Green Golf Partners will manage the East Moline, Ill., golf course under a three-year agreement. The company has appointed a new General Manager but will maintain most of the existing staff, and the course will continue to have an independent Board of Directors.
Short Hills Country Club in East Moline, Ill., has hired Green Golf Partners (GGP) to manage the nearly century-old golf course, the Davenport, Iowa, Quad-City Times reported.
The Indianapolis-based GGP announced September 26 that it has signed a three-year agreement with Short Hills. It will assume management of the club and course beginning Sunday, the Times reported.
“We are simply delighted to be part of the future at Short Hills,” GGP CEO Matt McIntee said. “The golf course is in tremendous shape and is fun to play. We’re planning a number of exciting upgrades around the club that will be great additions for current and future members.”
Company executives already have “had a lot of interaction” with Short Hills’ board of directors and its staff, Mcintee said, and they will become employees of GGP, the Times reported.
John Danehy, a Toledo, Ohio, native, a veteran employee of GGP’s courses in Iowa and most recently Florida, will be the new General Manager. Janice Timmerman, of Tipton, Iowa, has been hired as events coordinator. They will join existing head golf professional Mike Downing and Superintendent Tim Gravert, the Times reported.
“We’re not an outsider trying to come in and replace people,” he said, adding that Short Hills will continue to hire out of the Quad-City community and support local vendors.
As part of the GGP family, Short Hills will have access to the company’s expertise and resources in golf course management, including course maintenance, marketing skills and business acumen, the Times reported.
“We’re really partnering (with someone) with the expertise to grow the game of golf, grow Short Hills and contribute to the East Moline community,” said Board President Ron Wastyn, calling it “a win-win for employees and members.”
Short Hill’s membership is about 350, including 200 golfing members, Wastyn said.
“Part of what attracted me is they have done a good job working to keep it together,” McIntee said of Short Hills. “A lot of clubs fail because the members give up.”
The course will continue to have an independent board of directors and be owned by its equity members, he said.
Short Hills members will have reciprocal arrangements with GPP’s other courses, which are located in five states, the Times reported.
“I think the vibe, personality and perception of the club will improve,” McIntee said. “I hope we can make the existing members happier and create a buzz where people want to be a part of it.”
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