation project, but very little remained of its main building after the fire.

In a news conference held two days after the fire broke out, owner Joe Jerome said the resort would be rebuilt, The Morning Call reported. “Rest assured we will rebuild a brand new and spectacular facility here,” Jerome said.

A MASSIVE FIRE DESTROYED the clubhouse at Indian Hills Country Club in Bowling Green, Ky. on the night of December 7, the Bowling Green Daily News reported.

Damage estimates were unavailable, but the building was declared a total loss, according to a news release issued by the city of Bowling Green, the Daily News reported.

Bruce Fane, the club’s President, said one employee and two club members were in the building at the time the fire began. Fane said the people heard a popping sound and walked around the building attempting to find its origin, eventually attributing it to a light fixture.

The three people were able to escape unharmed, and Fane said he came to the site after receiving a text message, the Daily News reported.

“At first we didn’t think it was that bad when we learned what happened, but it went up quickly,” Fane said. “By the time I got here, it was evident the building was going to be gone.”

The Board of Directors of the club, which was established in 1956, planned to meet on December 8th to discuss options for the short-term future, which Fane said might include bringing trailers and temporary offices to the site before rebuilding a permanent facility, the Daily News reported.

“We’re family here, we come together when we have to, and we’ll do it again after this,” Fane said on the night of the fire. “The rebuilding begins tonight.”

Indian Hills’ golf course, designed by William B. Langford, will host the 2022 Clark’s Pump-N -Shop Kentucky Amateur Championship, as part of the club hosting all four major championships held by the Kentucky Golf Association in the next 10 years.

BELMONT GC TO BE TRANSFORMED THROUGH DEAL WITH FIRST TEE THE CENTURY-OLD BELMONT GOLF Course in Richmond, Va. soon will be transformed as part of an ambitious $4 million plan led by The First Tee of Greater Richmond, Richmond BizSense reported.

On December 10, Richmond BizSense reported, the nonprofit organization was awarded the contract to take over management of the course, which is owned by Henrico County (Va.). First Tee successfully pitched its plan to modernize Belmont by converting its current 18 holes, which retain remnants of its original design from 1916 by A.W. Tillinghast, into a six-hole short course and a 12-hole course that would rely on many of the bones of Tillinghast’s original layout, as well as adding a driving range and practice areas.

First Tee, which already operates two properties in the area, would pay for the upgrades using at least $3.25 million in privately raised capital already pledged by its donors, plus $750,000 set aside by Henrico County, Richmond BizSense reported.

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SUPPLIER NEWS 59CLUB FORMS NORTH AMERICAN BRANCH 59CLUB, A SERVICE-BASED MANAGEMENT tool and customer-service provider that uses objective data points and images to measure, improve and maintain standards of customer service, with a goal of increasing visitor and member retention, has formed a new North American branch, 59club USA, for the company that has operated in Europe and other continents since 2007.

59club USA’s online dashboard allows managers to compare results to industry benchmarks, elite-performing properties and even direct-competitor venues of the manager’s choice, making it one of the only ways for managers to measure how well they are performing within the market. 59club USA has three main services it provides to clients: customer satisfaction surveys, mystery shopper audits and staff training.

Already, 59club USA has established and developed relationships with more than 30 well-known golf clubs and resorts in North America, including 14 TPC properties and the Bobby Jones Links management company.

To learn more about 59club USA, visit www.59clubusa.com.

WARNER ELECTRIC LAUNCHES E-COMMERCE SITE WARNER ELECTRIC HAS LAUNCHED an e-commerce site (www.warnerptodirect.com) that allows users to order genuine original-equipment PTO clutch/brakes and accessories directly from its manufacturing headquarters in Columbia City, Ind. The site is ideal for golf course groundskeepers, as Warner Electric PTO clutch/brakes are now original equipment on most major mower and garden tractor brands.

The new online platform allows users to search by part number, to quickly find the genuine Warner Electric replacement clutch/brake that was originally designed and supplied to the mower manufacturer.

Replacement Warner Electric “D” drive mounting systems and cable accessories are also offered.

Free standard shipping is offered within the United States, and payments can be made via credit card in U.S. dollars. Once registered, site visitors will be able to review recent orders, to make re-ordering fast and easy. www.clubandresortbusiness.com

ELECTROLUX PROFESSIONAL LAUNCHES SKYLINE OVENS, BLAST CHILLERS ELECTROLUX PROFESSIONAL HAS LAUNCHED the SkyLine Ovens and Blast Chillers, based on a combination of smart technology and human-centered design.

Efficiency, usability and replicable performance are the key benefits of the range, resulting in high food quality, reduced running costs and a comfortable working environment, thanks to the pioneering 4-star certified ergonomics (contributing to a potential 75 percent reduction in sick leave and a 25 percent increase in productivity).

The optimal link between cooking and blast chilling provides operators with a streamlined, all-in-one food preparation process. The SkyLine Ovens and Blast Chillers are also synchronized to communicate with each other through SkyDuo smart technology that helps to prevent error possibilities and ensure a seamless Cook&Chill experience.

CUB CADET ROTARY MOWER GARNERS AWARD CUB CADET’S INFINICUT SM34 rotary mower was named the winner of the 2019 Innovation Award at SALTEX, an awards program celebrating the most technologically advanced equipment in grounds management.

The SM34 was judged by a John Coleman (left), Managing panel on what the product of- Director, Club Cadet UK, acceptfers to the industry and how it ed the award at SALTEX. makes the life of the operator easier. The panel described how the INFINICUT SM34 has “taken the rotary mower as we know it into the 21st century—checking the environmental box thanks to its emphasis on a modern, clean power source, and utilizing the InfiniApp to eliminate wrenches and grazed knuckles when adjusting the deck height.”

The introduction of a revolutionary side collection system also impressed the judges, for how it gives the operator a more comfortable and practical working position.

Launched in 2019, the SM34 can mow in the traditional sense or be used as a stand-alone vacuum. In cut mode, the incorporation of both a front roller and rear-traction roller means the SM34 delivers a striping effect usually only achieved with a professional reel mower.

The premium-grade, high-carbon steel blades offer extended life, and come pre-balanced to exhibit less vibration, while the 34-inch cutting width combines the unit’s lightweight design with better productivity.

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PEOPLE NEWS

Brandon Gross

Andrew Lacko

Tom Beaudry Roger Meier

Doug Carter

CLUB PEOPLE KemperSports has selected Tom Beaudry and Vince Dodge to serve as the General Manager and Superintendent, respectively, at Nemadji Golf Course in Superior, Wis. Both previously served in the same capacity at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay in Tower, Minn.

The Country Club of Winter Haven (Fla.) has named Doug Carter as General Manager. He was most recently General Manager of Key West Golf Club in Key West, Fla. Idle Hour Country Club in Lexington, Ky. has promoted Matt Post to Clubhouse Manager. Post most recently served as the club’s Dining Manager.

Brandon Gross has been named the new Executive Chef of Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase, Md. He was previously Executive Sous Chef of The Metropolitan Club of The City of Washington (D.C.). Gross was the winner of the Mystery Basket Cookoff competition at the 2018 Chef to Chef Conference in Seattle.

Bald Peak Colony Club in Melvin Village, N.H. has hired Paul O’Toole, CEC, HGT as Executive Chef. O’Toole was most recently at the Pittsburgh (Pa.) Field Club.

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Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. has named Michael Patton as Executive Chef. Patton most recently served as Executive Chef at the Silverleaf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Valhalla Golf Club Superintendent Roger Meier has been named the first-ever Senior Director of Golf Maintenance Operations for the PGA of America and PGA Frisco (Texas). John Ballard was named as the new Golf Course Superintendent at Valhalla in Louisville, Ky. Meier will continue to serve Valhalla in an oversight and consulting capacity.

ClubCorp appointed Andrew Lacko as Chief Financial Officer. Lacko joins ClubCorp from Minneapolis-based Regis Corporation, where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Bobby Jones Links has appointed Katie Lentine to the role of Manager of Sales and Marketing. Prior to joining Bobby Jones Links, Lentine held a position in Licensing and New Ventures with the PGA Tour, where she assisted with The Players Championship.

The 2019-2020 Global Executive Com-

mittee and Board of Directors for Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP®) began its term in November.

Stephanie Anderson, CHAE, CPA, CGMA, CFO of River Bend Golf & Country Club in Great Falls, Va. will serve as Secretary on the Global Executive Committee, while Jill Burnett, CHAE, CPA, Controller, Medalist Golf Club in Hobe Sound, Fla., and Eileen Sarris, CPA, CHAE, CFO, The Field Club in Sarasota, Fla., will serve on the Global Board of Directors.

MacKellar Golf Management appointed Rick Riddle as Vice President of Operations. Prior to joining MacKellar Golf Management, Riddle served as Regional Vice President for ClubCorp for more than 10 years.

The South Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association honored LaVerne Young, Hostess at Greenville (S.C.) Country Club, with the Front of the House Employee of the Year award.

Sailfish Point on Hutchinson Island, Fla. named Melissa Woods as Beverage Manager. A certified sommelier with more than 20 years of experience, Woods previously worked at California resorts, including Vista www.clubandresortbusiness.com

SI

Collina Resort in Napa and Chanel-owned St. Supéry Estate Vineyards and Winery in Napa Valley.

Matt Post

Pechanga Resort Casino in Temecula, Calif. has named Ryan Adams as its new Director of Beverage Operations. Most recently, Adams held management positions in the beverage department at another Southern California casino.

IN MEMORIAM .

George Avery Cooke

George Avery Cooke of Linville, N.C. died November 27 at the age of 84. Cooke had a 55-year career at Linville Resorts, starting as a caddie in 1945 and ending as Golf Course Superintendent in 2000.

SUPPLIER PEOPLE

59club USA, a customer-service satisfaction and benchmarking firm, named Mike Kelly as Managing Partner and hired Bill Delayo as Director of Business Development and Client Management. Kelly was formerly Executive Vice President of Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga. Most recently, Delayo was President and CEO of Golf Solutions, LLC. Nor-Lake, the Hudson, Wis.-based manufacturer of commercial refrigeration equipment, named Jeff Lehmann as Regional Sales Manager. Lehmann was most recently at LA-CO Industries, where he was the National Account Manager.

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January 2020

l Club + Resort Business l 15

» HAMMOCK DUNES CLUB

The new awakening at

Hammock Dunes Club AFTER A CORPORATION WAS FORMED in 2005 so a member-backed group could buy the Hammock Dunes Club in Palm Coast, Fla. from developers, everything seemed on track to have the club move into a new phase of successful selfoperation while continuing to benefit from the appeal of the Palm Coast community, located halfway between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, that was originally conceived by the ITT Corporation as a retirement haven for its employees.

When the Great Recession began a few years later, however, the club was hit hard not only by the economic and real estate-related hardships that af-

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fected the entire industry, and especially club communities, but also encountered special challenges because of the timing of the ownership transition.

As is often the case in the lead-up to such a sale, the developer had not made many investments or plans for the club’s long-range improvement.

“We weren’t left in great shape where some of the facilities were concerned,” says Kim Laxton, Hammock Dunes’ Membership Director, who has worked for the club for 18 years. “It all combined to create a tough hole to dig out of—one year, we had nearly 60 membership defections.”

The good news was that Hammock Dunes always www.clubandresortbusiness.com

g

Photos Courtesy Hammock Dunes Club

After a $6.8M clubhouse revitalization that added new fitness and dining amenities, and with golf rounds trending at their highest level in a decade, the Palm Coast, Fla. property is once again opening eyes to the special appeal of an “oceanfront state of mind.”

By Joe Barks, Editor

had its two acclaimed golf courses—the oceanfront Links Course (see photo above) and the equally unique inland Creeks Course (see photo, pg. 18), a few miles away—to help retain a core membership and sustain a base level of activity.

The courses had always remained under good care and gradually, the club’s Board and management began to take steps to complement their appeal with upgrades of other facilities and the creation and improvement of other member amenities.

Long-range master planning for both propwww.clubandresortbusiness.com

erties began to coalesce with the arrival in 2012 of Jesse Thorpe, CCM, as the club’s Chief Operating Officer. (A 30-year industry veteran with previous GM experience at Brynwood CC, Spanish Trail CC and Skyline CC, Thorpe also served as President of the Club Management Association of America in 2004.)

The planning process drew guidance from member surveys and focus groups that led to an “aha” moment for Hammock Dunes’ Board and management. “While there were favorable reviews about how

our members loved their fellow members and the staff and the golf courses, it clearly came through that they would like to see us do more to leverage the benefits of our oceanfront location,” says Thorpe.

That directive set into motion plans for Hammock Dunes’ recently completed $6.8 million redesign and expansion of its Links Clubhouse. The project included the addition of a 5,500-sq. ft. fitness center and the creation of a new casual bar-and-grille venue, the Dunes Tavern, that includes an open kitchen. Both the fitness center and January 2020

l Club + Resort Business l 17

» HAMMOCK DUNES CLUB

Hammock Dunes’ Creek Course is located a few miles inland on 700 protected acres that was once a pine-tree farm. Only 115 acres of the property are maintained for the Audubon-certified golf course, creating what Director of Agronomy Matt Howes describes as a unique “you and nature” experience for players, especially in Florida.

outdoor seating capacity that was added to the dining venues take full advantage of the clubhouse’s ocean views and also overlook the Links Course and Hammock Dunes’ expansive croquet lawn (see photo below), home to one of the largest croquet associations in Florida, with over 120 active players. (With several British expatriates among the club’s membership, the lawn is also the site of some spirited games of English lawn bowling.)

The renewed focus on featuring the ocean as part of anything Hammock Dunes members might want to do while at the club has also led to enhancements of its resort-style pool complex, with the addition of a new children’s splash pad (see photo, pg. 20) and playground. Room is

also being created to build two new bocce courts near the Links Clubhouse (bocce was already well-established elsewhere on the property, in an area that also includes tennis and pickleball courts).

And finally, to ensure that the full message for the key takeaway that now applies to all things Hammock Dunes is not lost on anyone, including prospective members, a new logo was designed for the club (see opposite page) that includes a new tag line: “Always an Oceanfront State of Mind.”

POSITIVE SIGNS ACROSS THE BOARD As 2019 was coming to a close, Thorpe reported that the changes that have been instituted at the property were already

starting to generate impressive results, even before the grand opening of the renewed Links Clubhouse took place at the start of May. Golf rounds were on pace to finish the year at around 42,000, which would mark the second straight year they exceeded 40,000. “That hasn’t been done for ten years,” says Thorpe. And as evidence that club members are doing more to take full advantage of the entire property, Director of Golf Brad Myers, PGA, CCM, adds that the trend has continued for members to now use both courses on an almost-equal basis, where previously the Links Course would see a much greater percentage (70 to 75%) of play.

Similar spikes are being seen through all

Hammock Dunes’ expansive ocean-view croquet lawn is home to one of the largest croquet associations in Florida, with over 120 active players.

With several British expatriates among the club’s membership, the lawn is also the site of some spirited games of English lawn bowling.

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www.clubandresortbusiness.com

other parts of the club’s operation as well, Thorpe says, especially in food and beverage, even after the club’s food minimum was eliminated this year. “We saw jumps [in F&B revenues and cover counts] of as much as 55 percent after reopening [the clubhouse],” he says.

“Ninety percent of it was driven by the new [Dunes Tavern] room and the expanded outside seating. We haven’t had a month since where we’re less than 35% ahead of the year prior.”

The boost in club dining is also attributable, Thorpe notes, to the membership’s response to the talents of the culinary staff led by Executive Chef Lance Cook, who was featured in a Club + Resort Chef cover story in January 2018 (“The Right Cook in the Kitchen”), after coming to the club from Eau Gallie Yacht Club. “[Lance] was the last big piece” that needed to be added to Hammock Dunes’ management team, says Thorpe.

More distinction for the club’s culinary program may be on the horizon, with Cook now prepping to take the exam in 2020 to earn Certified Master Chef credentials.

Activity in Hammock Dunes’ new fitness facility, under the leadership of Fitness & Aquatics Director Walter Sam, also shot past expected levels as soon as the doors were opened. After 12 classes were originally offered in the space’s group fitness room, Sam reports,

At A Glance:

HAMMOCK DUNES CLUB

Location: Palm Coast, Fla. Founded: 1989; became member-owned in 2005 Members: 640 Golf Course Design: Creek Course, Rees Jones; Links Course, Tom Fazio Annual Golf Rounds: 42,000 Clubhouse Size (Links): 40,000 sq. ft.

Chief Operating Officer: Jesse Thorpe, CCM Director of Golf: Brad Myers, PGA, CCM Director of Agronomy: Matt Howes Executive Chef: Lance Cook Assistant General Manager: Hans Grover, CCM Fitness & Aquatics Director: Walter Sam Chief Financial Officer: Carol Dyke Membership Director: Kim Laxton Head Golf Professional: Gina Hull Chief Engineer: David Camp Director of Membership Sales: Colleen Albrecht Catering Manager: Crystal Hill

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January 2020

l Club + Resort Business l 19

» HAMMOCK DUNES CLUB Members of the Hammock Dunes management team paused at the end of a busy year to snap a team photo.

Back Row (l. to r.): Colleen Albrecht, Director of Membership Sales; Matt Howes, Director of Agronomy; David Camp, Chief Engineer; Lance Cook, Executive Chef; Brad Myers, PGA, CCM, Director of Golf; Jesse Thorpe, CCM, Chief Operating Officer. Front row (l. to r.): Crystal Hill, Catering Manager; Gina Hull, Head Golf Professional; Kim Laxton, Membership Director; Carol Dyke, CFO; Hans Grover, CCM, Assistant General Manager.

Walter Sam, Fitness & Aquatics Director (on right in picture at left), has seen a steady stream of visitors to Hammock Dunes’ new Fitness Center from the moment its doors opened, with the schedule for group classes already swelling from its original 12 to now 40 different offerings.

physical and occupational therapy that is provided in conjunction with a local hospital, and billed through members’ insurance. “I was skeptical of how [the service] might be accepted and used, but it’s kicked off very well,” says Sam.

that schedule has already swelled to 40 different offerings. He’s also meeting the high response by preparing stretching videos, some made in conjunction with Myers for golf-specific exercises, that will be posted on the members-only section of the Hammock Dunes website. And Sam also has a vision for a 45-minute “travelers workout” video that he would provide to members to use away from the club, with a travelfriendly “kit” made up of a resistance band and other exercise devices that could be made available in the club’s pro shop.

Hammock Dunes’ new fitness center was also built with space reserved for individual 20

l Club + Resort Business l January 2020

tion and maybe have net increases of five or so a year beyond that.”

Hammock Dunes is not a mandatorymembership community—which Thorpe deems an unfortunate decision that was made with the 2005 sale—but because the club was incorporated with for-profit status, its staff has more flexibility to generate new revenue streams and promote membership and activity. Colleen Albrecht was hired in 2019 fill a new Director of Membership Sales position, and immediately had a successful year drawing interest

A NEW COMFORT ZONE While Hammock Dunes’ current membership of 640 falls short, Thorpe says, of the pre-Recession “high-water mark” of over 800, he is already seeing signs of good progress toward where the club wants to be. “We’re more than busy where we are now,” he says. “We don’t need to get back to the [membership levels] that were seen here before, as long as we account for attri-

A new children’s splash pad and playground have been added to enhance the resort-style experience offered by Hammock Dunes’ oceanside pool complex. www.clubandresortbusiness.com

The new Dunes Tavern and its expanded outdoor seating with ocean views have prompted double-digit increases in F&B activity for Executive Chef Lance Cook (right) and the Hammock Dunes culinary staff.

through a variety of new membership categories and opportunities. And Hammock Dunes’ for-profit status has also expedited the launch of a highly successful wine-bythe-case service for members, by securing an extended package-goods license through the separate address of its Creek Course pro shop.

Flexibility and responsiveness also comes, Thorpe says, from a streamlined

governance and operating system that puts the chief operating officer model into action throughout all of Hammock Dunes’ departments. “We changed our committee structure two years ago,” he says. “Our operating committees are chaired by our department heads and co-chaired by a designated Board member. In that way they can all operate as tactical units, with Board members in advisory roles, and there’s no

micro-managing.

“That gives us consistent direction operationally; there’s no jumping around for the ‘flavor of the day’,” Thorpe adds. “It also helps department heads develop new leadership and communication skills. Most importantly, it keeps us extremely flexible and reactive, so we can always be ready to pursue initiatives that we think will make the member experience better.” C+RB

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l Club + Resort Business l 21

DESIGN + RENOVATION

POOLS FOR ALL SEASONS,

AND REASONS

Club and resort properties are increasing the value and appeal of their pool facilities with family-focused water features, dining options and made-in-the-shade seating.

By Pamela Brill, Contributing Editor

A REFRESHING DIP ON A hot day, capped off by an icy-cold beverage served poolside. Watching the kids frolic and play in the water, while turning the pages of the latest beach read.

No longer a fantasy, these scenarios represent real-life member and guest experiences, as more club and resort properties expand the space devoted to their pool complexes and make the investments needed to turn them into full-fledged outdoor oases. From pools that boast zero-entry access for young families, to those that offer dining with expanded food-and-beverage options, more and more facilities are finding ways to keep members satisfied, both in and out of the water.

ALL HANDS ON DECK At Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla., an outdated pool was long overdue for a facelift. Originally built in 1965, the facility featured an L-shaped pool with a diving board, a baby pool, and a snack bar with limited food-and-beverage options.

General Manager Greg Sheara describes the refreshed complex as “a more contemporary and functional one that allows members to take full advantage of the club’s frontage along the St. Johns River.” Unveiled to members last May, the $3.5 million project is complete with new amenities designed to please swimmers and landlubbers alike.

While the pool’s footprint remains intact at 5,437 sq. ft., the design team opted to utilize the surrounding space. Expanding west into the club’s parking lot enabled an expanded deck and the ability 22

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SUMMING IT UP > Providing amenities that

appeal to young families and seasoned swimmers fosters multi-generational appeal. > Additional decking is a cost-eective way to expand and upgreade pool facilities and provide an appealing new lounging area for sunbathers and a destination for outdoor dining patrons. > Repurposing underutilized space opens up the potential for greater capacity.

,

Photo Courtesy Timuquana CC

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

January 2020

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DESIGN + RENOVATION TIMUQUANA COUNTRY CLUB Jacksonville, Fla.

“Many new and prospective members have noted the new pool amenities and increased access to family-friendly activities as helping to contribute to their decision to join the club.”

— Greg Sheara, General Manager

to comply with code requirements for an updated zero-entry pool.

“We had little deck space with capacity for only 30 lounge chairs, few shaded areas to get out of the hot Florida summer days, and a snack bar that lacked the equipment to create a full-service menu,” says Sheara, adding that members typically ordered food to-go from the casual dining facility in the clubhouse, or dined poolside.

By increasing decking capacity by a whopping 200 percent, the new design has doubled its seating capacity and accommodates large cantilever umbrellas and a shaded pavilion, along with a 60-seat, fullserve bar and kitchen (dubbed The Grove).

The zero-entry pool—boasting interactive fountains—offers a safe, entertaining alternative for young families, while six heated lap lanes provide dedicated space for serious swimmers.

During the course of construction, the club was faced with a tight timeline that required use of the grounds in April for the USGA’s U.S. Women’s Amateur FourBall Tournament. Although the project experienced delays as the result of a busy building season, the majority of the work was completed ahead of the tournament, with finishing touches to The Grove done post-event.

Since the Memorial Day weekend open-

ing, Timuquana’s membership has been restored to pre-2008 levels. Sheara is also enthused by The Grove’s contribution to increased revenues, citing a seasonal income of $250,000 and gross profit of $13,000. “Many new and prospective members have noted the new pool amenities and increased access to family-friendly activities as helping to contribute to their decision to join the club,” he says.

FULL MAKEOVER Much like Timuquana’s, the original pool (circa 1957) at the Philadelphia Country Club (PCC) in Gladwyne, Pa., had been relatively untouched over the years and war-

“Meeting” the Demand FOR CLUBS THAT HOST REGULAR swim-team meets, a facility that offers plenty of space and top-notch amenities can provide a competitive edge over neighboring venues, and maximize the revenue opportunities those events can generate.

At the Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, Pa., accommodating the junior swim program and competitive swim team were top of mind when it came to re-designing the club’s pool facility. In addition to adding a 25-yard short course for the swim team, the club maintained its traditional Olympic-sized pool for 50-meter long-course swimming. As an enhancement to swim-meet acoustics, a state-of-the-art AV system was also included, “to make announcing and listening to music more enjoyable in the new facility,” says General Manager Janine Budzius.

To support the robust water polo team at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville, Fla., increased storage facilities were an essential component of the revamped pool complex. Housing water-polo nets, inflatable movie-night screens and other

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When redesigning its pool facility, Philadelphia Country Club added a 25-year short course for its swim team and added a state-of-the-art AV system that also adds a new source of enjoyment for regular pool users. equipment, this addition has enabled the club to better serve its recently expanded recreational and aquatic programming.

Other large-scale events at Timuquana include adult master’s swimming, polar bear-plunge events and youth swimming developmental teaching programs. “These programs, coupled with design enhancements, have been successful in creating new experiences for our members,” says General Manager Greg Sheara.

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DESIGN + RENOVATION PHILADELPHIA COUNTRY CLUB Gladwyne, Pa.

“We felt that private-club amenities are now compared to resort-style pools in terms of member expectations. Our new resort-style pool is now an additional amenity on our campus for multigenerations of families to enjoy together.”

—Janine Budzius, General Manager

ranted a full-scale renovation. “We felt that private club amenities are now compared to resort-style pools in terms of member expectations,” says General Manager Janine Budzius, CCM, CCE, of the decision to upgrade the club’s pool complex.

After compiling feedback from its Board of Governors, staff and pool renovation committee, the club underwent a $3 million construction project that incorporated family and competitive swim features, extensive food-and-beverage options and

outdoor seating. The result was an expanded layout that added 1,850 sq. ft. to its now-10,130-sq.-ft. pool and an extra 4,500 sq. ft. of decking.

To achieve these results, designers completely restructured the facility’s primary spaces to maximize ease of use. “We felt that the best pool design and safety practices [were to] locate the wading pool and shallow end of the main pool adjacent to the entrance, locker rooms and food service, which was the opposite of our existing

facility,” explains Budzius.

Diving was relocated to a newly constructed diving well, so as not to interfere with lap swimming or food-and-beverage service. Although the club’s Citrus Tree casual-dining venue was not part of the redesign, a new 12-seat, full-service bar and adult lounge area were added.

To further enhance the pool’s familyfriendliness, the redesigned configuration includes a zero-entry design, play spray features and an underwater seating area.

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DESIGN + RENOVATION

Designers chose to relocate the toddler pool zone to the shallow end, just off the club’s Summer House complex that houses the Citrus Tree, men’s and ladies’ locker rooms, lounge and retail shop. Refurbished cabanas offer a dedicated place for sunbathers to take a break in the shade, while keeping a close eye on little ones in the pool.

With its first full season under its belt, the club has reaped the benefits of recordhigh guest fees and food-and-beverage revenues. “The ability to heat the pool extended the season into September weekends and gave us a competitive advantage over local clubs,” notes Budzius.

She is also pleased with member feedback solicited at the end of season, with compliments that range from tennis players who enjoyed a post-game, poolside cocktail, to parents of a 6-month-old whose baby enjoyed the water all summer long. “Our new resort-style pool is now an additional ame-

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nity on our campus for multi-generations of families to enjoy together,” Budzius says.

FIVE-STAR AMENITY The pool at the University Club of MSU (Michigan State University) in Lansing, Mich., has seen its fair share of usage since members took their first swim back in 1970.

Nearly 50 years later following the pool’s installation, the well-honed facility that had only been intermittently patched and repaired was more than ready for a massive overhaul. “By 2014, we knew the pool had to be our top priority for capital improvements,” says CEO & General Manager Karen L. Grannemann, CCM. After initially deciding to maintain the existing pool shell and then realizing the potential cost restrictions, management ultimately decided to start fresh and create an entirely new facility. Using input from a member- and staff-based Backyard Master

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Plan Task Force and with a $2.4 million budget in hand, construction kicked off in September 2017 and wrapped just in time for the pool’s opening the following July.

Retaining its original location just off the clubhouse, the newly designed pool increased its footprint by 10 percent (from 4,782 to 5,256 sq. ft.) to accommodate a large zero-depth entry. Pool decking grew by 21 percent—from 20,109 to 24,339 sq. ft.—and included an upper deck “for those wanting to be a little removed from the poolside activities,” explains Grannemann.

To better appeal to younger (and older) members, the pool features zero-depth entry with three water features and five waterspouts. This area is particularly popular with young families and senior members who have difficulty using stairs. “It is so gratifying to watch people sit in several inches of water with a baby, while an older member enters the pool using their walker,” says Grannemann.

An underwater bench, adjacent to the lap lanes, offers a prime respite for those keeping a watchful eye on young swimmers. “This has completely eliminated our previous challenge of parents taking chairs into the kiddie pool, so they could sit in the water,” Grannemann adds.

Adults can also enjoy some undisturbed time in the former kiddie pool area, which has been transformed into a generously sized hot tub. A fire pit with comfortable seating and a large shade structure complete the scene for this private getaway.

“We frequently see members coming to the pool in street clothes to sit under the shade structure and read a book, which has significantly increased pool check-ins, food and beverage sales and member engagement,” notes Grannemann. (Plans for enhanced outdoor dining, a poolside snack bar, tiki bar, pickleball courts, a playground and youth building are part of a future development phase.)

While construction plans originally were moving along swimmingly, the team ran into some unforeseen delays, courtesy of Mother Nature. Heavy rains and local flooding were responsible for the area’s wettest February on record and persisted into late spring. “By mid-April, we all reluctantly www.clubandresortbusiness.com

acknowledged that we could not meet our opening date of early June, even if the rains stopped and we had perfect weather,” says Grannemann. “So our team went to work, making sure our members had access to the swimming facilities they were expecting and paying for.” The club contacted nine area pools and paid guest fees for members to use the facility of their choosing.

Despite a few grumblings, most of the club’s members were unfazed by the inconvenience. And Grannemann believes this minor hiccup actually served to improve the club’s reputation in the long run. “The unintended consequences of this adversity were that it strengthened our brand in the local community, impressed many people with our dedication to member service regardless of the obstacles, and made our members even more grateful for the facilities we provided them,” she notes. Extending the pool’s season an extra three weeks also assuaged any discomfort.

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

UNIVERSITY CLUB OF MSU Lansing, Mich.

“We frequently see members coming to the pool in street clothes to sit under the shade structure and read a book, which has significantly increased pool check-ins, food-and-beverage sales and member engagement.”

—Karen L. Grannemann, CEO & General Manager

With any setbacks now firmly in its rearview mirror, the University Club of MSU has welcomed a number of young families to its facility. Pool check-ins have nearly quadrupled, snack bar sales have doubled

and poolside cocktail service has tripled.

“Comments like ’You hit a home run’ and ‘I feel like I’m at a five-star resort’ are commonplace,” says Grannemann of the overwhelmingly positive feedback. C+RB

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SUNDAY, MARCH 1 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Sponsor sessions (see www.cheftochefconference.com for details) 6:00 – 7:00 PM Opening reception with cocktails, hors d’ouevres 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM Welcome and plated dinner with keynote speaker,

10:30 – 11:00 AM Break with Sponsor Table Visits 11:00 – 11:45 AM Session 3 —

Fritz Gitschner, CMC, Executive Chef, Philadelphia Country Club, Gladwyne, Pa. “Stay on Top: Be the Driver in Culinary Manpower and Financial Performance”

Chef Michelle Bernstein

“Creative and Effective Approaches to Cooking, Career Growth and Leadership” 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM “Chef to Chef Lounge” at The Westin Charlotte– cocktails and social interaction Signature Beverage “Mix-Off”

MONDAY, MARCH 2 7:15 – 8:15 AM Breakfast 8:20 – 8:30 AM Welcoming Remarks and Announcements 8:30 – 9:30 AM Session 1 —

Ed Leonard, CMC,

Director of Culinary Operations and Executive Chef, The Polo Club of Boca Raton (Fla.)

“Leadership vs. Management/ Innovation vs. Creativity”

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM Session 4 —

Travis Petersen, The Nomad Cook “An Introduction to CBD and Terpenes from Canada’s Cannabis Chef” Cooking Demo 12:30 – 1:30 PM Lunch

10 Br

1:30 – 2:00 PM Sponsor Table Visits 2:00 – 5:00 PM “Inside the House” Local Club Tour: Carmel CC, Quail Hollow Club 5:00 – 6:30 PM Dine-Around, Myers Park Country Club 6:30 PM Buses return to Westin; evening free for dinner in Charlotte 9:00 PM – 11:00 PM “Chef to Chef Lounge” at The Westin Charlotte– cocktails and social interaction

TUESDAY, MARCH 3 9:30 – 10:30 AM Session 2 —

Paul Verica, Chef Owner, The

Stanley (Charlotte, N.C. restaurant) “From Club Chef to James Beard Nominee” Cooking Demo

7:30 – 8:15 AM Breakfast 8:15 – 8:30 AM Announcements and Presentation of 5- and 10-Year Pins

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2020 Agenda Charlotte, NC • March 1-3, 2020 T H E

W E S T I N

C H A R L O T T E

8:30 – 9:15 AM Session 5 —

1:00 – 1:45 PM Session 9 —

CEC, Executive Chef, Farmington Country Club, Charlottesville, Va.

Chef, Blackthorn Club at The Ridges, Jonesborough, Tenn.

Michael Matarazzo,

“The Three R’s: Relevance, Recruitment and Retention”

9:15 – 10:15 AM Session 6 —

J. Kevin Walker,

CMC, AMC, Executive Chef, Ansley Golf Club, Atlanta, Ga. “Inspiring and Retaining a Culinary Team at the End of the ‘Yes, Chef’ Era” + Cooking Demo: Multi-Use Condiments and Plate Finishes 10:30 – 11:00 AM Break w/ Sponsor Table Visits 11:00 – 11:30 AM Session 7 —

Rhy Waddington,

James Allen, CEC, Executive

“Play with Your Food: A Fun Approach to Casual and Fine Dining” Cooking Demo 1:45 – 2:45 PM Iron Chef Cook-Off 3-Person Teams, 2 Staggered 20-Minute Semis and a 20-Minute Final, with audience voting.

2:45 – 4:15 PM Session 10 — “Chef to Chef Live”— 6 Breakouts, 6 Presenters 4:15 PM Closing Remarks

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 (Time TBA) Optional Culinary School Tour - Johnson + Wales

Executive Chef, Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, N.Y. and Rhonda Vetere, Author

SPONSORED BY:

“Women in Hospitality: Promoting Their Success and Impact”

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM Session 8 —

James Hudock, Executive Chef, Gibson Island (Md.) Club

12:30 – 1:00 PM Sponsor Table Visits

REGI S TER N OW !

• • •

12:00 – 12:30 PM Lunch

• • •

“The ‘APPY’ Kitchen: A Paperless Approach to Managing Workflow”

by visiting cheftochefconference.com

CHEF TO CHEF

HOME-GROWN PRIDE

By Jerry Schreck, Executive Chef, Merion Golf Club, Ardmore, Pa.

LEHIGH COUNTRY CLUB, LOCATED IN Allentown, Pa. just 60 miles north of Philadelphia, celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2010. The club’s superb 18-hole golf course was designed by famed architect William Flynn in 1926, and opened in 1928. Just after completing the Lehigh course, Flynn’s next project, at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., started that same year.

Lehigh CC also has active programs for racquets (tennis and paddle) and aquatics, as well as a very busy food-and-beverage program led by Executive Chef Randy Zerfass. In just four short years, Chef Zerfass has transformed Lehigh CC into a dining destination with creative cuisine and very innovative dining events.

We are fortunate that Chef Zerfass, a 20-year veteran of the club scene in east-central Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, could take time during a very active holiday season at his club to share some of his secrets to success.

C+RB Chef, like me, you followed a longtime Executive Chef at your club. What was your experience like as you were trying to establish your own identity with the membership?

Zerfass I think the membership was ready for the next chapter, as long as I respected the quality 32

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and consistency that preceded me. They were welcoming, and because I had spent 16 years split between two other clubs in the Lehigh Valley, I think a good number of my members knew me or knew of me (and my food style), and that was comforting to them.

I also had a great deal of support from my General Manager, who at that point had been at the helm for 39 years. As for the culinary staff, when I arrived, the morning Sous Chef had been here for 37 years; the morning Line Cook for 39; the evening Sous Chef for 19; the Chef Garde Manger for 15; the evening Pantry Cook for 17; the evening Line Cook for 19; the Banquet Manager for 27, and the Assistant General Manager for 24. Imagine trying to fit into all of that!

C+RB Your kitchen garden at Lehigh CC gets better and better every year. Can you offer tips on getting started and then raising the bar each season, and on what streamlining measures you’ve taken?

Zerfass Have a plan and do it for the right reasons. Make sure the members’ real estate is paying off with garden-grown menu items, and plant with your seasonal menu in mind—have fewer items but more quantity, so you can use house-grown items for the a la carte menu. www.clubandresortbusiness.com

Farm to Table dinners held outdoors near Lehigh CC’s elaborate chef’s garden “sell out like a Springsteen concert,” says Executive Chef Randy Zerfass. “Our members are proud to see that we put so much care and effort into providing them and their guests with fresh, beautiful and flavorful products that all came from our local property,” Zerfass says.

Placement of the garden is key. I was given real estate just off the 9th fairway that is very visible to the members and guests, but still close enough to the kitchen for easy access by the culinary staff. We also considered irrigation and deer fencing. The area we chose also had room for parking, for when we do our “fairway to table” dinners and cocktail parties.

Also, be friendly with your Grounds Superintendent and his crew; I couldn’t do it without them; they till the soil and prep us for planting. The Grounds Crew assists us with regular weeding, cleaning and watering.

Kalman Sasdi, our Sous Chef, has a passion for this project and takes a lead role on planting and trellising. It truly is a clubwide project. Also, one of our members is a very successful grower of produce and flowers for the retail and wholesale market and has become a great asset to us.

C+RB The garden is where you stage your spectacular Farm to Table dinners.

How did these come into being, what type of feedback have you received, and what’s your plan for next year?

Zerfass When I started at Lehigh CC, my General Manager knew I wanted to do a www.clubandresortbusiness.com

chef’s garden, but it wasn’t until my second day that I told the House Committee that the garden would be the perfect place to hold our Farm to Table dinners al fresco. So we put it on the books for mid-August.

We were nervous as the first one approached: Did we prep the grounds properly? Did we plant at the correct times for utilizing the harvest? Did I age the manure

long enough? Will our family of nesting bald eagles help keep varmints from eating the harvest? And thousands of other thoughts.

But everything came together great and our Farm to Table events sell out like a Springsteen concert, usually in the first three minutes. The dinners have become one of the premier events at Lehigh CC; our members are so

Chef Profile

Randy Zerfass Current Position: Executive Chef, Lehigh Country Club, Allentown, Pa. (2015-Present) Previous Experience: • Executive Chef, Northampton Country Club, Easton, Pa. (2007-2015) • Executive Chef, Saucon Valley Country Club, Bethlehem, Pa. (1999-2006) Education and Professional Achievements: • Completed Continuing Education Courses at Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park, N.Y., in Nutrition, Restaurant Management and Chef Certification • Attended Club + Resort Business Chef to Chef Conference, 2012-2019 • Lehigh Valley ACF Chapter Chefs Association Chef of the Year, 1994 • Wood Company (Sodexo) Outstanding Chef, 1990

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CHEF TO CHEF

proud to see that we put that much care and effort into providing them and their guests with fresh, beautiful and flavorful products that all came from our local property.

C+RB You work proactively with your frontof-the-house staff to improve service and efficiency during all meal periods, as well as member functions. What are the focal points, challenges and critical areas that are discussed at your club’s F&B meetings?

Zerfass Lehigh CC is fortunate to have an extremely active and engaged membership; our members love their club and use it frequently. I believe we are the first choice and top of mind when they think about dining out.

Our operation will be crossing the $3 million per year food-and-beverage threshold this year, with just over $2 million of that in a la carte business and the balance in

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Recipe BBQ Shrimp and Fried Green Tomato INGREDIENTS: 2 ea. U12 wild shrimp 1 ea. fried green tomato (see step one at right), 3/8 Inch 1 oz. pimento cheese spread 1 tbsp. candied bacon crumble 1.5 ozs. Southern BBQ sauce 2 tbsp. lemon aioli 1 cup baby frisee 1 tsp. lemon vinaigrette salt and pepper

PROCEDURE 1) Coat green tomato with buttermilk eggwash, Dredge in cornmeal flour and pan-fry until golden brown.

2) Char-grill shrimp and toss in BBQ sauce.

3) Smear aioli in center of plate and place tomato in center. Top with quenelle of cheese and shrimp.

4) Season frisee with salt and pepper, Dress with vinaigrette and place atop shrimp 5) Sprinkle with candied crumbled bacon.

Submitted by Randy Zerfass, Executive Chef, Lehigh Country Club, Allentown, Pa.

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

Recipe Fennel-Crusted Venison

INGREDIENTS: 6 ozs. trimmed and trussed venison loin 1 tbsp. fennel coriander spiced rub (see step one below) ½ cup vanilla bean and celery root puree (see step two below) 2 tbsp. cranberry pancetta gremolata 1.5 ozs. orange cranberry gastrique PROCEDURE 1) Make spice rub (fennel seed, coriander, peppercorn and sea salt).

2) Make celery root puree (celery root, russet potato and vanilla bean heavy cream).

3) Crust venison with spice rub, Pan-sear, baste until rare and let rest.

4) Spoon and quenelle the celery root puree on center of plate.

5) Slice venison and arrange on plate.

6) Dress venison with gastrique and drizzle plate.

7) Top with gremolata (Italian parsley, toasted pepita, lemon zest, rendered pancetta and dried cranberry).

Submitted by Randy Zerfass, Executive Chef, Lehigh Country Club, Allentown, Pa.

catered events. Our cover counts have increased about 90% since 2013 and almost 50% since I started in 2016, to now over 70,000 per year.

We do this volume of business without a food minimum, which is a strength and a testament to our product and service. But it’s also a challenge, as we have reached critical mass from a production space and execution perspective. In short, we have outgrown our kitchen, and this challenge has prompted the need to revisit and refresh the long-term strategic plan for the club.

Our Board of Directors, at the urging of our new General Manager, has begun the process of planning for the future with a muchneeded, 10-plus-year strategic plan; we are currently engaged with Chambers in Baltimore to facilitate this process. It is my hope and expectation that this plan will include either expanding my current kitchen or building a satellite kitchen where I could shift some of the casual and family-centric dining volume.

In the interim, business goes on and we do have three key daily areas of focus with our F&B team: 1) Speed. This is probably the largest obstacle of being undersized; when the kitchen gets overwhelmed with orders, production slows down; it is unavoidable. We try very hard to create and design menu items that are simple and quick to produce, but creative to keep traffic moving.

2) Accuracy. The worst thing that can happen when ticket times slow down is for something to be prepared incorrectly, inconveniencing our members and requiring them to wait even longer while it gets corrected. We really emphasize with the front-of-thehouse staff to repeat orders back to the members as a verification, and to be really diligent when they input orders into the POS system, as well as for my kitchen staff to thoroughly read the tickets and ask questions (measure twice and cut once).

3) Consistency. We preach often that we prefer to be good every night, rather than great only occasionally. Consistency sets the floor for our daily performance, but with a ceiling that I hope is always unlimited.

C+RB You have had success with actively involving your members in cooking classes. We all know how challenging those can be to organize and to ensure that the takeaways for participants are worthwhile. How do you entice people to come, and how do you find interesting topics?

Zerfass I talk to my members a lot—I try to be a good listener, and even the most casual conversation helps me shape events like cooking classes, special functions and a la carte menus. I make each cooking class interactive with members, prepping two items that I will prepare for a tasting, such as Butternut Squash Bisque, Seared Sea Scallops and Chicken Milanese. I like to be visible and interactive with the members, and always solicit opinions. C+RB

Know someone you’d like to have Jerry Schreck interview for a future “Chef to Chef” conversation? Send your suggestions to editor@ clubandresortbusiness.com.

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www.clubandresortbusiness.com

MORE

LESS

SAVES

MORE

CHOICE

WASTE

MONEY

EFFICIENT

COURSE + GROUNDS

Life

LESSONS

More golf course superintendents are learning how to enhance their properties while also gaining traction on their own career paths by taking full advantage of the continuing-education opportunities that are tailored to their profession.

By Betsy Gilliland, Contributing Editor

WITH AN AGRONOMY DEGREE FROM any number of outstanding turf schools around the country, golf course superintendents can build a solid foundation for their careers. In an everchanging field, however, the need to continue their education is constant. Fortunately, through the Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America (GCSAA) and other resources, a variety of ways are available to help superintendents further their professional development, and more are getting support from their properties to take advantage of all of the opportunities now at hand.

According to Tommy Witt, CGCS, Director of Golf Course Operations at Northmoor Country Club in Highland Park, Ill., and a Past President of the GCSAA, less than 2 percent of superintendents are still in the business at age 60.

“What are you going to do to stay employable?” asks Witt, a 38-year industry veteran. “Ninety-eight percent of superintendents can’t coast. When you become comfortable, it’s easy to get left behind.”

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SOUND CAREER ADVICE One of the best ways for superintendents to increase their professional staying power and keep up to date with the latest industry trends is to take advantage of the presentations at the annual Golf Industry Show (GIS). This year the GIS will be held January 25-30 in Orlando, Fla. (see pgs. 48-54) and topics to be discussed during the show’s continuing-education sessions will range from agronomyrelated subjects to personal growth.

“Continuing education is vital to the superintendent, assistants, and equipment managers, to ensure they stay abreast of best-management practices, new innovations, and cutting-edge technologies,” says Shari Koehler, GCSAA’s Director, Professional Development. “In addition to continuing education, GCSAA provides a certification program for superintendents, and certificate programs for assistants and equipment managers. Through these programs, individuals can demonstrate their knowledge to their current or future employer.”

At the upcoming GIS, Witt will lead a two-hour www.clubandresortbusiness.com

Photo Courtesy Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.

seminar called, “Life Hack: How to Evaluate Career Opportunities.”

“Most of my seminars are not related to agronomics,” says Witt, who has spoken at conferences and turf schools for the past 30 years. “But I talk about negotiations, communication, preparing for annual reviews, and evaluating career opportunities.”

Because the average individual in the course-maintenance profession changes jobs three to five times or more in their professional lifetime, Witt notes, his GIS presentation will help superintendents realistically and honestly evaluate employment offers and determine how different opportunities can affect their careers. For instance, he says, before accepting a new position, superintendents should ascertain if a job would be a step up or a lateral move.

Before accepting a new post, he adds, superintendents should consider factors such as the reputation of a facility, its member-

ship, and its general manager; the longevity of former superintendents at the property; the value of employment agreements; and if strong relationships can be developed with the golf pro and greens-committee chairman. On a personal level, he adds, they should research the cost of living if moving to a new area, and understand the effect a move will have on their families.

“I try to offer or share information or things that are typically out of the norm for superintendent curriculums,” Witt says.

“

“Leadership is also one of my huge interests. There’s a difference between those who manage, and those who truly lead.”

ESCAPING THE COMFORT ZONE In his “Get Uncomfortable” presentation at GIS, John Cunningham, CGCS, the General Manager of Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., will also highlight personal growth. After all, he is a shining example of practicing what he preaches.

A Certified Golf Course Superintendent

What are you going to do to stay employable? Ninety-eight percent of superintendents can’t coast. When you become comfortable, it’s easy to get left behind.

”

—Tommy Witt, CGCS, Director of Golf Course Operations, Northmoor CC

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

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COURSE + GROUNDS

The benefits of conducting prescribed burns on a golf course—and the proper procedures and cautions to follow when doing so—will be the subject of a “Let It Burn” presentation at the upcoming Golf Industry Show.

since 2003, Cunningham spent 20-plus years as a superintendent at the Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto Fla.; the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Dallas, where he oversaw a $2.3 million renovation and rebranding of the TPC at Los Colinas golf course; and at Bellerive Country Club at St. Louis, Mo. He started the transition to a general manager’s position at Bellerive when he helped to develop standards for the property during the winter months. He became an assistant general manager at the facility before accepting the top job at Aronimink more than two years ago.

In his presentation, Cunningham will discuss why people stay in their comfort zone—and why it is important to get out of it. He’ll also highlight how reallife growth experiences can come from uncomfortable scenarios, and how to embrace the positive outcomes that can result from feeling uncomfortable.

“People are a little uncomfortable hearing it, but [adopting those attitudes] has really served me well throughout my career,” notes Cunningham. “That’s what has led to my [personal career] growth.

“The basis of it is to get people to think

“

about why they’re so habitual and stay in the box,” he explains. “It doesn’t matter what you want to do with your career. You should continue to reinvent yourself and get uncomfortable. Personal growth applies to any position.”

Cunningham will also collaborate at the GIS with Patrick Finlen, CGCS—General Manager of The Olympic Club in San Francisco, and a GCSAA Past President from when he was Olympic’s Superintendent— on a “Lead Your Team” presentation. In this interactive seminar, Cunningham and Finlen will share the effective leadership skills that superintendents can bring to their golf courses to energize their organizations, and—to raise their profiles and be seen as potential managers—show them how to: identify and develop strong leadership qualities; determine the traits they need to enhance their leadership abilities; and implement improvements to their workplace cultures and environments.

BACK TO THE ROOTS By their nature, superintendents are more inclined to want to take classes and learn more about aerification and fungi-

It doesn’t matter what you want to do with your career. You should continue to reinvent yourself and get uncomfortable. Personal growth applies to any position.

”

— John Cunningham, CGCS, General Manager, Aronimink GC

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cides than personal growth. Acknowledging that, the GIS will also offer plenty of seminars on agronomic topics.

Matt Gourlay, CGCS, MG, Director of Golf Course Operations at Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, Kan., will give three talks about golf course maintenance practices at the GIS in Orlando.

Along with John Bladon, Director and COO of Turf Prophit and The Chimera Group in Ontario, Canada, Gourlay will present “Economy vs. Agronomy—What is Sustainable?” to help superintendents achieve playability within a budget, and to teach them to drive and embrace change that brings sustainability into focus. The presentation will offer real-world examples to minimize any biases superintendents may have developed over time; help them learn to prioritize data and integrate sustainable practices into their operations; reduce risks to the golf course asset and business; and identify efficiencies that provide value to a facility.

Gourlay will also moderate a panel discussion for assistant superintendents, “So, You Want to Be a Golf Course Superintendent—But Where?” The panelists will include Andrew Wilson, Director of Agronomy, Bethpage State Park, Farmingdale, N.Y.; Carlos Arraya, CGCS, Bellerive Country Club; and Alex Stuedemann, CGCS, Director of Golf Course Maintenance Operations, TPC Deere Run, East Moline, Ill. The discussion will be designed to help assistant superintendents target future job opportunities by identifying the management structure—municipality, private property, or management company—that fits them best, and to determine the skill sets that each www.clubandresortbusiness.com

Volunteering to help other properties with tournament preparation, and participating in field trips organized by local or regional professional organizations, are important and effective ways to get firsthand looks at “the best and brightest ideas” in course management, says Matt Gourlay, CGCS, MG, Director of Golf Course Operations at Colbert Hills GC.

organizational structure values most.

In the “Lightning Round Learning” portion of the conference, Gourlay, who has worked at Colbert Hills for 17 years, including 12 as superintendent, will discuss prescribed burns in “Let It Burn.”

OTHER COURSES OF ACTION While the annual Golf Industry Show that’s held in January or February each year is an invaluable resource for superintendents’ professional development, it’s literally just the start of countless other opportunities that those in course management can find through the remaining months, to continue expanding their knowledge base and enhance their personal development. By taking online classes, attending local, regional, and international conferences, using social media to learn from peers’ Facebook posts and Instagram photos, and taking classes from manufacturers and suppliers, there’s an endless source of constant opportunities to learn more about all aspects of the profession.

Another good way to stay current with the latest techniques in course and grounds management, and to expand a professional network, is to provide tournament support at other clubs’ golf courses. “Volunteerism is part of continuing education,” says Witt.

Northmoor has been the site of LPGA

events, U.S. Open qualifiers, and state championships, and Witt has volunteered at tournaments at other properties as well.

This experience, where the activities of 100 to 120 volunteers had to be coordinated on a daily basis, has taught him valuable organizational skills, he says.

“It’s a good way to see different practices and to develop relationships with your peers,” adds Cunningham, who has also worked at facilities that have held major PGA Tour events and volunteered for tournaments at other properties.

Gourlay has provided tournament support at a PGA Championship and a local Korn Ferry (formerly Web.com) Tour event. By working at golf tournaments at other properties, he says, he supports fellow superintendents, helps them with course setup, sees how they run their operations, observes their agronomic practices, and watches how they interact with members. “I can get the best and brightest ideas,” he says.

PUTTING IT ALL IN PLAY Classroom time and other forms of continuing learning will have little benefit, however, if superintendents do not put their newly acquired skills or information into practice to adapt in an ever-evolving industry.

“The skill sets that superintendents need today differ greatly from 10, 15 or 30

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

years ago,” Witt says. “Today, golf course superintendents need to be good financial managers. They have to be good recruiters, because labor is so hard to find. And they have to be good at social media.”

A strong grasp of these skills will benefit superintendents, along with their properties, and make them more employable, he adds. “There’s always going to be competition to obtain and retain jobs,” notes Witt.

“For mid-level jobs, it’s not uncommon for there to be 100 resumes or more for any job that’s advertised. You can double or triple that number for premier jobs at the highest-paying, most-recognized golf facilities that host PGA Tour events and majors.”

That puts a premium on applying the knowledge and techniques gained through seminars and other resources to produce tangible benefits for superintendents’ current properties. “If you can bring the ideas back to your facility to enhance it and yourself personally, your employers are going to notice and retain you,” says Gourlay.

The best way for superintendents to maximize their continuing-education efforts is to take the information they learn and “put it into play,” Cunningham affirms.

“Superintendents are so busy taking care of golf courses, they don’t take care of themselves,” he says. “It’s important to continue to invest in yourself.” C+RB January 2020

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GOLF OPERATIONS

SUMMING IT UP > Indoor-outdoor facilities provide a year-round option for

members who wish to practice regardless of the weather.

> Clubs can add an additional revenue source by offering food-and-beverage options.

> Simulators and swing analyzers are not only excellent tools for instruction, but can also be used for club fitting as an added value to members and the pro shop’s bottom line.

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WINNING THE SPACE RACE An open spot at the back of the range at the Country Club of Lincoln proved to be the ideal spot for a new Golf Performance Center, while Destination Kohler looked to a nearby retail center to expand its instructional footprint and services.

By Rob Thomas, Senior Editor

WHEN NICK MULLER, PGA, CAME to Lincoln, Neb. to join the Country Club of Lincoln (CCL) as its Director of Golf in 2013, plans for technological advancement of the club’s golf program began. Fastforward to 2019, and a once-grassy area at the back of the driving range is now a 1,200-sq. ft. Golf Performance Center.

“I always knew there would be a need to engage our members during the cold winter Nebraska months,” Muller says.

Conveniently located between the range and clubhouse, the Performance Center is part of a $3 million capital improvement project scheduled to be completed in the early spring of 2020. The club is also building a new cart barn/maintenance facility.

“As far as ROI, our hope is it will pay us back many multiples with new members and most importantly, by retaining existing members,” Muller says. “On average a member brings over $100,000 over 10 years of being a member—so it won’t be long before the facility pays for itself.”

CCL has expanded its technology with the Performance Center. The club had an existing Flightscope X2 to track ball flight and record swing specifics, but added the ForeSight GCQuad to power the simulator bay.

Muller’s staff uses the V1 Sports software and instruction app in the “Learning Bay,” along with the ForeSight and now the newly purchased K-Motion wearable technology that records a golfer’s movement.

“Having our own golf course on the simulator has been the biggest hit with our members,” Muller says. “V1 adds a lot to teaching programs, but K-Motion is going to take us to an entirely different level, and will assist us with getting the fitness side going.”

The Golf Performance Center at Country Club of Lincoln is part of a $3 million capital improvement project scheduled to be completed in the early spring of 2020. www.clubandresortbusiness.com

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In addition to the acclaimed Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run golf courses, Destination Kohler is home to the Kohler Swing Studio and Golf Shop, a 5,000-sq. ft. space with four golf-and-entertainment simulators in a nearby shopping plaza.

Early returns have been positive, and Muller has the luxury of flexible space and usage going forward.

“We were very deliberate when designing the facility, and were careful not to corner ourselves on being able to make future additions,” he says.

CCL has also made sure its Performance Center is adequately staffed. “We have a good-sized, full-time staff with five Class A PGA Professionals, a Merchandiser and a Merchandising Assistant,” Muller says. “It allows us to staff the facility with professionals that know what they are doing and care about the experience our members have.”

Additionally, CCL is planning to create a Director of Instruction position in the spring. “We’ve never advertised lessons to our members, and I think there is a huge potential for this position, to ultimately help our members play more and better golf,” Muller says.

All CCL professionals are Certified Club Fitters, but in-house training sessions were scheduled for the GCQuad. One of the club’s pros is also going through K-Motion Certification.

At Lakewood Country Club in Westlake, Ohio, the indoor simulator is used for an annual Winter Yeti Cup that takes place over several months. Kicking off in late January and culminating in April, members who pay a $40 entrance fee, plus $10 per nine-hole match, are placed into brackets and vie for golf shop credits.

GETTING IN THE SWING Mike O’Reilly, the PGA Director of Golf Operations at Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run in Kohler, Wis., went off site to enhance the technology offered by the Destination Kohler properties. The Kohler Swing Studio and Golf Shop, a 5,000-sq. ft. entertainment space with four golf-andentertainment simulators, is located in the Shops at Woodlake, very close to the Inn on Woodlake, one of the Kohler resort hotels.

Two of the simulators are aboutGOLF simulators, and two are Topgolf Swing Suite Bays. The aboutGOLF simulators have more than 60 golf courses, instructional tools, and additional practice and entertainment options. The Topgolf simulators, made by Full Swing Golf, have more than 80 golf courses, Topgolf simulations and several additional entertainment and game options.

“We use the aboutGOLF simulators for several things, but one key feature is the teaching and clubfitting technology that you can include in the purchase if you choose,” says O’Reilly, a member of the 2020 Ryder Cup Executive Committee.

“One of the simulators has two cameras, instruction software that’s easy to use for the instructor and student, weight plates to measure body movement, and the software provides all of the ball and club data an instructor needs to fit clubs. Our clubfitting business has increased by over 50 percent since opening the facility.”

Kohler made a specific hire for the Kohler Swing Studio, O’Reilly says, bringing in an

“On average a member brings over $100,000 over 10 years of being a member—so it won’t be long before the facility pays for itself.”

—Nick Muller, PGA, Director of Golf, Country Club of Lincoln (Neb.)

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Assistant Golf Professional responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the space.

Others from the golf staff help to manage league play and oversee all instructional offerings, including lessons and club fittings.

“In addition, we have several others who contribute from a retail and food-and-beverage standpoint,” O’Reilly says. “In total, we have eight people who work within the space on a full-time or part-time basis.”

Prior experience helped to lessen the amount of training that the staff needed, he adds. “Most of our golf professionals already work with technology when they teach outside, so they were familiar with much of the functionality,” O’Reilly says.

“They did need training to understand how the aboutGOLF and Topgolf simulators work, but it was fairly easy because they had already had experience working with launch monitors and other teachingsoftware programs.”

FEEDING THE MASSES Because members work up a thirst while utilizing the Performance Center, CCL offers a full bar in the back of its simulator bay.

“During private events we provide a bartender and catered food menus,” Muller says. “During slower times, the golf shop staff [provides] F&B [service], in conjunction with our 19th Hole staff.”

Similarly, a full bar and a limited-menu restaurant is located inside the Kohler Swing Studio.

“We serve lunch, dinner and offer service to all players on the simulators,” O’Reilly says. “The food-and-beverage service is new for us, but our guests are providing a lot of positive feedback in regard to our offerings.”

Overall, response to the new Swing Studio has been great, O’Reilly adds.

“For the past three years, we have had 80-plus league players in the winter and many other players that come and practice, get a club fitting or take a lesson,” he says.

“With the recent addition of two new simulators and F&B offerings, we have seen additional demand.

“We now have over 125 league players and other revenues are on the rise,” O’Reilly adds. “The technology is fairly easy to use, so our guests can quickly understand how to use the system.” C+RB www.clubandresortbusiness.com

SUPER IN THE SPOTLIGHT

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION! Just three months into the already daunting task of being only the seventh Superintendent to care for the 121-year-old Detroit Golf Club’s Donald Ross courses, Jake Mendoza learned he had a year to get ready to host a PGA Tour event.

By Jeff Bollig, Contributing Editor

Imagine you are a golf course superintendent and have been on the job a little over three months. One day you’re out on the course when your boss approaches you and says the club is going to host a PGA Tour event. And, oh yeah—it will be in 12 months.

For Jake Mendoza, there would be no easing into the role of golf course superintendent at Detroit (Mich.) Golf Club. The bright lights would be shining on him, his staff and the golf course before he knew it.

And the spotlight was already pretty bright for Mendoza even before the subject of a tournament came up. Detroit Golf Club (DGC) has a long and storied history. It was founded in 1899 as a 6-hole course, and later expanded to 9 holes. It moved two miles south in 1902 and in 1906, an 18-hole facility opened.

In 1916, a group of members who went south for the winter to Pinehurst, N.C., commissioned Donald Ross to build a 36-hole facility. It was completed in 1918, as the first Ross-designed facility in Michigan. Ross’s brother Alec became Detroit GC’s golf pro and held the position for 31 years. Then former PGA champion Horton Smith held the golf pro position as well. And Clem Wolfrom, a pioneer www.clubandresortbusiness.com

in the turf-management profession, was the club’s golf course superintendent for 51 years (1962-2013).

When Mendoza interviewed for the position in December 2017, there was some discussion about hosting a tour event. He says he wasn’t chasing a position to conduct a professional event, but at the same time he would not shy away from the experience. The club would sign the contract with the PGA Tour in September 2018, and in June 2019 the Rocket Mortgage Classic cruised into the Motor City, as the Tour’s first-ever event in Detroit.

“I had experience hosting a professional event, so I was not worried that we could do it,” Mendoza said. “I was praying for some good weather so that we could get the work done. It was really a blessing, because hosting the event provided us with the resources to get some things done on the course that we might have [otherwise] had to wait on.”

Mendoza and his team went to work, building six tees and firming up the fairways with 1,800 tons of sand. The focus was on playability features. And despite a rainy spring of 2019, the tournament was pulled off without a hitch.

And his reward?

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SUPER IN THE SPOTLIGHT

pickup and went to work. I actually worked there through high school and then for two more years, until I decided this is what I wanted to do for a career and went to Rutgers for turf school.

Jake Mendoza (left) with Paul Vermuelen, VP of Agronomy for the PGA Tour.

Super in the Spotlight

Jake Mendoza Current Position: Golf Course Superintendent. Detroit (Mich.)

Golf Club Years at Detroit GC: Two Years in Golf Course Maintenance Business: 15 Previous Positions: • Superintendent, Course No. 3, Medinah (Ill.) Golf Club, 2009-18 • Assistant Golf Course Superintendent, Rich Hills Farms Golf Club, Chicago, Ill., 2005-08 • Intern, Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamoranek, N.Y., 2004 Education & Training: B.S., Professional Turf Management. Rutgers University, 2005

“Because of the Olympics, we are moving our event up to May in 2020,” he reports.

“The weather then can be a bit dicey, as you are not far out of winter—and in Detroit, those can be brutal. But we have a plan for all contingencies.”

Mendoza took time from that planning to share some more details about his career, and his club.

C+RB How did you become a golf course superintendent?

Mendoza Like a lot of those in this profession, I worked on a golf course when I was in high school. My neighbor was the Assistant Superintendent at Short Hills Golf Course in East Moline, Ill. One day he asked me if I wanted a job. I said yes, and the next day at 5:30 in the morning I jumped in his 46

l Club + Resort Business l January 2020

C+RB How was the internship experience at Winged Foot Golf Club?

Mendoza The reason I chose Rutgers is because it allowed for long internships. So, I did eight months at one of the best facilities in the nation. I learned so much from Superintendent Eric Greytok as we prepared for the U.S. Amateur. It was very high-end, and there was great attention to detail.

Plus, it gave me multi-course experience, which paid off in getting the job at Medinah [Country Club] and then here.

C+RB You were part of a Ryder Cup at Medinah. What was that like?

Mendoza The 10 years at Medinah were great. [It was another] multi-course facility with high standards, and of course it hosted a number of professional events. Curtis Tyrrell, the Superintendent, was great to work for. He had a well-oiled machine.

They were all about giving us the experience we needed to be successful. One year, I volunteered at three different events—the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the John Deere Classic. I progressed from an assistant to be Superintendent of the No. 3 (championship) course.

For the Ryder Cup, my job was to be the liaison with the PGA of America for all of the various structures outside the ropes. That covered 47 acres. It was a great learning experience and obviously a good training ground for me to host a professional event [at Detroit GC]. I also got to go through a course renovation for the No. 3 course. I’ve just been very fortunate to have the experiences that have helped me down the road in my career.

C+RB What are your biggest agronomic

challenges at Detroit Golf Club?

Mendoza Drainage is a huge challenge.

We have very little elevation change on the course—only 10 feet between the highest and lowest spots. It can be tough to move the water off the course. Most of

the original drainage tiles are still there and they did a good job keeping the structures in shape. It’s just a challenge because we are so flat.

Second, recovering from winter damage can be a challenge. The winter wind can cause desiccation. With our tournament moving to May, that lessens to time we have to recover.

C+RB How did the first tournament go for the facility?

Mendoza It went great. Obviously [tournament winner] Nate Lashley’s story was a great one. He was the third alternate and the last one to make the tournament.

The club and the city really embraced it. This is a fantastic property for hosting [a tournament], with good space that, given that it is flat, is not hard to move

Golf Course Profile

Detroit Golf Club Website: www.detroitgolfclub.org

Ownership: Private, member–owned Golf Course Type: Parkland Golf Course Designer: Donald Ross Year Opened: 1899 (club); 1918 (current courses) No. of Holes: 36 Par: North Course 72, South Course 68 Yardage: North, 7,350 yards; South, 6,600 yards Golf Season: April to November Annual Rounds: 34,000 Grasses: • Tees & Fairways: Bentgrass and Poa mix • Roughs: Bluegrass, Rye, Fescue mix • Greens: Bentgrass & Poa mix Bunkers: 159 Water Hazards: 2 ponds www.clubandresortbusiness.com

The Detroit GC staff and tournament volunteers came together to help the club host a successful Rocket Mortgage Classic in June 2019, as the first-ever PGA Tour event to be held in the Motor City.

Course + Grounds Operations Profile Staff Size: 36 (45 including seasonal)

around on. The routing includes 17 holes from the North Course and one from the South Course.

We were a little conservative in green speed, and might be a little more aggressive this year. Having the event helps us to get some needed work done. I’m looking forward to the next one. If anyone wants to volunteer, just call me. We can use all the help we can get.

C+RB Why are your courses challenging?

Mendoza It’s definitely because of the

Other Green and Grounds Managers: Construction Superintendent Steve Addis; North Course Superintendent Evan Herman; South Course Superintendent Kenny Agler; Assistants Mark Omell, Adam LaFrance; Equipment Manager, Tim Travis Water Source: City Aerating and Overseeding Schedules: No overseeding. Aerate April and September (Greens: Solid Tine; Tees and Fairways: Core) Upcoming Capital Projects: None underway, but working with the PGA Tour to prioritize a list of improvements for Rocket Mortgage Classic in May 2020.

greens. The South Course has the original Donald Ross design on 17 of 18 greens. The North course has had some greens redone, but have maintained the original design. There is a lot of movement in the greens and they are fairly small, so you have to take that into account.

Our play is actually split fairly evenly between the longer North Course and the shorter South Course.

C+RB Detroit Golf Club has quite a history. Tell us what it is like to work there from that perspective.

Mendoza Our membership is very proud of the club. There are families who have been members for several generations. I’m only the seventh superintendent in 121 years. It’s good to have Clem [Wolfram] still around. As an honorary member, he still plays golf and will play cards with the other members, too. He spent more than 50 years here, so I pick his brain from time to time. I’ll have lunch with him and soak up all I can.

C+RB What other activities does the club offer?

Mendoza We are a high-use facility. We have dining, tennis, an

aquatics center, and an athletic facility. Swim competitions between clubs in southwestern Michigan are a big deal. From a golf course perspective, we host several outside events on Mondays.

We did 22 last year. There’s just a lot going on around here.

MORE ONLINE For an extended conversation with Jake Mendoza, see the online version of this article at www.clubandresortbusiness.com

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

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Photo by Montana Pritchard/Courtesy of GCSAA

GOLF INDUSTRY SHOW / CLUB MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA’S WORLD CONFERENCE

Show Season

Gets Into Full Swing The Golf Industry Show in Orlando, Fla. and the Club Management Association of America’s World Conference in Grapevine, Texas will showcase the latest trends, products and services, to give industry professionals a head start on refining their strategies for 2020.

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INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS WILL DIVIDE AND conquer as the new year begins, with the Golf Industry Show (GIS) and the World Conference and Club Business Expo of the Club Management Association of America (CMAA) being held in Orlando, Fla. and Grapevine, Texas at the end of January and beginning of February.

With hundreds of exhibitors spanning thousands of square feet of exhibit space at the Orlando Convention Center, the GIS, to be held January 25-30 on the heels of the PGA Merchandise Show in the same venue, will give superintendents, builders, technicians and other golf industry professionals the opportunity to network and learn about the latest products, services, techniques and trends for turf and facility care.

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) hosts the largest education conference in the golf industry during the GIS. Attendees can hear from top researchers, superintendents, equipment managers and assistant

superintendents on how to improve their course and their career. The GCSAA Education Conference includes 103 seminars, 23 free sessions, and 400+ hours of education (see pgs. 38-41 for details on some of this year’s presentations).

More than 50 percent of the seminars are new to the Education Conference this year, and all 23 free sessions will debut new content. Highlights of the conference tracks will include those devoted to finding and developing new labor sources; Best Management Practices; emotional health; water management; and new seminars for Spanish-speaking attendees.

The GIS trade show, on January 29-30, will also include special features such as “Inside the Shop,” presentations from GCSAA TV, free education, the New Product Showcase, drone education with hands-on flight simulation, and golf course dog demonstrations.

For more information on the GIS, visit www.golfindustryshow.com.

The CMAA’s World Conference and Club www.clubandresortbusiness.com

Photo Courtesy of CMAA

Business Expo, to be held February 8-12, is the industry’s largest gathering of club management professionals, with five days of educational programming. Club managers will learn the latest thinking on data intelligence, club governance, recruiting and hiring talent, technology trends, member engagement and retention, competing in today’s marketplace, and more.

During the Opening Session, individuals who have achieved the designations of Certified Club Manager, Certified Chief Executive, and Master Club Manager in 2019 will be recognized, and the 2020 CMAA Fellows will be announced.

This year’s CMAA speakers will include: • Ari Schonbrun, a 9/11 survivor, inspirational speaker and the author of “Miracles & Fate on 78.” Schonbrun was on the 78th floor of the World Trade Center’s Tower One when the first plane hit on September 11, 2001. He helped a colleague suffering third-degree burns to safety.

• Lt. Colonel Dan Rooney, a fighter pilot

who served three combat tours in Iraq and is also a PGA Golf Professional and the founder of Folds of Honor. A decorated military aviator, Rooney’s Folds of Honor organization has raised more than $100 million and has awarded 13,000-plus educational scholarships to the family members of soldiers killed or disabled in combat.

• Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group and the founder of Shake Shack. Union Square comprises some of New York’s most popular restaurants, including Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern and The Modern. Meyer’s book, “Setting the Table,” examines the power of hospitality in restaurants, business and life.

• Carla Harris, appointed by President Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council in 2013 and a leading speaker on motivation, success and exceeding expectations.

The CMAA Conference will also include recognition of the Chapter of the Year and the clubs and individuals cited through the

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

association’s Excellence in Education and New Member Recruitment Contest initiatives. New inductees to CMAA’s 25-Year Club, the 2019 Club Executive of the Year, and The Club Foundation’s 2020 Willmoore H. Kendall scholarship recipients will also be recognized.

The winners and all entries for the Idea Fair, which showcases the best club-tested ideas submitted by CMAA members, will also be announced and on display.

For more information on the CMAA Conference, visit www.cmaa.org/conference.

The CMAA Conference will also be the site of the Excellence in Club Management (ECM) Awards Dinner, to honor the 2019 winners of the annual awards program co-sponsored by the McMahon Group, Club + Resort Business and the National Club Association.

Full coverage of the dinner will be featured in the March 2020 issue of C+RB, along with complete reports on the GIS and CMAA shows and conferences.

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GIS/CMAA EXHIBITORS

Bambrella

CMAA B����: 1231 Bambrella’s mission is to supply commercial, contract and residential users with strong, durable and well-designed umbrellas that will last, while maintaining a natural wood look, finish and feel. The company constantly looks to improve and enhance its product range by designing and testing an exciting new range of outdoor furniture, using high-quality modern materials combined with bamboo. The materials used in the production of Bambrella’s outdoor furniture and umbrellas are known to be the best available, so they can withstand the many different climates and conditions around the world where the company’s products are found.

www.bambrellausa.com

Better Billy Bunker GIS B����: 3417 CMAA B����: 637

The Better Billy Bunker method was devised to be the best bunker-construction method in the world. This method improves the original Billy Bunker spec by eliminating geotextile liners. A two-inch lay of local pea gravel is treated with polymer designed specifically for use in bunkers. This layer of gravel provides maximum drainage and allows water to flow in the drain tile faster than any other construction method.

www.billybunker.com

Chambers

CMAA B����: 717 Founded in 1899, Chambers was established to provide Baltimore with the finest painting services and decorative furnishings in the area. Through the decades, Chambers expanded, adding hotels, luxury cruise ships, residential and commercial spaces, and even the White House, to its impressive repertoire.

Today, the firm boasts 75 years of experience in the private-club industry. Chambers combines extensive and diverse historical experiences with knowledge of today’s trends to cultivate forward-thinking solutions. With each new design challenge, the company continues to evolve to ensure that the needs of its clients are continuously being met, and to help the industry continue to advance.

www.chambersusa.com

Club Car

GIS B����: 2835 CMAA B����: 917 Every detail of design, fabrication and assembly at Club Car is executed with an uncompromised desire for superior performance. Club Car’s golf, utility and transportation vehicles are recognized as industry leaders in efficiency and long-lasting value. Today, more than 40 base models, with applications in golf course, grounds maintenance, industrial, commercial and recreational markets, are available.

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Clubessential CMAA B����: 911

Clubessential offers Member Experience and Club Management Software, with everything needed to streamline operations in one fully integrated suite powered by real-time data-sharing between website, reservations, accounting and POS modules.

MRM is the club industry’s first predictive-analytics tool, and there is one platform for payments and processing. Mobile abilities enhance member engagement everywhere. Clubessential websites provide stunning digital representations of clubs.

The CRM allows clubs to close more membership sales in less time, and a reservations function provides convenient web and mobile booking options.

www.clubessential.com

ClubProcure, a Foodbuy Company GIS B����: 5231

ClubProcure helps connect clubs to national F&B suppliers and distributors, as well as suppliers for golf courses, pro shops and agronomy for greater savings. Formerly VGM Club, the program offers clubs 150 ways to save time and money. More than 3,000 clubs nationwide leverage ClubProcure’s strategic relationships with well-known, national companies and gain tremendous buying power, with the ability to pick and choose which offerings work best for their needs.

www.clubprocure.com

Club Safety Solutions CMAA B����: 836

Club Safety Solutions has been assisting private clubs with safety issues since 1997. Services provided include simulated OSHA site assessments; managerial and line employee education, emergency planning and safety policy implementation.

Education sessions include crisis-management awareness, ranging from food safety issues to active-shooter preparedness; OSHA compliance and OSHA policy implementation.

www.clubsafetysolutions.com

Country Casual Teak CMAA B����: 434

Country Casual Teak started in the mid 1970s on a small property north of Washington, D.C. The enterprise offered popular teak park benches through the Country Casual catalog, a publication that has been a favorite visual reference among designers and architects since 1983. Product offerings eventually expanded beyond benches, to a comprehensive selection of patented traditional and contemporary teak designs. These teak products include outdoor poolside, dining, living, bath and spa, planters and receptacle collections.

www.countrycasualteak.com

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

Cub Cadet GIS B����: 4445

Outstanding planning, architecture and groundskeeping is the difference between an average course and a legendary one.

Cub Cadet's precision equipment is designed to efficiently control, shape and perfect playing surfaces, while maintaining the architect’s original vision. Cub Cadet’s golf course products utilize advanced technologies to allow superintendents to achieve consistent and excellent turf conditions, reduce operational costs, and improve overall turf health and aesthetics.

www.cubcadet.com

DENEHY Club Thinking Partners CMAA B����: 1104

DENEHY Club Thinking Partners is a full-service executive search and management consulting firm serving the private club and boutique resort industries. The company adds peripheral vision derived from years of working every day with peer clubs and resorts. The company helps with: recruiting senior-level employees; evaluating an aspect of club operations; advising the Board on governance; and strengthening a management team’s effectiveness.

www.denehyctp.com

Eagle Golf & Landscape Products GIS B����: 3200

Steve Christman started Eagle Golf and Landscape in the 1990s because he saw a need for moisture and root-zone barriers in golf course construction. With more than 20 years' experience as a corporate manager and consultant, he decided his knowledge could best be put to use on the golf course. Courses can create playable and beautiful greens by using quality golf course construction products.

www.eaglegolfandlandscape.com

Earth Networks GIS B����: 3624 CMAA B����: 430

Earth Networks provides comprehensive severe-weather intelligence for member safety. The company equips operations managers and superintendents with a turnkey solution to constantly monitor lightning and dangerous weather conditions.

Earth Networks issues customized alerts to approaching severe weather in real time, and alerts can be pushed to multiple locations via a variety of methods—mobile devices, computers, indoor visualization tools, or to an outdoor alerting system.

www.earthnetworks.com

Ethos Club and Leisure

CMAA B����: 1413 Ethos works throughout the life cycle of club and leisure projects, including: acquisition and development or redevelopment; ownership and operations; disposition (at the appropriate time); and investment/development. Ethos develops, acquires and operates club and leisure projects for its own account. Ethos principals have acted as principals in projects throughout the country, and the company continues to seek new opportunities to develop or invest capital where it can take an active management position.

www.ethosclubandleisure.com

Eustis Chair CMAA B����: 1017

Eustis Chair designs and manufactures hardwood chairs for clubs and other high-use spaces.

Their chairs are designed for elegance and comfort, and engineered for truly superior durability. Robert H. Eustis, a retired Mechanical Engineering Professor from Stanford University, developed a new way to join two pieces of hardwood using concealed steel rods and space-age adhesives. This proprietary process is now known as the Eustis Joint, and it creates a joint that is stronger than the hardwood used to build the chair.

www.eustischair.com

E-Z-GO

CMAA B����: 1213 E-Z-GO offers fleet carts for golf courses, food-and-beverage carts, turf maintenance vehicles, and carts for hospitality. Technology includes Alternating Current (AC) that delivers power more efficiently and faster than Direct Current (DC), because of the way it is transmitted. This makes AC vehicles efficient and powerful, all while using less energy. And the patented IntelliBrake System encompasses two revolutionary technologies—a motor brake that slows the vehicle when traveling up or down steep grades, and an automatically applied parking brake.

www.ezgo.txtsv.com

FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions GIS B����: 910 CMAA B����: 622

Founded in 2000, FiberBuilt Umbrellas was established with the goal of producing the most innovative and durable umbrellas for the hospitality industry.

The company saw the shortcomings of steel- and wood-ribbed umbrellas and understood the needs that hoteliers and restaurateurs had for durable umbrellas that would hold up to harsh weather conditions. Taking inspiration from the performance of high-end sport fishing equipment, FiberBuilt created a product line superior to anything else on the market.

www.fiberbuiltumbrellas.com www.clubandresortbusiness.com

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GIS/CMAA EXHIBITORS

‘Fore’ Supply CMAA B����: 716

Since 1945, ‘Fore’ Supply Co. has distributed amenities and a complete line of lockerroom supplies to country clubs, hotels, resorts, spas, fitness centers, professional/college sports teams, and more. As a leading amenity/locker-room supply distributor, ‘Fore’ Supply Co. proudly serves more than 5,000 customers.

www.foresupplyco.com

Gasser Chair Company CMAA B����: 815

Gasser Chair Company is a top American designer and manufacturer of high-quality seating products for international gaming, hospitality and casino venues. Based in Youngstown, Ohio, each Gasser chair is handcrafted and manufactured in the U.S., using only the finest components. Gasser offers a full product line for the hospitality market, including stackable seating, dining chairs, barstools, conference and desk seating, and lounge and guest seating. Today, the company continues to produce fine-quality seating by executing all aspects of the manufacturing process, including design and engineering.

www.gasserchair.com

Global Allies CMAA B����: 1004

Global Allies is a leading supplier of highly durable and incredibly stylish task chairs and stacking chairs for high-end hotels, resorts, and country clubs around the world. All task chairs feature a full 7-year warranty, and stacking chairs feature a full 10-year warranty. No matter the guest, Global Allies offers the perfect seating experience.

www.globalallies.com

GSI Executive Search CMAA B����: 1415

GSI Executive Search is a highly motivated, successful and client-focused recruitment team specializing in placements for the private club and hospitality industries. GSI can bring clubs together with top professionals for relationships that stand the test of time. GSI's private club and hospitality credentials run deep.

www.gsiexecutivesearch.com 52

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John Deere Golf GIS B����: 4735

With John Deere A Model mowers, superintendents can now get the control they’ve always dreamed of on their course. Both PrecisionCut and TerrainCut mowers feature John Deere’s exclusive TechControl Display, allowing operators to control both the speed and frequency of clip of fairway and rough mowers. And with a complete portfolio of bunker rakes, greens mowers, aerators, utility vehicles and more, John Deere has maintenance staffs covered from tee to green, and beyond.

www.deere.com

Jonas Club Software CMAA B����: 1223

Jonas Club Software is the most customizable Enterprise Management System available in the club industry today. Seamless integration between more than 60 applications ensures accuracy, eliminates manual effort for you and your club staff, and lets you focus on providing exceptional member experiences.

www.jonasclub.com

KE Camps

CMAA B���� 613 KE Camps provides children’s summer camps for country clubs. KE Camps began as a small operation with just three club camps in Las Vegas. Almost two decades later, it now operates more than 100 camps across the country in 32 states.

www.kecamps.com

Kopplin, Kuebler & Wallace CMAA B����: 828

Kopplin, Kuebler & Wallace is a leading recruiting firm assisting with executive-level positions for General Manager/COO, CEO, Assistant General Manager/Clubhouse Manager, Director of F&B, Executive Chef, Golf Professionals, Superintendents, Tennis Professionals, Fitness Professionals, CFO, and Membership/ Marketing directors for private, resort and developer-owned properties and clubs.

www.kopplinandkuebler.com

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

Landmark Golf Course Products GIS B����: 2647 CMAA B����: 1419

Since introducing the first comprehensive line of hardwood golf-course amenities 17 years ago, Landmark Golf Course Products’ handcrafted furnishings can be found on more than 80 of the Top 100 golf courses in America, including dozens of facilities that currently or have held major golf championships, and spanning six continents, 36 countries, and every state within the United States.

www.rinowood.com

Prestwick Golf Group GIS B����: 5212 CMAA B����: 723

Prestwick Golf Group takes the time to learn about your property, vision and brand. While that may not seem novel, the company's visuals, presentations and site visits are just some of the tools utilized to help clubs create unforgettable experiences. Computer renderings truly make a club’s vision real and can set proposed updates on the right track to fruition. A dedicated representative is there with the club every step of the way.

www.prestwickgolfgroup.com

RPS Bollinger CMAA B����: 507

McMahon Group CMAA B����: 1019

McMahon Group is a full-service, private-club consulting firm dedicated to serving clubs in all aspects of their planning, clubhouse, golf and membership needs. McMahon’s extensive and diverse experience includes service to country, golf, city, dining, athletic, yacht, university and military clubs. To date, McMahon Group has assisted more than 2,000 clubs throughout the world and assisted in developing more than 1,200 private-club improvement projects.

www.mcmahongroup.com

Peacock + Lewis CMAA B����: 837

Whether planning a renovation or a new club, Peacock + Lewis tailors its services to the unique requirements of your club and provides accountability for success. The company utilizes staff interviews, workload projections, operational concepts and functional priorities to create the Master Plan for your club. Peacock + Lewis can provide assistance in site-selection studies, land-use analysis, master planning and site-plan development.

www.peacockandlewis.com

PREFERRED CLUB CMAA B����: 1308

PREFERRED CLUB is a leading club insurance provider trusted with underwriting authority and proprietary access to “A” rated or better insurance carriers, which enables underwriters to accommodate the broadest spectrum of risks in the golf industry with all lines of coverage.

RPS Bollinger is a Program Administrator that underwrites and markets specialty insurance products on a nationwide basis. RPS Bollinger's program is designed for: City Clubs, Golf Course Communities, Golf Management Companies, National, State and Local Golf Associations, Private Golf & Country Clubs, Semi-Private Clubs, and Tennis Clubs. This program is underwritten through carriers all rated "A," with excellent security from AM Best Co. The company accepts business for these exclusive programs through any independent insurance broker or agent.

www.rpsbollinger.com

Southern Aluminum CMAA B����: 323

Southern Aluminum is a leader and innovator of linenless meeting, event, and banquet tables and hospitality furniture.

Unlike typical folding-table manufacturers, Southern Aluminum provides a combination of extraordinary customer service and durable lightweight tables that promise to increase your ROI.

www.southernaluminum.com

Standard Golf GIS B����: 4829

Located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and founded in 1910, Standard Golf is a leading manufacturer of golf course accessories, and its products are sold by more than 250 distributors on six continents.

www.standardgolf.com

www.ventureprograms.com www.clubandresortbusiness.com

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GIS/CMAA EXHIBITORS

Studio JBD / Jefferson Group Architecture CMAA B����: 1101

Since 1983, Studio JBD and Jefferson Group Architecture have worked together seamlessly to successfully complete an array of award-winning hospitality design projects and deliver full-service solutions for clubhouse master planning, architecture, interior design, and procurement.

www.jbdandjga.com

Texacraft

CMAA B����: 211 “A Weave Built to Last.” Texacraft achieves aesthetic appeal and high-class quality in its selection of outdoor woven furniture.

This category of commercial-grade furniture extends itself to several seating, lounge, and table products, to add both elegance and comfort to any outdoor space.

www.texacraft.com

Thor Guard GIS B����: 1003

Thor Guard is a leader in lightning prediction. The company is committed to utilize emerging technologies in the development of systems that provide automatic notification of hazardous weather conditions.

www.thorguard.com

The Toro Company GIS B����: 2244 CMAA B����: 816

Toro entered the golf equipment business in 1919, when five reel-cutting units were mounted to a Toro tractor to maintain the fairways at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis. Today, Toro holds a leadership position in nearly every product category in which it competes. High-quality products, exemplary service and support, and trusted relationships industry-wide have made Toro the global leader of innovative turf-maintenance equipment and irrigation technologies for the golf market.

www.toro.com

The Verdin Company CMAA B����: 901

Verdin post clocks and tower clocks serve as gathering places and focal points on golf courses and country clubs at some of America’s finest golf clubs. The clocks are made in America and known throughout the country for their unique design, quality, reliability and craftsmanship. Verdin professionals work closely with clubs to choose and design a post or tower clock to complement and enhance the surrounding architectural style of the club or course.

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Tri-C Club Supply—Duffy's CMAA B����: 618

Tri-C Club Supply—Duffy's has 42 years of servicing country clubs with locker-room supplies, toiletry and spa amenities, shoeshine products, laundry supplies and more! Family-owned and operated.

800-274-8742 • www.duffystric.com

Tropitone

CMAA B����: 1009 Tropitone manufactures and sells durable, very high-quality outdoor patio furniture, outdoor furniture and pool furniture made of cast and extruded aluminum. It also manufactures patio umbrellas and market umbrellas.

www.tropitone.com

VGM Insurance & Financial Solutions GIS B����: 6040 CMAA B����: 1144

VGM Insurance & Financial Solutions services the golf and hospitality industries through specialty programs, reliable service and superior protection. The company offers specialized products in all 50 states and has partnered with the nation’s leading insurance and financial companies to offer the most competitive solutions in the golf industry.

www.vgminsurance.com

Wittek Golf Supply Company GIS B����: 3038

Wittek Golf Supply Company's mission has been to create quality equipment and supplies for owners of driving ranges, golf courses, miniature golf courses and golf shops. The company's vision of being the “one-stop source” for golf facilities, coupled with the belief in total customer satisfaction, has maintained Wittek as a leader in the industry.

www.wittekgolf.com

Yamaha Golf Car Company GIS B����: 4029 CMAA B����: 1401

Yamaha’s mission is to design and build the industry’s leading golf cars with the most reliable and advanced technology in the world. QuieTech EFI combines the quietness of an electric car with the profitability of a gas car, now available in two bold color options: Arctic Drift and Mica. With features like an automotive-style dash, USB ports, and the YamaTrack GPS system, golfers will experience the comfort and luxury of the Drive2, all packaged into one stylishly quiet ride.

www.yamahagolfcar.com

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LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB ++ RESORT 2020LEADERS RESORTS 2020

LEADING AN

EVER-GROWING

INDUSTRY

That’s where the leaders from among the many companies that have created valuable products and services specifically for the ever-expanding club industry are playing an increasingly important role. The following pages of this inaugural special section recognize the contributions and capabilities of the companies and organizations that have positioned themselves at the forefront of the industry’s supplier network, to help club and resort managers and operations staffs continue to find new ways to realize new efficiencies and generate new revenue streams.

“Recognizing Leaders in Club Industry Service” will now become an annual feature in each January issue of Club + Resort Business. Managers and others affiliated with the club and resort industry are encouraged to register their continued support for the leaders featured in this issue, and to nominate other suppliers that should be recognized in future years, by sending an e-mail to me at the address shown below.

Joe Barks, Editor Club + Resort Business jbarks@wtwhmedia.com

 

Private clubs continue to evolve as increasingly complex small businesses—and in more and more cases, not so small at all, with annual revenues of many clubs now reaching double-digit millions.

All told, according to the 2019 Economic Impact Report released by the Club Management Association of America (CMAA), the more than 2,500 private clubs within that organization now have total annual revenues of nearly $21 billion, and deliver a total direct economic impact of $24 billion (see pg. 9 of this issue).

Add in the many other private golf and country clubs, city clubs, yacht clubs, resorts with golf courses and upscale daily-fee and semi-private properties that are not members of the CMAA, but also help to make up the much broader universe of nearly 15,000 operations served by Club + Resort Business, and the total club and resort market takes on even more massive proportions.

And in all cases, no matter how small or large club or resort properties may be, their management teams are under constant pressure to execute a dizzying array of daily and longer-range duties that cover a full gamut of responsibilities, including: acquisition of equipment and furnishings; environmental and safety issues; facilities design, construction, operation and renovation; food and beverage; golf course and landscape maintenance; information technology; insurance and finance; member/guest communication and service; staffing and human resources; and much, much more.

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Chambers Chambers is a full-service design firm that specializes in cultivating unmatched member experiences through our holistic approach to strategic planning, facilities master planning, architecture, and interior design. We work in partnership with each of our clients to celebrate their unique culture and infuse their commitment to quality, service, excellence, and value into every design aspect of their physical environment.

Chambers

For 120 years, the underlying philosophy of The H. Chambers Company has always been: to be and provide the best. Since 1899, Chambers has evolved from its humble beginnings in interior design to become an awardwinning planning and design firm specializing in private clubs, hospitality design, and related markets.

the future while at the same time remaining respectful of the history and traditions of the past.

MEMBER INVOLVEMENT. Over time, Chambers has developed proven methods for member involvement throughout all stages of the planning and design process.

Through focus groups, member surveys, and ongoing member communications, we are able to listen to the individual needs of members at each and every club in order to design curated spaces that meet those unique needs.

THOUGHT LEADERS. Chambers aims

LIFESTYLE DESIGN. Our emphasis on lifestyle design helps to create a ‘home away from home’ for members with adaptable spaces that encourage flexibility and spontaneity. By incorporating contemporary elements, Chambers is able to work with private club leaders to elevate every detail of the private club experience for 56

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to consistently stay ahead of trends and introduce new elements that respond to the changing dynamics of member lifestyles. At our core, we are problem-solvers, translating our passion for aesthetics and function to develop innovative solutions through strategic planning, facilities master planning, architecture and interior design that help infuse an elevated member experience into every aspect of a club’s physical space.

Baltimore 1800 Washington Boulevard, Suite 111, Baltimore, Maryland 21230 Phone: (410) 727-4535 Dallas 100 Decker Drive, Suite 140 Irving, Texas 75062 Phone: (972) 253-3583 Minneapolis 750 S Plaza Drive, Suite 206, Mendota Heights, Minnesota 55120 Phone: (612) 295-0725 Naples 3301 Bonita Beach Road SW, Suite 110, Bonita Springs, Florida 34134 Phone: (239 ) 673-1790 Washington, DC 1875 K Street NW, Suite 505, Washington, DC 20006 Phone: (202) 851-3201 www.chambersusa.com

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS ClubProcure™

“What’s in a name?”

The rhetorical question once famously posed by Sir William Shakespeare still rings true today regarding our next Leader in Club + Resort, ClubProcure™.

After serving the private club and golf course industry for over 25 years as VGM Club, this group purchasing organization saw the opportunity to refine their brand recently when they merged with Compass Group U.S.A.’s Foodbuy division in December 2018.

“The name ClubProcure™ speaks for itself explaining precisely who we are here to serve and how we are here to help” said Tony Beuter, President of ClubProcure™.

“Our company has always offered great programs and services and, now as a division of Foodbuy, we can offer even more resources and benefits for club chefs and food & beverage managers.”

Those expanded culinary benefits include regional programs with produce, meat, seafood, and dairy www.clubandresortbusiness.com

along with an alcohol program. The Top Shelf Bar Program is the first of its kind in the country club space.

“For years members have asked for a purchasing program for beer, wine, and spirits. Legislative restrictions held us back with our traditional approach, but we never stopped searching for a solution,” said Mike Sawyer, ClubProcure’s Vice President of Business Development.

“Then we looked through another lens. That coupled with the ideas and support of a number of leading alcohol brands has now given us the way to provide an entirely new benefit for our participating members.”

ClubProcure’s membership community of over 4,000 clubs and courses continue to rely on the company’s experienced team finding opportunities of all shapes and sizes.

“I had a long-time member call me recently and ask, ‘What’s up with the new name?” said Cam Schultz, Vice President Marketing for ClubProcure™.

“After explaining just a few of the new programs, I heard him chuckle and say ‘Glad I asked. There definitely is a lot more in the name ClubProcure™.”

ClubProcure is the nation’s leading group purchasing organization for the private club and golf course industry. ClubProcure provides discounts, volume allowances, and other incentives from over 450 supplier partners to their membership community of nearly 4,000 private clubs and golf courses nationwide. Established in 1994 as VGM Club, ClubProcure is now a subsidiary of Foodbuy, the largest foodservice procurement and supply chain solutions organization in North America. For more information, please visit www.clubprocure.com.

ClubProcure™ 1111 West San Marnan Drive Waterloo, IA 50701 Phone: (800)363-5480 Email: contact@clubprocure.com

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LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020 2020LEADERS LEADERS LEADERSININCLUB CLUB+ +RESORT RESORT 2020 2020 LEADERS LEADERSININCLUB CLUB+ +RESORT RESORT 2020 2020 Cres Cor hot and cold cabinets INNOVATIVE

When your business is on a roll we hope it’s in Cres Cor’s hot cabinets, ovens, utility cabinets, racks, dollies INNOVATIVE hot and cold cabinets and a host of other Cres Cor quality products. A family owned company, that operate indoors AND out Cres Cor has been a moving force in the foodservice industry since 1936 and is centrally headquartered near Cleveland, Ohio.

With over 275,000 square feet of state-of-the-art manufacturing and distribution facilities, we have made a Electric Power Propane Power Solar Power Profile Text to unsurpassed reliability commitment and superb customer service.

Indoors, the HotCube3 runs on standard Electric Power Propane Power Solar Power “Our focus is to continually bring 120V electric.

Outdoors, it switches over Profile Text new ideas and exciting, labor and 3 Indoors, the HotCube3 runs on to 8700 BTU’s of propane-fueled heaton standard Indoors, the HotCube runs money saving products to market” standard 120V electric. Outdoors, to maintain safe holding temps of itupswitches electric.

Outdoors, over says Cliff Baggott, Cres Cor president. it120V switches over to 8700 BTU’s ofto “We are an 84 year “young” company, 200°F (93°C).

Optional tank hose adaptor to 8700 BTU’sheat of propane-fueled propane-fueled to maintain safe heat always striving to improve our products, holding temps of up to 200°F (93°C). converts from 1 lb. propane tank totemps a to maintain safe holding of up to processes, and ourselves.”

Optional tank hose adaptor converts 20 lb. tank for1 long-term usage.

Optional Cres Cor has grown into a leader in 200°F (93°C).

Optional hose adaptor from lb. propane tank to tank a 20 lb. providing mobile foodservice solutions solar panel recharges digital controls. converts from 1 usage. lb. propane tank to a tank for long-term Optional Model HC-UA-11 to a wide and robust customer base. solar panel recharges digital controls.

PATENT PENDING 20 lb. tank for long-term usage. Optional As we embark on the third generation Model HC-UA-11 of family ownership, we continue to solar panel recharges digital controls.

PATENT ModelPENDING HC-UA-11 strive to providing our customers with PATENT PENDING quality equipment, innovation that solves their issues, and over and above customer service.

thatINNOVATIVE operate indoors ANDcold outcabinets hot and that operate indoors AND out

Cres Cor

Electric Power

Battery Power

CresHeisley Cor Rd. 5925 Cres Cor Mentor, OH 44060-1833 5925 Heisley Rd. 5925 Heisley Rd. Mentor, OH 44060-1833 877-CRESCOR (273-7267) Mentor, OH 44060-1833 www.crescor.com 877-CRESCOR (273-7267) 877-CRESCOR (273-7267) www.crescor.com www.crescor.com

Solar Power

Introducing rst off-the-gridmobile mobile Introducing the the firstfioff-the-grid refrigerated cabinet, the KoldCube3!

3 Electric Battery Power refrigerated cabinet, thePower KoldCube ! Solar Power Uses standard 120V electricity indoors but Usescan standard 120V electricity but be easily moved outdoors using batt ery mobile Introducing the firstindoors off-the-grid and solar power.

This rugged cabinet can be easily moved outdoors using battery refrigerated cabinet, thewill KoldCube3! keepproducts chilled to perfection for up to and solar power. rugged120V cabinet willcharge. keep UsesThis standard indoors but fourhours on aelectricity single

products can chilled to perfection for up to four be easily moved outdoors using battery hoursThis on arugged single cabinet charge. will keep and solar power. products chilled to perfection for up to four hours on a single charge.

Model KC-UA-11 Model KC-UA-11

Cres Cor’s Cook-N-Hold Smoker Cooks Butt! Smoker Cres Cor’s Cook-N-Hold Butt!

Cres Cooks Cor’s Cook-N-Hold Smoker Cooks Butt!

Small footprint...big menu possibilities. l Small footprint... big menu possibilities.

Small footprint...big menu possibilities. l

Model KC-UA-11

Not to mention shoulders, wings, ribs, legs, loins and more! Add variety and versatility to your menu with the Cook-N-Hold Low Temperature smoker Oven from Cres Cor.

Not to mention shoulders, wings, ribs, legs, loins and more! Add variety and versatility to your menu with the Cook-N-Hold Low Temperature smoker Oven fromNot Cres Cor. to mention shoulders, wings, ribs, legs, loins and more! Add variety and versatility to your menu with the Cook-N-Hold Low Temperature smoker 58 l Club + Resort Business January 2020 Oven from Cres Cor.

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Ethos Club & Leisure For many private clubs, traditional operating models are no longer viable, given different ways that new and prospective members think, work, act and play. At Ethos Club & Leisure (www. ethosclubandleisure.com), we help clients create new concepts, facilities, amenities and programs, and build leadership teams and key staff that set them apart and make them uniquely attractive; we repurpose and leverage existing assets to produce new experiences and revenue streams; and we locate capital to position the operation for sustainability and profitability over time.

Ethos was created through the inspiration and vision of the principals of Addison Law (www.addisonlaw. com), the premier law firm focused on club and leisure assets, and Bob Jones, the former longstanding Chief Operating Officer of The Desert Mountain Club. With more than 1,500 combined transactions in private clubs, public courses, resorts and real estate communities across the U.S., the Addison Law team possesses unrivaled insight on issues that impact the bottom line of club and hospitality organizations. Through his tenure at Desert Mountain and other high-end private clubs, Bob Jones has been one of the most influential leaders in the private club and real estate development industry over the past 30-plus years.

In 2019, Ethos acquired GSI Executive Search (www.gsiexecutivesearch.com), one of the leaders in private club and hospitality search. Leveraging collective experiences, capabilities and resources, this new alliance between Addison Law, Ethos and GSI offers private club and hospitality clients unprecedented, single-source access to legal advisory, operational consulting and executive search solutions that otherwise would only be available through separate engagements.

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At Ethos, we believe that successful projects must deliver a differentiated, engaging experience while generating long-term positive returns and operating in a responsible fashion.

We don’t merely identify financial and statistical problems; rather, we develop the plan, and work closely with clients through implementation for a successful conclusion.

Our name carries deep meaning and significance with our team. Our “ethos” is grounded in an unwavering commitment to excellence and integrity in all that we do. Our interdisciplinary team approach allows us to think big in the planning and concept stages and tactically execute on the smallest details, understanding that success lies in a commitment to excellence throughout the process. There are no shortcuts.

Legal Advisory Services (provided by Addison Law) • Equity turnovers/sales • Membership plans • New/redevelopment • Deal structures Operational Consulting Services (provided by Ethos Club & Leisure) • Business and brand strategy • Operations • Repositioning/new capital • Development/redevelopment/sales

Ethos Club & Leisure is a real estate advisory, consulting and investment firm dedicated to optimizing club and leisure assets. Our work focuses on investment, acquisition, development and redevelopment; ownership and operations; and at the appropriate time, disposition.

Ethos is a venture between the Principals of Addison Law, recognized nationally each of the last 20 years as the club industry’s top law firm, and Bob Jones, the former longstanding Chief Operating Officer of The Desert Mountain Club, one of the largest and most successful private clubs in the country.

Ethos Club & Leisure 5400 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1325 Dallas, Texas 75240 Phone: (972) 341-8133 Email: info@ethosclubandleisure.com www.ethosclubandleisure.com

Executive Search Services (provided by GSI Executive Search) • Executive placement • Human capital management • Post-hire consulting • HR compliance

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Eustis Chair

Pictured here are our Claremont dining stacking chairs at the Cherokee Town and Country Club and our Council Room stacking banquet chairs at the Yale Club of New York City.

At the Cherokee Town and Country Club (pictured above) we worked with Atlanta-based designers Harris Interiors.

The Cherokee Town and Country Club chose the Eustis Claremont dining stacking chairs for their dining room renovation. The Claremont is one of our most elegant and best-selling chairs.

We currently offer three models of the Claremont, and it can be made as a side chair or arm chair.

The Yale Club of New York City (pictured below) and their designer Executive Interiors liked our popular Bohemian stacking banquet chair, but

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wanted a roomier chair. We added one inch of width to the seat and depth of the Bohemian and eased the back 3 inches to create the Council Room Chair. This chair was designed for the renovation of their elegant Trumbull Room. Thanks to our proprietary Eustis Joint®, this great chair still stacks 8 to 10 chairs high and comes with a 20 year warranty. Since their original order in 2015, the Yale Club of New York City has contacted us for several more orders.

Dine in style with our extraordinary seating. There is no better choice for fine dining chairs. Whether an antique reproduction or a contemporary classic, our elegant and comfortable chairs are manufactured for lasting durability.

Visit us at EustisChair.com for more information.

Eustis Chair designs and manufactures the most durable and highest stacking hardwood chairs available for the club industry. Each of our chairs is sustainably made to order in the USA. Our chairs stack up to 10 chairs high for easy storage.

Members delight in the comfort and elegant design of our chairs, while the facilities staff enjoy the stacking functionality. Dine in style with our extraordinary seating. There is no better choice for fine dining chairs.

Visit us at EustisChair.com for more information.

Eustis Chair 44 Soldiers Field Place Brighton, MA 02135 Phone: (978) 827-3103 www.eustischair.com

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions

FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions has long been the go-to source for beautiful, long-lasting fiberglass ribbed umbrellas for hotels and restaurants.

But during the past ten years, our country club projects have really taken off. Designers and General Managers from Ocean Reef Club (FL) to Montecito Club (CA), Gardiner’s Bay Country Club (NY) to Mauna Kea Beach Club (HI), have taken note of the fashionable look, decorative options and durable construction of our umbrellas and found that the features are perfect for clubhouse needs.

Whether the décor works best with a powder coated pole or a FiberTeak™ simulated wood finish, or the property is in a particularly windy location and requires a double vented or our extralarge Aruba vent for superior wind management, FiberBuilt meets those needs. When clubs want to have their logo silk screened onto the umbrella’s panels or valances, our staff can assist with that as well.

With nearly twenty years experience supplying products used on pool decks and outdoor dining areas, FiberBuilt’s variety of styles, shapes and sizes have been developed to serve your design vision. Our diverse product lines include large scale umbrellas, cantilever models, styles that include solar powered USB charging stations to keep your guests connected, and www.clubandresortbusiness.com

privacy Pavilions with zippered sidepanel drapes.

Our finishes, fabrics and styles (from traditional to contemporary) in sizes ranging from 7 ½ ft diam to 20 ft square accommodate your outdoor decor and solve design challenges. From our Ft. Lauderdale headquarters we manufacture umbrellas and bases that ship nationwide and internationally.

In addition to umbrellas our offering includes custom replacement cushions and decorative pillows to refresh the look of dining, chaise and deep seating.

The frames of the furniture may still be sturdy but when the worn, frayed or faded cushions need updating, FiberBuilt is there to manufacture cushions with the loft, fill and comfort your members deserve.

Since 2001, FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions has been manufacturing shade products, bases, and cushions for hotels, restaurants, country clubs, timeshares, and cruise lines. Popular models for the club market include the signature Prestige Collection with the proprietary FiberTeak™ simulated wood, bamboo and palm poles, the cantilevered Edge umbrellas, as well as beach, pavilion and cabana styles. Corporate headquarters and production facilities are located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL and products are shipped worldwide.

FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions PO Box 9060 Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33310 www.fiberbuiltumbrellas.com

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Fore Supply Co. LINENS

Fore Supply Co. proudly offers a full line of linens. As a wholesale distributor, we provide fast shipping across the nation. Offering bed linens, towels, robes and so much more, Fore Supply Co. has expanded its linen offerings to meet the needs of our industry. With the addition of a linen specialist, Fore Supply Co. is committed to our 75 year philosophy of being a One-Stop shop for customers in a wide range of fields. From golf and country clubs and professional and collegiate sports teams to health clubs and resorts, Fore Supply Co. has everything you need.

Fore Supply Co. is the leading club supply company and it’s also the original. Founded in 1945, Fore Supply Co. began by operating out of a two-car garage on Chicago’s Northwest side. Seventy five years later, much has changed in the industry, but Fore Supply Co. remains a leader and innovator, still focused on being a One-Stop Shop for all our customers.

ONE-STOP SHOP

Fore Supply Co. prides itself on carrying everything our customers need.

With a large supply of the best brand name amenities for the locker room, club house or spa, Fore Supply Co. has bolstered its efforts in recent years to meet the needs of our ever-changing industry. Now, more than ever before,

Fore Supply Co. 1205 Capitol Drive Addison, IL 60101 (800) 543-5430 www.foresupplyco.com Fore Supply Co. is committed to taking care of our customers to the best of our abilities. We pride ourselves on our large selection of amenities as well as our dedicated customer service representatives. At Fore Supply Co., we know the customer comes first, and our longevity in the industry is a testament to our commitment to you.

CUSTOMIZE YOUR CLUB

Part of that commitment to our customers is our willingness to go the extra mile. Fore Supply Co. proudly offers unparalleled customization options for any of your business needs. Fore Supply Co. can custom fit dozens of items to help make your business stand out from the crowd.

Custom bottling, custom embroidered linens and custom imprinted bags and cups are just a few of our most popular options, but there are many more options. To find out what Fore Supply Co. can customize for your club, call or visit our website today!

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS ForeTees A Day in the Life with ForeTeesOne DAD BOOKS A TEE TIME AT THE CLUB Dad wants to bring a couple friends to the club for a day of golf. To the country club’s website he goes, quickly making a tee time for him and his guests. “3 sleeves of balls and a club hat for each of his guests,” he adds to the tee time note.

MEANWHILE, AT THE GOLF SHOP The tee time is displayed live for the Staff in ForeTees Golf. As the sun rises, the golf balls and club hats requested with the tee time are awaiting the golfers in their carts. As the foursome arrives at the course, Golf Operations can move swiftly to welcome Dad and his guests to the club. The cart charges and guest fees are billed to Dad in ForeTees POS. MOM IS MAKING RESERVATIONS TOO With Dad golfing, it’s time for Mom to enjoy her own time at the club! Mom checks the country club’s App and sees their daughter has tennis and their son, swimming lessons. “That means time for a quick yoga class for me!” A busy day at the club for all and an enjoyable family dinner to end the day all managed in the palm of her hand.

We offer integrated club management software, beautiful websites, user-friendly online reservation systems, and superior mobile capabilities to take the heavy lifting off your hands. Everyone at ForeTees has experience at private clubs, either as a part of the staff or as a member. We know first hand what it takes to manage the complex areas of a club and we know the importance of first class service. That is why we are here 24/7 with our expert support staff ready to assist you. We are dedicated to providing the best service possible to the private club industry.

ForeTees sales@foretees.com www.foretees.com

THE STAFF HAS MORE TIME TO SPEND WITH MEMBERS The club staff knows the names of the members attending classes and lessons, without having to take phone calls or answer and manage email correspondence. They can focus on entertaining members and making guests feel welcome!

THE GUESTS ARE IMPRESSED From the moment the guests arrive they have been treated like VIP. Thanks to ForeTees ONE, the club is well prepared for their arrival and take advantage of every opportunity to make sure their day at the club is as enjoyable as possible.

STORYTELLING OVER A FAMILY DINNER After a fun filled day at the club, the family spends dinner time sharing stories about their day at the club. A great way to wind down and enjoy the simple things in life! www.clubandresortbusiness.com

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Libbey MASTER’S RESERVE

Master’s Reserve® is the culmination of a fierce, focused passion. It’s like no other glassware in Libbey’s industry-leading offering. This glassware is designed with superior, color-free optical purity; precise balance; and enduring performance.

SCHÖNWALD

Libbey’s selection of SCHÖNWALD dinnerware is thoughtfully designed to the highest standards for unparalleled expression and exceptional durability. Their premium, exquisite forms never restrict, rather they constantly inspire – for refined yet refreshing aesthetics that set the food and your culinary passion as the star.

Libbey is the industry leader in glassware in the Americas and one of the largest tableware suppliers in the world. Based in Toledo, Ohio, Libbey is known for delivering versatile, hardworking and exceptionallycrafted pieces that bring your vision to life. Libbey designs, produces and markets an extensive line of high-quality tableware including: glassware, ceramic dinnerware, metal flatware, hollowware, serveware and home decor items in over 100 countries for the foodservice, retail and B2B markets. Visit us at libbeyfoodservice.com

Libbey 300 Madison Avenue Toledo OH, 43604 Phone: (419) 325-2100 www.libbeyfoodservice.com

MASTER’S GAUGE

Libbey’s Master’s Gauge™ collection of 18/10 flatware sets a new standard of modern beauty and durability. A striking selection of unique colors, textures and profiles – featuring European influences with larger handles and longer tines.

APS GERMANY

The APS® Germany buffet and serveware system, featuring a range of colors, textures and styles, opens a world of stunning possibilities well beyond traditional displays. We’ve selected a range of hardworking pieces that are engineered to make you and your team’s jobs easier – delivering more versatile, inventive functionality that is brilliantly designed around the way you work.

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS McMahon Group McMahon Group – The Source For Private Club Excellence™ McMahon Group is a private club strategic and facility planning firm composed of past club presidents, general managers, survey specialists and architects serving over 2,000 private clubs worldwide for 37 years.

McMahon Group, as the leading innovators in the private club field, has won approval for over 2.5 billion in facility projects, created new clubs and worked with existing clubs in their quest to change with the times while also maintaining their respected traditions.

McMahon Group McMahon’s Strategic & Facility Planning

The secret to developing great clubs and keeping them that way is knowing and pursuing a club’s mission. Of course the mission or purpose has to be the right one. It must clearly define who a club serves, what it must provide, the desired quality and finally, what makes it unique in its marketplace. The mission is especially important in guiding a club’s board and manager in addressing facility improvements. A club must provide facilities with programs and operations that drive at least 50% of members to be not just ‘satisfied’, but to be ‘very satisfied’. This is no easy task, but McMahon Group has developed a way to do it, and it all begins with the Refresher. It’s the ‘cut through the redtape’ approach to club strategic planning that with good input from a membership survey allows the club’s Board to set the strategic course to make important decisions strategically.

By spending just six weeks in doing the Refresher, the Board with McMahon’s planner clarifies its club’s mission, establishes the 3 or 4 most important goals (not 10 or 12) and then develops specific action plans for achieving each goal in the coming year.

The Facility Improvement Goal – It seems the facility goal always is a top

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priority in most club strategic plans as it can be such a game changer in driving club success. General managers across North America tell us over and over that providing the right facilities is the single most effective way to attract new members without using fire sales on member fees. Thus facility planning must start with strategic planning. They are not the same thing as McMahon’s new Refresher, as it identifies the need and ways to achieve club success in programs, recreation and objectives. This then opens the door on what facilities are needed to help achieve a club’s mission for success, in driving member usage in attracting and retaining membership and ultimately in building the right facilities.

McMahon’s Planning Process is simple, easy to complete and effective in getting membership approval. It begins with the Refresher strategic planning, then surveys the members to confirm Refresher strategies, especially in facilities and finally develops architectural solutions that are feasible and effective in achieving what existing and future members want and need to become ‘very satisfied’ with their club experience.

This is the McMahon Way to refresh, survey and build facilities that has no equal in the private club world.

670 Mason Ridge Center Drive Suite 220 St. Louis, MO 63141 Phone: (314) 744-5040 Email: info@mcmahongroup.com www.mcmahongroup.com

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Montague Excalibur® UDC Plug-and-Play Island Suite

MONTAGUE INNOVATION ENSURES CLUB AND RESORT OPERATORS THRIVE

Today’s clubs and resorts compete with high-end hotels and restaurants for discriminating patrons who want enticing menu selections and memorable dining experiences.

A leader in this highly-challenging segment for decades, Montague delivers the kitchen equipment these exceptional venues need to impress patrons and prosper.

With a complete selection of premium and versatile cooking and refrigeration equipment, chefs can count on Montague’s innovative designs and legendary performance.

Montague has focused on their customers’ changing needs with the development of hot/cold equipment and flexible cooking solutions which has made the company a market leader.

PRODUCTS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE

A true front-of-the-house performer, the Excalibur® UDC Plug-and-Play Island Suite lets operators effortlessly replace or reposition equipment to suit menu changes, seasonal dishes, and shifts in volume. It also enhances communications between cooks through its unobstructed design. Modular utility distribution, configurable utility connections and ingenious features can empower a chef’s creativity while providing a remarkable ROI.

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Offering optional refrigerated bases, Montague® Legend® Steakhouse Broilers produce exceptional infrared, highspeed radiant heat to cook the proteins guests love. Intense infrared heat waves are directed downward by the radiants, exposing all meat surfaces.

Cool air passes up and over the meat, supporting perfect combustion to maintain radiant temperature.

These broilers keep proteins within easy reach, Legend® speeding production Steakhouse Broiler and enhancing freshness. What’s more, advanced Turbo Coil refrigeration delivers precision temperatures—without icing—for unprecedented cooling power where chefs need it.

Like all Montague products, the UDC Island Suite and Steak House Broiler are proudly made in the U.S.A.

MORE OPERATORS PUT MONTAGUE ON THE MENU

At a table, in-room or by the pool, club and resort guests expect their food to rise to the occasion. With Montague innovation and quality in the kitchen it always will.

Proudly manufactured in the U.S.A. by skilled craftsmen, Montague offers powerful, high-volume, heavy-duty equipment for any foodservice kitchen.

From island suites to ranges, ovens, ranges, fryers and more, Montague has been dedicated to bringing the world premium-quality cooking equipment since 1857.

The Montague Company 1830 Stearman Avenue Hayward, CA 94545 Phone: (510) 785-8822 Toll Free: (800) 345-1830 www.montaguecompany.com

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS O.W. LEE

In an industry with a two-pronged focus on outdoor activities and hospitality, the quality, comfort, and style of outdoor dining and lounge areas are an important key to success.

OW Lee outdoor furniture and fire pits can elevate your facilities to the next level… and in turn increase your bottom line. Clubs across the nation have reported that comfortable and inviting outdoor spaces encourage their members and guests to linger a little longer, resulting in higher food & beverage tickets. Let OW Lee furniture help you set the scene for success in outdoor hospitality.

Quality: OW Lee furniture is made in the USA and backed by one of the best outdoor furniture warranties available. True artisans combine centuries-old techniques with state-ofthe-art equipment to produce beautiful furniture using only the highest-quality materials. www.clubandresortbusiness.com

Style: OW Lee is a consistent winner of design awards, including the ADEX award and ICFA Design Excellence award. The company offers traditional to contemporary collections with an aim to complement the most popular architectural and design styles. Both on trend and classic finish, fabric and tile options are also available. Additionally, all options are available on all collections, which allow you to choose furniture that truly fits your vision for your space.

Comfort: OW Lee takes great pride in the comfort level of their furniture and is known to be a leader in comfort in the outdoor furniture industry. During product development, the pitch and proportion of each prototype is tested and tweaked to create the most comfortable sit possible. The quality of OW Lee cushions ensures the level of comfort endures even through heavy use.

Through four generations, the Lee family has maintained its commitment to quality, comfort, and style, and it will continue to produce the finest handcrafted casual furniture available. OW Lee, an American family tradition since 1947.

OW Lee is the premier manufacturer of fine iron and aluminum outdoor furniture, Casual Fireside fire pits, and accessories. The family owned and operated business manufactures heirloom quality products from their 150,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Ontario, California. They are one of the few remaining companies in the outdoor furniture industry that still manufacture in the USA.

O.W. Lee 1822 E. Francis Street Ontario, CA 91761 Phone: (800) 776-9533 www.owlee.com

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Peacock + Lewis Architects and Planners, LLC “

Peacock + Lewis’ team is not only very talented, they are extremely client centric. They take the time to listen, learn and respond to the client’s needs, collaborate effectively and then produce schematics that offer options/improvements that addresses these needs and more. Their project oversite, timely responses and creativity sets the benchmark in our industry. They are very conscious of deadlines, budgets and delivering a project that exceeds expectations. When Peacock + Lewis is in the position to present potential improvements to a membership….their style is conversational and engages the audience effectively allowing for effective ‘buy-in’ from all key stakeholders. - Rick Bayliss, Lost Tree

”

“

Peacock + Lewis has been a driving force in assisting Quail Ridge in our Master Planning efforts. That ultimately lead to their selection as our Architect and Interior Design firm to lead us through a complete demolition and new Clubhouse project over the last several years. They were with us every step of the way from conception to completion and our Members are absolutely thrilled with the final project. Peacock + Lewis is one of our most valuable partners in leading Quail Ridge into our best years ever as a private Club and Community. - Bill Langley, Quail Ridge

”

“

It is my pleasure to give Brian and his team my highest recommendation.

We have worked together on dozens of projects over the last 25+ years at The Breakers!

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- Paul N. Leone, The Breakers 68

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Est. 1961

PEACOCK + LEWIS

Clubs of Distinction Peacock + Lewis Architects and Planners, LLC is a premier club amenities design firm with a rich history of designing award-winning “Clubs of Distinction”. Since its founding in 1961, Peacock + Lewis has focused on top-tier service and exceptional design to reach unparalleled achievement in private club Master Planning, Architecture and Interior Design. Whether planning remodeled or new amenities, the design professionals at Peacock + Lewis strive to meet each unique requirement to assure a transformative outcome for the client. The extensive experience gained since designing the first Peacock + Lewis clubhouse in 1961 ensures top quality design and documentation for all hospitality projects regardless of size. Brian Idle, president of Peacock + Lewis, draws on more than 35 years of hospitality and club experience to inspire the P+L team to successfully complete award-winning projects worldwide. Over its nearly 60-year history Peacock + Lewis has created club amenities that are cost effective and functional as well as attractive to provide timeless enjoyment and lasting value for members and owners.

Peacock + Lewis Architects and Planners, LLC North Palm Beach Office 1295 US Hwy One Suite 200 North Palm Beach, FL 33408 Phone: (561) 626-9704 Fax: (561) 626-9719 Naples Office 1610 Trade Center Way; Suite 5 Naples, FL 34109 Phone: (239) 631-2332 Fax: (239) 300-6402

Mr. Brian Idle (AIA, President) brian@peacockandlewis.com www.clubandresortbusiness.com

DEMO DAY: LAKE NONA EXPERIENCE TUESDAY, JANUARY 21 USTA National Campus, Lake Nona

EXHIBITS & TOM CONFERENCE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22 – FRIDAY, JANUARY 24 Orange County Convention Center

ORLANDO, FLORIDA CO-LOCATED WITH THE PGA MERCHANDISE SHOW

SUPPORTED BY:

2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Pierce Chicken

Your Full Service, Full Line, ValueAdded Chicken Partner. Pierce Chicken offers a full-line product portfolio to meet all of your customers’ chicken cravings. From our best-selling Super Chik’n™ (fully cooked, breaded 8pc chicken … easy and delicious straight out of the oven) to our tasty chicken tenders, shareable popcorn chicken and even Gourmet Chicken Salad, Pierce Chicken has you covered.

Pierce Chicken is the industry leader in chicken wings and the demand for them continues to surge. 45% of the US population is ordering chicken wings served at restaurants and servings are on the rise (1). Whether bone-in or boneless, our Original and Industry Leading WingDings™ and Wing-Zings™ have satisfied consumer demand all across the country for more than 50 years.

Pierce Chicken is also committed to helping you grow your chicken business

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with targeted trend data, demographic data, gap analysis, merchandising support and promotional ideas. Your success is our success.

For example, DID YOU KNOW… • C-Stores are the 4th largest purchaser of Pre-Cooked Chicken Wings and have grown purchases 11.9% year over year!! (2) • Pre-Cooked wing growth in broadline distribution is outpacing fresh wing growth by a factor of 3.5x (2) • The majority of consumers say Chicken is their favorite protein (3) • Your Customers LOVE boneless handheld chicken!

• Menu mentions of boneless wings have increased 35% since 2014 (4)

Since the 1950s, Pierce Chicken has been driven by its passion to offer absolutely the best tasting, highest-quality chicken available in foodservice. Customers—then and now— know Pierce Chicken for its superior flavor and product consistency. But the Company isn’t resting on its laurels; innovation is in its blood. Pierce Chicken is always working to be first to market with the next great taste in chicken.

Pierce Chicken wants to earn your business with great chicken, great value and a great fit for your menu. If you’re ready for a roll-up-the-sleeves partner that’s as essential to your business as chicken is to your menu, Pierce Chicken welcomes your call.

Pierce Chicken Contact: Brad Fisher, 937-776-2698 1770 Promontory Circle Greeley, CO 80634 Phone: (412) 398-5125 Email: poultryinfo@pilgrims.com

(1) NPD Group, The Chicken Wing Dilemma report (2) NPD Supply Track (3) Datassentials, Meat & Poultry Keynote Report (4) Dataessantials MenuTrends

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Rain Bird Corporation

UNRIVALED EXPERTISE. EXCEPTIONAL RESULTS.

For decades, Rain Bird has been helping golf courses worldwide discover new, more innovative solutions to their renovation challenges. Every golf course renovation is unique, and we believe every course deserves a custom solution that combines quality products, strategic thinking and groundbreaking technology.

Because Rain Bird is committed exclusively to irrigation, we’re able to put our specialized insight and experience to work throughout the entire renovation process. Whether you’re dealing with high expectations from your members or trying to provide top playing conditions on a tight budget, Rain Bird works side by side with you to deliver a solution that provides optimal results and invaluable peace of mind.

CONNECT TO THE FUTURE.

With Rain Bird as your renovation partner, you can expect a complete, end-to-end system with components that are designed to work together as efficiently and effectively as possible.

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

Rain Bird’s Golf Division provides complete irrigation solutions to golf courses worldwide. The company’s product portfolio includes pump stations, rotors, field controllers, map-based and mobile central control systems, decoders, filtration systems, valves and accessories.

Central controls and pump stations are serviced and supported by a comprehensive Global Service Plan (GSP). Rain Bird products and services are sold worldwide through an extensive distribution network.

As a result, our golf course irrigation systems are easier to manage and operate than mix-and-match systems that consist of components from multiple manufacturers.

We engineer golf course irrigation products with our Timeless Compatibility™ promise in mind. That promise means you can update or change your irrigation system with new Rain Bird technology without existing components becoming obsolete.

It’s all about helping you maintain a state-of-the-art system that you can easily evolve and improve as time and budgets permit.

CHOSEN BY COURSES FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE.

Many of the world’s most prestigious golf courses have chosen Rain Bird as their renovation partner. In fact, we recently collaborated with the host of the 2020 U.S. Open, Winged Foot Golf Club of Mamaroneck, NY, on a major restoration project that’s helped the club monitor exactly where their water is going and how much is being applied with continuous real-time communication.

While Rain Bird is certainly proud to work with some of the industry’s most famous golf courses, we’re just as pleased to collaborate with public clubs and municipal courses that have the same challenges on tighter budgets. We’re able to tailor a custom solution for any course, including yours. If you’re ready to renovate, we’re here to help you through the process, every step of the way.

Rain Bird Corporation 6991 East Southpoint Road Tucson, AZ 85756 Phone: (520) 741-6100 www.rainbird.com/golf

“

There are always upgrades coming out and nobody wants to feel left behind. If I can do just a quick upgrade and keep using what I already have, that feels great, and Rain Bird allows us to do that.

”

– Stephen Rabideau, CGCS Director of Golf Courses, Winged Foot Golf Club

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS RealFood A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO HOSPITALITY STRATEGY AND DESIGN

Not only do we understand the unique challenges of club operations, but the breadth of our experience in other segments of the hospitality industry allows our team to cross-pollinate best practices over a variety of foodservice models. This enables the delivery of industry-leading food and beverage experiences relevant to today’s club members.

RealFood services are specifically tailored to help clubs renovate, reimagine or refresh existing food and beverage amenities, or design and develop new foodservice facilities. We also help properties improve their current food and beverage operations, focusing on opportunities for memorable member experiences, consistent operational excellence and strong financial performance.

A premier hospitality strategy and design firm, RealFood helps clubs to deliver food and beverage experiences that perform and profit.

Our strategies and designs are intentional outcomes—the result of our team deeply understanding the hospitality experiences our clients want to create. We collaborate with architects and contractors; and we work directly with owners and operators to define concepts, design foodservice spaces, and deliver extraordinary member and guest experiences.

RealFood

Hospitality | Strategy | Design Phone: (617) 876-2100 www.rfhsd.com

RealFood club services include: • FOODSERVICE FACILITY DESIGN & RENOVATION • EQUIPMENT PROCUREMENT & BID MANAGEMENT • CONCEPT & MENU DEVELOPMENT • F&B OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT • ELEVATION & MAPPING OF MEMBER EXPERIENCE • FINANCIAL & BUSINESS PLAN DEVELOPMENT HOSPITALITY IS AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO

A successful hospitality experience is a compilation of many moments between people, delivered consistently, creatively and profitably. At RealFood, we know it’s the member experience we’re all after, and our team’s diverse hospitality backgrounds allow us to deeply understand the intricacies of food and beverage operations inside of clubs. That’s how we are able to incorporate best practices, navigate challenges, and set clubs up for operational success.

YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN IS OUR PASSION

Our process uncovers where you want to go and how to get there. We are more than hospitality consultants and restaurant designers; we are partners in achieving your vision for your club’s food and beverage success.

MEMBER EXPERIENCE IS AT THE CORE OF EVERY DESIGN

Foodservice design is a supporting factor to get to the end goal—a hospitality experience that works. As foodservice designers, we customize for the concept, and we design for the experience. With our team’s extensive food and beverage expertise, even the smallest details are thoughtfully specified. This is how we help clubs create foodservice spaces that perform and profit.

DELIVER A HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE THAT WORKS. START WITH REALFOOD. 72

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LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020 2020LEADERS

RenoSys RenoSys provides commercial pool renovation and construction products across the US from its headquarters in Indianapolis, IN. The company celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019 and is beginning 2020 stronger than ever with exciting enhancements to its core product line, and continued investments to help to streamline manufacturing and installation processes. RenoSys offers free quotes and consultations, as well as free samples.

Swimming pools and aquatic facilities are a proven attraction for people of all ages. Their universal appeal means they are usually a focal point wherever they are. But what do you do if you are struggling to keep up with an aging pool that is deteriorating, and what options do you have if your members want more than just a pool to do laps in?

For over three decades, RenoSys has been helping commercial and public pool operators to find solutions for the many issues they face with their pool vessel, interior surface, deck, and water circulation systems. RenoSys has developed its product line to allow for comprehensive renovations to take place without the need for costly, slow, and disruptive construction.

WE’VE GOT IT COVERED.

Water loss is one of the most urgent issues pool operators need to tackle.

Common options such as repainting, plastering and replacing damaged tiles only stop leaks temporarily, and staying on top of patch up jobs soon

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becomes a hassle. The RenoSys PVC pool membrane is a commercial grade liner that spans your existing pool shell to cover cracks, holes or corrosion. The flexible 60mil PVC is hot air welded on site to ensure a perfect fit.

RecDeck is a similar solution for problem pool decks and changing rooms. Because it can be installed both indoors and outdoors, the product is extremely popular with all types of aquatic facilities.

RecDeck’s slipresistant texture is embossed into the watertight PVC material, so it won’t wash away or wear down.

Many factors contribute to the overall condition of a pool, so a renovation can be as simple as resurfacing your deck, or can include a complete overhaul of the pool’s gutter system and main drain. Adding play features such as spray grounds and slides is another common option for clubs and resorts that are trying to attract or retain members with young families.

RenoSys 2825 E 55th Place Indianapolis, IN 46240 Phone: (800)783.7005 https://renosys.comreno

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Southern Aluminum The one and only linenless experts. Southern Aluminum has developed products with a proven return of investment, as we strive to provide solutions for all your meeting, banquet, and event needs. As the clear industry leader, we know today’s clubs call for flexible furnishings in ballrooms, lobbies, and retail spaces. Our Synergy Nesting Tables make a bold statement and are perfect for mobile buffets or display stations. Southern Aluminum’s latest offering, the MIX mobile bar system, is the ideal serving station for your events. Together with our time-tested linenless meeting tables such as the T2 Table™ or iDesign Table™, your club or facility will be ready for any future event!

LINENLESS = SAVINGS. It’s no secret that linens and their associated upkeep can be a significant component to any club’s budget. The cost of laundering tablecloths alone can add up. Throw in additional labor costs, and your profits begin to suffer.

The costs can run so high that making a case for replacing your old tables may be easier than you think. Here are the most significant reasons you’ll save money when you replace traditional tables with our wide array of linenless table options.

Southern Aluminum is the leading manufacturer of linenless meeting and event furniture. Over the past 40 years, we have pioneered a wide range of products, including meeting tables, round and oval banquet tables, cocktail tables, nesting tables, mobile bars systems, and much more! Southern Aluminum’s stateof-the-art linenless solutions can complement the look of your club through innovative and customized products.

Southern Aluminum 5 Highway 82 West Magnolia, AR 71753 Phone: (800) 221-0408 www.southernaluminum.com

1.Laundry Costs The more successful you currently are at booking events that require tablecloths, the more linenless tables will pay for themselves. If you launder your linens, you are already aware of laundry product usage and expensive water consumption costs that can dig into your profits.

2.Labor Costs In addition to laundry products and water consumption, the labor involved in washing and linen set up can put a damper on any upcoming event. Just take a look at what you’re spending on the number of staff, set-up hours, and hourly wages associated with traditional linens.

SOUTHERN ALUMINUM NOT ONLY PROVIDES FIRST-CLASS LINENLESS SOLUTIONS BUT ALSO EXCELLENT RELATIONSHIPS!

Partnering with significant club leaders, such as ClubCorp, is our motivation for the continuing commitment of exceptional products and customer service.

Owen Wright, the General Manager at the University of Texas Club, said, “We needed options to try and maximize our limited space availability when we designed the layout for our new suite level buffets. Southern Aluminum’s team introduced us to the vertical buffet shelf that allowed us more options and flexibility… Plus, they had a fantastic clean, modern look and were a nice compliment to the Southern Aluminum linenless tables that we already were utilizing.” As a proud table supplier for the University of Texas Club and hotels such as the Gaylord Texan, Southern Aluminum is passionate about accommodating all our customer’s needs in the hospitality industry!

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS SOUTHERN PRIDE Southern Pride was founded in 1976 when Mike Robertson and his father, B.B., hand built and marketed their first rotisserie smoker. Today, over 24,000 smokers later, Southern Pride fabricates and assembles every smoker by hand in their 117,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Alamo, TN.

Southern Pride Distributing, LLC Quality doesn’t happen accidently. For foodservice in clubs and resorts, success is often attributed to investing in the right employees and equipment. Having dependable equipment that can consistently deliver high quality product is paramount for running a kitchen. The dependability of a Southern Pride smoker offers peace of mind and decades of profitability.

The three most influential factors in selecting a commercial smoker for your kitchen include capacity needs, space and budget. Southern Pride offers three categories of equipment – Electric, Gas, and Mobile – with each providing a range of options to fit the individual needs of the customer.

With 8 different models to accommodate various kitchen configurations and cooking capacities, there is a Southern Pride model for all foodservice applications. Southern Pride continually develops and refines equipment designs to meet the changing needs of the foodservice industry.

Southern Pride equipment is designed with high-quality components, construction materials and techniques that ensure long service life. The accuracy of the controls, the ease of use, consistent heat, and superior convection, all combine for unmatched performance in the industry.

All Southern Pride smokers are made in the US with 304 stainless steel, double wall insulated construction and the skilled craftsmanship of a 40-year old family business.

Merge the impeccable design of a Southern Pride smoker with excellent distributor support, timely service, and durability and you’ll find an outstanding “before and after” purchase experience.

Southern Pride smokers will allow your executive Chef to innovate new menu items and flavors that your club members won’t experience anywhere else. Visit southernpride.com to learn more about how your club can benefit from adding smoked dishes to your menu! www.clubandresortbusiness.com

401 S Mill Street PO Box 354 Alamo, TN 38001 www.southernpride.com

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS Studio JBD (JBD) and Jefferson Group Architecture(JGA)

“

The Worcester Club is thrilled with the outcome of our Master Plan project with Studio JBD and JGA. The results accomplished exactly what they were supposed to and have been nothing less than transformative. Ninety-nine percent of members initial reactions were quite literally wow. In the first three weeks of operation in October, food and beverage revenue was up by fifty percent. At this junction in time, it was important for the Worcester Club to make significant updates to its clubhouse and facilities. Member interaction and usage of the club have increased dramatically, a direct result of our project with Studio JBD and JGA.

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- Richard LaPlant, Manager, Worcester Club – Worcester, MA

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Baltusrol has been working with Studio JBD and Jefferson Group Architecture for over a decade. It began with Strategic/ Master Planning and developed into multiple capital projects over a 15-year period and continues to be extremely successful.

It has transformed Baltusrol’s facilities to the highest levels yet keeping the brand and tradition intact.

”

Since 1983 Studio JBD and Jefferson Group Architecture have worked together seamlessly to successfully complete an array of award-winning hospitality design projects delivering full-service solutions for clubhouse master planning, architecture, interior design, and procurement.

Our unique and integrated approach to each project’s distinctive personality and requirements, dedicating equal attention to function and form, results in innovative designs that are efficient, beautiful, timeless and cost-effective. Our vast experience at blending interior design and inspired finishes into a creative architectural solution has placed us among industry leaders in Private Club, Restaurant, and Residential design. We believe that where we live and spend our leisure time reflects and compliments our personality and lifestyle. Our staff is dedicated to creating spaces that we can call home, wherever we are.

Studio JBD (JBD) and Jefferson Group Architecture (JGA) 700 School St, Unit 2 Pawtucket, Rhode Island, 02860 Phone: (401)721-0977 www.JBDandJGA.com

Peter Cafaro Senior VP, JBD Director of Business Development, JGA PCafaro@JBDandJGA.com

- Kevin Vitale, CCM, General Manager/COO, Baltusrol Golf Club – Springfield, NJ 76

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS The Verdin Company

The Verdin Company, a sixth-generation family owned business, is known for making course clocks of quality and dependability. Verdin clocks create focal points of pride on golf courses throughout North America and beyond.

A clockmaker from Alsace, France, Francoise de Sales Verdin founded the company in 1842 in Cincinnati, OH. Innovation was an early Hallmark: Francoise was recognized for “a decided improvement” in a mechanism for church and tower clocks. Second generation A.N. Verdin invented an improved continuous winder. Innovation and craftsmanship continue to be passed to the next generation creating the top industry talent.

Verdin course clocks are designed and manufactured in Cincinnati using the finest materials and latest technology. Each is customized with your choice of style, color and options. Aside from the outer beauty, the inner beauty and attention to detail make our clocks the finest.

OUR STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

Vintage post clocks, made of cast iron, would rust and become structurally compromised. Our clocks have steel frames covered with the material used in the race car and boating industries. They are lighter, rust-proof and built to last.

OUR CLOCK MOVEMENTS

The inner workings of our clocks are professional-grade quality built to run accurately and consistently for years. www.clubandresortbusiness.com

OUR CLOCK HANDS

Stronger clock movements means the hands are substantial allowing them to be seen from greater distances.

OUR SHATTERPROOF CLOCK DIALS

On a golf course, it’s nice to know that Verdin clock dials are shatterproof. Unlike glass dials, ours withstand practically anything thrown their way.

Family owned since 1842, The Verdin Company is the premier supplier of bells, carillons, clocks and towers with more than 55,000 landmark installations worldwide. In a field that requires highly specialized skills, the Verdin family passes their knowledge to the next generation and the artisans who work for them. The sixth generation leads the company with old-world craftsmanship, modern technology and innovation.

Visit us at CMAA booth #901

The Verdin Company 444 Reading Road Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: (800) 543-0488 www.Verdin.com

OUR MOONGLOW BACKLIGHTING

Verdin clock dials light up like a full moon with a warm, consistent glow. This makes them readable 24/7, as is any logo or message placed on the customized dial of your clock. LED lighting is environmentally friendly offering a longer life.

OUR CLOCKS ARE WEATHERPROOF

Through all kinds of weather, Verdin clocks operate without compromise.

OUR CLOCKS ARE UL TIMEPIECES

Not all course clocks are UL Listed as timepieces which requires rigorous testing and compliance. It’s your guarantee that our clocks meet the high standards of the Underwriters Laboratory.

Enhance the beauty of your course or club with a clock by Verdin. Establish a distinct identity, accent a favorite gathering spot, commemorate an important anniversary, honor the contributions of a key member …it’s a practical investment for your site.

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS WinCup WinCup is a pioneering force in the creation of revolutionary, biodegradable* to-go ware.

According to “Technomic’s Take: 7 Hot Trends to Watch for 2020,” sustainability is emerging as a prominent practice in the foodservice industry. As consumer expectations for companies to take environmental responsibility continue to rise, employing ecofriendly solutions in the clubs and resorts sector isn’t just a perk, it’s an essential.

Well ahead of this movement is WinCup, who, in 2015, introduced Vio®, the industry’s first biodegradable* line of foam cups and containers with coordinating lids and straws. Recognizing the growing need to provide additional sustainable options for operators, the company has continued development over several years, first by expanding its offering of Vio® foam to its line of stockprint foam cups, then by introducing Phade™ — the first straw made from marine biodegradable PHA. Using new patent pending technology, Phade™ straws start from canola oil and offer unique ocean friendly benefits to please guests.

WinCup isn’t just leading the industry in creating a better end-of-life story for disposable ware, it’s also responding to club and resort operators’ needs for more sustainable products that cost less than other eco-friendly, single-use alternatives and perform as expected.

Whether it’s biodegradable* foam cups keeping drinks at the desired temperature on golf courses, in dining rooms, and at poolsides, or marine biodegradable straws that hold up as well as traditional plastic and better than paper — operators won’t have to sacrifice performance while promoting the benefits of eco-friendly products from WinCup. Available now and loved by guests and operators alike are Vio® biodegradable* foam cups, lids, and straws. Vio® cups biodegrade* 92% in four years, with all the qualities of traditional foam that make them an ideal choice.

Available in early 2020, Phade™ straws are not only marine and soil biodegradable; they’re also home and industrial compostable.

They’re the first of their kind in the US, and already making waves for their ocean-friendliness.

WinCup is a leading manufacturer of disposable to-go ware, based in Stone Mountain, GA. Through a network of national manufacturing facilities, WinCup is a trusted supplier of costeffective foam cups, foam containers, lids, and straws to the foodservice industry. Through ongoing research, and development of groundbreaking products such as Vio® and Phade™, WinCup drives innovation efforts throughout the organization.

WinCup 4640 Lewis Road Stone Mountain, GA 30083 Phone: (770) 771-5861 www.wincup.com

* Vio® cups biodegrade 92% over 4 years, Vio® lids biodegrade 86.8% over 7.9 years, Vio® straws biodegrade 88.5% over 7 years.

Tested under conditions that simulate both wetter and biologically active landfills using the ASTM D5511 test. Wetter or biologically active landfills may not exist in your area.

The stated rate and extent of degradation do not mean that the product will continue to decompose.

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS YAMAHA Yamaha Golf Car sets the standard in performance, versatility, and comfort for golf, utility, and personal transportation vehicles so to inspire enjoyable experiences on and off the course. From the Drive2 collection to the new UMAX™ lineup, Yamaha continuously creates industry firsts and stays proven as The Easy Choice™.

We have a reputation for innovation.

Yamaha Golf Car continuously draws from our 60+ years of motorsports roots to create industry firsts— we were the first to develop Electronic Fuel Injection for a golf car (resulting in the best gas mileage with the smallest carbon footprint); the first to create a golf car with fully independent fourwheel suspension for the smoothest ride in the game; and the first to develop the QuieTech gas engine that is almost as quiet as an electric motor.

Technology is our driving force. Our golf cars host a series of cutting-edge features customizable to meet our customers’ unique needs. Our electric PowerTech AC model offers rapid acceleration, a smooth uphill climb, and exceptional battery strength, topped off with a 6.5 horsepower motor. Our gas EFI QuieTech® model is fully equipped

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with Independent Rear Suspension and a 261-mile range, all while being the quietest and most comfortable golf car on the market.

Collaboration is our cornerstone. As the Premier Partner and the Official Golf Car Company of the National Golf Course Owners’ Association (NGCOA), the Title Sponsor of the NGCOA Yamaha Golf Outing, and the three-time winner (2017-2019) of Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Award for Best Gas-Powered Golf Car, our vehicles remain the standard— proving time and time again why Yamaha is The Easy Choice™.

We have a strong team of partners including multiple PGA sections, the International Light Transportation Vehicle Association, the National Golf Foundation, The First Tee, LPGA Amateur Golf Association (formerly EWGA), and the CMAA. We’ve sponsored Demo Day at the PGA Merchandise Show for a decade now, and we also continuously sponsor the Pro-AM at RSM Classic.

We’ve accomplished so much already, but we think the BEST drive of the day can still get even better.

Yamaha Golf-Car Company 1270 Chastain Road Kennesaw, GA 30144 Phone: (866) 747-4027 www.YamahaGolfCar.com

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2020 LEADERSININCLUBS CLUB + RESORTS RESORT 2020LEADERS TM

ZuRI ZuRI, a CBD Supply Co. Offers Over 90+ THC Free AND Full Spectrum CBD products for Resort and Club Market.

As the popularity for CBD grows among PGA Tour players and demand for CBD grows in the resort and sports club market, it can be overwhelming for decision-makers to sift through the countless number of CBD vendors in the marketplace today. ZuRI, A CBD Supply Co. currently manufactures over 90 THC-Free and Full Spectrum CBD products to make finding the right source for your store’s CBD needs an easy task.

Early on, ZuRI realized the need for trusted CBD vendor partners and structured its business based on integrity and transparency to best serve customers. As a result, ZuRI is proud to manufacture all of its 90+ products in an ISO-certified cleanroom with the highest quality, domestically sourced hemp CBD. All of ZuRI’s proprietary formulations are independently lab tested to ensure potency and purity and certificates of analysis for both raw ingredients and finished products are available on the zuricbd. com website. ZuRI’s product portfolio spans a full range of categories that are targeted for the resort and sports club market including oil tinctures, muscle rubs, capsules and spa.

Among ZuRI’s bestsellers is ZuRI-Freeze, a muscle rub made with a proprietary blend of 23 essential oils, including white camphor bark and eucalyptus. Key to its effectiveness is the addition of meadowfoam seed oil which allows the

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performance-driven formula of ZuRIFreeze to penetrate deep into the dermis and reach areas of concern. It is ideal for use before, during and after activity to maintain peak performance.

The cornerstone of any successful CBD assortment are oil tinctures.

ZuRI manufactures a wide variety of THC Free and Full Spectrum tinctures available in a variety of flavors and strengths up to 3000 mg.

ZuRI’s pharmaceutical-grade CBD is infused into a base of hemp seed and grapeseed oils that provide a rich source of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and heart-healthy Vitamin E. After a long day in the sun, whether at golf, tennis or the pool, ZuRI-Aloe is the perfect product for after-sun care.

Aloe vera gel and witch hazel combine to offer soothing relief from a full day outdoors. It is ideal for dry, sunburned skin and may also be used on insect bites and other minor skin irritations. Its non-sticky formula is ideal for all day use and features 160 mg of CBD and a light cucumber scent.

ZuRI can help create an ideal CBD retail assortment that has something for everyone and for all stages of activity and recovery.

We are excited to work with new customers and provide the necessary tools to help resort and club stores hit their sales targets with our industry expertise and commitment to manufacturing the highest quality products in the CBD market today!

ZuRI, A CBD Supply Co. has one of the largest and most comprehensive CBD product assortments in the industry, offering both THC Free and Full Spectrum options. Unlike 70% of CBD companies selling in the marketplace, ZuRI manufactures its own products using the highest quality ingredients in a state-of-the-art, ISO-certified production facility. We strive to be the brand of choice for consumers focused on naturally enhancing their wellness regimens, as well as their pets’, with domestically sourced, hemp-derived CBD.

ZuRI, A CBD Supply Co. 36718 Detroit Road Avon, OH 44011 Phone: (833) 987-4223 Email: hello@zuricbd.com www.zuricbd.com

www.clubandresortbusiness.com

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61 Chambers .............................................. 56 ClubProcure™ ......................................... 57 Cres Cor ................................................. 58 Ethos Club & Leisure ............................. 59 Eustis Chair ............................................ 60 FiberBuilt Umbrellas & Cushions ........... 61 Fore Supply Co. ..................................... 62 ForeTees ................................................ 63 Libbey .................................................... 64 McMahon Group .................................. 65 Montague ............................................. 66 O.W. Lee ................................................ 67 Peacock + Lewis Architects and Planners, LLC .................................. 68

2020 Raquet Paddle Sports Show ......... 69 Pierce Chicken ....................................... 70 Rain Bird Corporation ............................ 71 RealFood ............................................... 72 Renosys.................................................. 73 Southern Aluminum .............................. 74 Southern Pride ...................................... 75 Studio JBD (JBD) and Jefferson Group Architecture(JGA) ........ 76 The Verdin Company ............................. 77 WinCup ................................................. 78 Yamaha .................................................. 79 ZuRI ....................................................... 80

ADVERTISER INDEX C+RB’s 2020 CHEF TO CHEF CONFERENCE 440-250-1583 / www.cheftochefconference.com ADDISON LAW 972-341-8133 / www.addisonlaw.com

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BAMBRELLA 26 561-288-8655 / www.BambrellaUSA.com BOLLINGER INSURANCE 800-446-5311 / www.RPSBollinger.com

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CLUBBUY www.clubbuy.com/learn-more

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CLUB CAR www.clubcar.com CLUBESSENTIAL www.clubessential.com/president www.clubandresortbusiness.com

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ETHOS CLUB & LEISURE 3 972-341-8133 / www.ethosclubandleisure.com

O.W. LEE 800-776-9533 / www.owlee.com

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GASSER 800.323.2234 / www.gasserchair.com

RENOSYS 800-783-7005 / www.renosys.com/clubs

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GSI EXECUTIVE SEARCH 3 972-341-8133 / www.gsiexecutivesearch.com

TEXACRAFT 800-327-1541 / www.texacraft.com

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HOSHIZAKI www.hoshizakiamerica.com

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TRI-C CLUB SUPPLY – DUFFY’S 800-274-8742 / www.duffystric.com

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INFRARED DYNAMICS 888-317-5255 / www.infradyne.com

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TROPITONE 800-654-7000 / www.tropitone.com

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JOHN DEERE www.JohnDeere.com/golf

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TRULY GOOD FOODS www.trulygoodfoods.com/clubresort

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KE CAMPS www.kecamps.com

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YAMAHA 866-747-4027 / www.YamahaGolfCar.com

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MCMAHON GROUP 47 314-744-5040 / www.mcmahongroup.com January 2020

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PROGRESS IN WORK

By Betsy Gilliland, Contributing Editor

Good help can be hard to find. When it comes to recruiting quality personnel, however, Boca West Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla., may be on to something.

Last year the property launched a jobtraining internship program for seven young adults with intellectual and developmental challenges, and this year Boca West has three interns on staff. The program is part of a partnership with the international Project SEARCH, as well as the local Unicorn Children’s Foundation and Unicorn Village Academy. All three entities serve children and young adults with developmental, communication and learning disorders.

The interns, who range in age from 18 to 24, work in various departments including food and beverage, retail, golf course maintenance and club services, which includes accounting and membership.

Boca West, which was selected by the Unicorn Children’s Foundation to be the first location for the workforce training partnership, offered full-time jobs to all seven interns from the 2018-19 program, and five of them accepted. Another is part of the 2019-20 internship program, which follows the school year from August to May. “We were excited and happy to be asked to be part of this program,” says Matthew Linderman, CCM, President, Chief Operating

The interns work in Boca West CC departments, including food and beverage, retail, golf course maintenance and club services.

Officer and General Manager of Boca West.

“Our training philosophy and culture has been a great match.”

Boca West has been a longtime supporter of the Unicorn Children’s Foundation through its own foundation, and the site of many events for the nonprofit organization. “We had a hard time finding a business partner after receiving a grant for the Project SEARCH program four years ago, but we had a great relationship with Boca West,” says Sharon Alexander, Chief Executive Officer of Unicorn Children’s Village.

Last year 15 students, who attend Unicorn Village Academy, a local middle and high school, interviewed for the positions. Eight students applied for the jobs this year. During their interviews, the applicants spoke with Boca West department heads. Each department also set up a station where the students had to perform tasks to demonstrate they had the required skills to perform the various jobs.

In the retail department, for instance, they had to fold clothes and sort them by size. For the golf course maintenance department, they had to organize tools and conduct parts inventory. At the food-and-beverage station, they had to perform a table setup.

The students who are hired take part in three 10-week internships in different

Boca West CC President, COO and GM Matthew Linderman, CCM (center) celebrates with graduates of the club’s job-training internship program (left to right): Gabriel Bernstein, Shane Hayes, Jason Schepps, James Lynn. Trent Alber and Marc Syger.

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departments. They begin each day in a classroom at Boca West CC to work on soft skills such as interviewing and resume composition, and they end the work day back in the classroom for a 30-minute reflection.

“The interns are fully immersed in their work environment. They’re not isolated,” says Linderman.

“It’s been a huge success and life-changing for the students, their families, and our staff,” he adds. “It puts life in perspective to have these individuals work alongside us.”

The internship program has been a hit with Boca West members as well. “The members have been tremendous,” says Linderman. “They’ve rallied around the program, and it’s been heartfelt. Some of them have grandchildren with disabilities. They’re very supportive and proud of the program.”

Boca West holds a graduation ceremony at the end of the school year and awards the interms with certificates. “Seeing kids blossom into young, self-sufficient adults is gratifying,” says Linderman.

Special-needs individuals can provide a viable labor pool for club properties, Linderman believes. “[Club managers] all have conversations about how hard it is to find good employees,” he says. “I would challenge other clubs and resorts around the country to challenge themselves to think outside the box to develop training programs. It’s a good way to find employees who are dedicated and hard-working. It’s what all Americans should be doing.”

Alexander agrees. “Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a lot to offer, but they are not often given the opportunity to showcase their skills and talents,” she says. The Unicorn Children’s Village can help any property launch a Project SEARCH program. “I would love to see this expand to other clubs,” says Alexander, who can be reached at salexander@unicornchildrensfoundation.org. “However, it’s important to find a partner that’s not just empathetic, but understands vocational training for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.” www.clubandresortbusiness.com

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150 JFK Parkway Short Hills, NJ 07078 (E) Golf@RPSins.com (P) 800.446.5311 ext. 8098 RPSBollinger.com

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