Vineyard Golf Club opened in 2002. This gorgeous property sits on 235 preserved acres on Martha’s Vineyard two miles from historic Edgartown, Mass. The front nine of the golf course was redesigned in 2013, and the back nine in 2015, by world-renowned architect Gil Hanse and design partner Jim Wagner. Vineyard GC offers great golf…
Woodhill CC Raises the Bar on Environmental Stewardship
The course maintenance team at Woodhill CC in Wayzata, Minn. has enhanced its credentials for environmental stewardship by participating in a research project that helps golf courses measure sustainability.
Club Fitness Centers Offer Members Alternative to Gym Memberships
With an eye to making fitness a core offer for their members, more clubs are stepping up their games with new facilities that feature streamlined layouts and pleasing aesthetics.
Salem CC Superintendent Readies for Retirement
After caring for Salem CC’s Donald Ross course for 38 years and three major tournaments, Kip Tyler is keeping the options wide open for his post-retirement activity (or inactivity).
Kristen LaCount Earns ‘Rising Star’ Recognition through the ECM Awards
Kristen LaCount’s 16-year career path at The Country Club has led to her status as more of an Acting General Manager than an Assistant—and as a “Rising Star” who’s clearly found her place in the club-management galaxy.
New App Manages Kitchen Workflow
James Hudock, a culinary veteran who has been Executive Chef of the Gibson Island (Md.) Club, for the past two years, knows all too well that chefs’ lives aren’t easy. They work long hours in a stressful, high-pressure, chaotic atmosphere, and the position can take a toll on their personal lives as well. But Hudock…
Golfers Use the Sport to Benefit Others Through Charity
More than 30 years ago, I played golf in a fundraising event at Chapel Hills Golf Course in Ashtabula, Ohio. Billed as the “Longest Day of Golf,” we raised money for the American Cancer Society by having people pledge a certain amount per the number of holes that we played. In all, my foursome carded…
Welcoming—and Retaining—Members Through More Effective Orientation
As clubs continue to have success with their new-membership initiatives as part of their bounceback from the recession, effective programming for properly orienting and welcoming new members into the fold has taken on greater importance. To maximize the impact of their orientation efforts, several clubs have implemented fresh twists to traditional procedures, and have approached…
Woman’s Athletic Club of Chicago Offers Staff ‘Bring Your Kids to Work Day’
The Woman’s Athletic Club (WAC) of Chicago hosts a “Bring Your Kids to Work” day where the staff can bring their children to the club for a day that is filled with activities from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. “We involve the entire team as much as possible,” says Kelsey Smith, the WAC’s Children’s Program…
‘Yoga for Bros’ Gets Men to Participate in Fitness Program
Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton, Fla. offers more than 10 yoga classes every week, including vinyasa, yin and restorative. While the club has an active membership, men rarely participated in these classes. But when a member suggested a male-focused yoga class, “Yoga for Bros” was introduced. “The goal was to create a class that…
Beacon Hill Club Engages Members with Curling Bonspiel and Social
Every four years, even less-than-casual fans turn into fanatics when curling takes the spotlight at the Winter Olympics. Beacon Hill Club’s General Manager Alex McDonald thought the sport would jibe nicely with the Summit, N.J. club’s newly renovated ice rink—and the idea of a Curling Bonspiel and Social came to light. “I wanted to create…
Scavenger Hunts Add Excitement for Kids, Traffic for Clubs
Scavenger hunts have long been a staple of club event schedules and have always stood as a natural way to make good use of club properties in a way that includes some physical activity, which is always especially valuable as part of youth-oriented programming. But finding ways to go beyond the standard format of sending…
Peninsula YC Rewards Young Members Who Eat Healthier Menu Items
Most parents know how important it is to teach their children to eat healthy. But access to wholesome and nourishing options, especially from a typical kids’ menu, can derail that mission in a flash. The most popular “kid-friendly” items tend to have one thing in common—they’re all beige in color. French fries, chicken tenders, grilled…
Woodfield CC Utilizes ‘Sidewalk Sales’ to Engage Members, Increase Revenue
The introduction of online tee times and ability to post a score via your smart device has been a wonderful convenience for golfers. But it has also led to decreased foot traffic in clubs’ pro shops. To counter that, and also boost sales and provide an added convenience to the membership, Woodfield Country Club in…
Lost Creek GC Implements Plan to Protect Its Trout Stream
As home to a high-quality, extremely productive wild trout stream, Lost Creek Golf Club in Fayette Township, Pa., has provided prime real estate for the development of a plan to protect the waterway. Turfgrass scientists at Penn State University developed such a plan for Lost Creek in late 2018. The project, believed to be the…