McConnell Golf's 2020 Hole-in-One Club

by Matt McConnell

 Apr 26, 2021 at 12:00 PM

Once is Not Enough for Liam King

Junior golfer shoots two holes-in-one in 2020

It wasn’t all bad – indeed, 2020 was a banner year for Wakefield Plantation junior golfer Liam King.

On January 1, 2020, Liam started the year with a hole-in-one on #8 at Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. From 113 yards out, the then-8-year-old struck the ball with his 3-wood for his first-ever ace. However, once was not enough for young Liam. While playing in the Wakefield Plantation Junior Club Championship on Sunday, October 18, Liam hit his second hole-in-one on #11 with his 4-hybrid from 127 yards out.

In addition to his two aces, Liam also qualified for and played in the U.S. Kids World Championship in Pinehurst last summer. This 9-year-old had a great golf season and we look forward to many more ahead from Liam!

 

2020 McConnell Golf Hole-in-One Club

Hitting a hole-in-one is a special feat for golfers of all ages. The chances of an average PGA Tour player making an ace are 3,000 to 1; a low-handicapper’s chances are 5,000 to 1, and an average player’s chances are 12,000 to 1. On average overall, a hole-in-one is scored once every 3,500 golf rounds.

In 2020 alone, 124 holes-in-one were made by members at McConnell Golf properties. Nine members made two holes-in-one last year: Bob Beasley, Thomas Bonney, Stanley Griffin, Denny Hattersley, Carolyn Hopper, Tim Massie, Don Troutman, Tony Villa and Daniel Wright. Three of them made their double aces on the same hole: Carolyn Hopper on #2 at The Cardinal by Pete Dye, Tim Massie on #4 at Holston Hills, and Thomas Bonney on #16 at Sedgefield Country Club. Bob Beasley, a member at Sedgefield Country Club, made both of his holes-in-one while playing at The Cardinal; all told, 17 members made their aces while visiting other McConnell Golf clubs.

McConnell Golf’s 2020 Hole-in-One Club members – listed with their home club, hole-in-one and date they achieved it – include:

Scott Saunders, MM: #12 at Musgrove Mill (1/5)

Laurie Jennings, RES: #3 at The Reserve (1/5)

Dr. James Foster, HH: #14 at Holston Hills (1/6)

Thomas Bonney, SCC: #16 at Sedgefield (1/17)

Denny Hattersley, HH: #8 at Holston Hills (1/19)

John Zhang, PCC: #2 at Providence (1/19)

Michael Kennedy, PCC: #6 at Providence (1/26)

John Elder, HH: #8 at Holston Hills (2/5)

Patrick Reynolds, PCC: #6 at Providence (3/7)

Bill Winkler, CCA: #6 at Asheville (3/15)

Bill Paone, RES: #12 at The Reserve (3/15)

Bill Hoyle, RES: #3 at The Reserve (3/16)

Kevin O’Connor, CCA: #6 at Asheville (3/18)

Charles Capps, CCA: #13 at Asheville (3/18)

Michael Carlisto, PCC: #6 at Providence (3/20)

Becca McKinney, RCC: #14 at Wakefield (3/21)

Ted Broering, RCC: #14 at Wakefield (3/27)

Carolyn Hopper, CARD: #2 at The Cardinal (4/5)

Garrett Greene, CCA: #6 at Asheville (4/5)

Randy Kiser, ONS: #7 at Old North State (4/10)

Paul Urben, RCC: #2 at Treyburn (4/12)

Callum Chadwick, RCC: #5 at Wakefield Plantation (4/13)

Arnold Neal, CARD: #2 at The Cardinal (4/17)

Tony Villa, GD: #13 at Grande Dunes Members Club (4/17)

Don Troutman, SCC: #2 at The Cardinal (4/18)

Josh Minor, TCC: #7 at Treyburn (4/25)

Brian Seay, PCC: #6 at Providence (4/25)

Rachel Delcampo, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (4/26)

Scott Ruerup, RCC: #7 at Treyburn (4/26)

Wayne Dicastri, CCA: #13 at Asheville (4/26)

Bob Beasley, SCC: #2 at The Cardinal (4/29)

Kirk Patterson, SCC: #3 at Sedgefield (5/2)

Ella Perna, TCC: #3 at Treyburn (5/3)

Kathleen Riordan, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (5/14)

Dr. Bill Young, CCA: #6 at Asheville (5/15)

Andy White, CCA: #13 at Asheville (5/16)

Carolyn Hopper, CARD: #2 at The Cardinal (5/16)

Greg Seamster, RCC: #14 at Old North State (5/22)

Matt Lindley, RCC: #3 at Old North State (5/23)

Tom Hickman, HH: #11 at Holston Hills (5/25)

John Chaplin, PCC: #4 at Providence (5/25)

Sue Elwell, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (5/31)

David Acomb, RCC: #2 at Treyburn (6/6)

Curtis Collins, SCC: #16 at Sedgefield (6/6)

Drew Brown, SCC: #16 at Sedgefield (6/8)

Bob Huie, PN: #6 at Porters Neck (6/11)

Tim Massie, HH: #4 at Holston Hills (6/19)

Ron Koksal, HH: #14 at Holston Hills (6/20)

Sylvia Beale, PCC: #16 at Providence (6/26)

Jeff Gibson, BV: #5 at Brook Valley (6/27)

Mack Braxton, PN: #11 at Porters Neck (6/27)

Daniel Wright, PCC: #6 at Providence (6/28)

Stanley Griffin, HH: #11 at Holston Hills (7/1)

Jackson Slayton, PCC: #6 at Providence (7/1)

Patti Haslett, WE: #15 at The Water’s Edge (7/2)

Chris Davis, HH: #8 at Holston Hills (7/2)

Art Graepel, BV: #8 at Brook Valley (7/4)

Jack Paynter, RCC: #7 at Treyburn (7/5)

Landon Harper, RCC: #3 at Wakefield (7/10)

Bill Wolcott, CCA: #3 at Asheville (7/11)

Ed Hann, HH: #14 at Holston Hills (7/12)

Timbs Jones, HH: #14 at Holston Hills (7/12)

John Sanford, HH: #11 at Holston Hills (7/14)

Scott Krasner, PCC: #16 at Providence  (7/17)

Tony Cortiglio, PN: #11 at Porters Neck (7/18)

Avery Barnes, CARD: #12 at The Cardinal (7/23)

Wendie Waddell, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (7/26)

Matthew Mardjanov, PCC: #2 at Providence (7/30)

Ric Goodman, CCA: #3 at Asheville (8/2)

Dan Schisler, BV: #5 at Brook Valley (8/12)

Kevin Teeters, HH: #11 at Holston Hills (8/14)

Thomas Bonney, SCC: #16 at Sedgefield (8/20)

Tim Hansen, SCC: #8 at The Cardinal (8/22)

Jim Walsh, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (8/26)

Russ Lamkins, SCC: #2 at The Cardinal (8/29)

Steve Ackels, PCC: #4 at Providence (8/30)

Mike Rugg, GD: #6 at Grande Dunes Members Club (8/31)

Craig Meck, PN: #6 at Porters Neck (9/1)

Joel Book, PCC: #2 at Providence (9/1)

Lucie Tonon, PCC: #6 at Providence (9/2)

Kyle Perry, PCC: #11 at Providence (9/3)

Brady Blackburn, CCA: #13 at Asheville (9/4)

Nancy Steinauer, WP: #3 at Wakefield (9/6)

Gates Grainger, PCC: #2 at Providence  (9/6)

Genie Leonard, GD: #4 at Grande Dunes Members Club (9/7)

Tom Buis, GD: #4 at Grande Dunes Members Club (9/11)

Dave Pitaro, TCC: #13 at Treyburn (9/13)

Chris John, WE: #7 at The Water’s Edge (9/16)

Dan Sanderoff, WP: #14 at Wakefield (9/18)

Daniel Wright, PCC: #16 at Providence (9/18)

Jeff Carr, HH: #4 at Holston Hills (9/19)

Michael Maher, WP: #11 at Wakefield (9/22)

Bob Boyer, PN: #11 at Porters Neck (9/23)

Don Troutman, SCC: #7 at Sedgefield (9/23)

Jack Sowisdral, WP: #3 at Wakefield (9/27)

Rich De Ruiter, RES: #7 at The Reserve (9/27)

Ron Hickman, SCC: #7 at Sedgefield (9/29)

Will Johnston, BV: #12 at Brook Valley (10/4)

Nadine Hooks, SCC: #8 at The Cardinal (10/6)

Hugh Holman, GD: #8 at Grande Dunes Members Club (10/16)

Clyde Dunn, HH: #8 at Holston Hills (10/16)

Mike Hayes, CCA: #6 at Asheville (10/17)

Liam King, WP: #11 at Wakefield (10/18)

Jeff Orlando, RCC: #13 at Treyburn (10/21)

Joey Calderazzo, TCC: #17 at Treyburn (10/22)

Todd Reynolds, PCC: #16 at Providence (10/24)

Rick Hakes, WP: #7 at Wakefield (10/31)

Jeff Fiorello, SCC: #7 at Sedgefield (11/1)

Tom Smith, ONS: #14 at Old North State (11/5)

Phil Butler, ONS: #14 at Old North State (11/5)

Karen Buckley, RES: #7 at The Reserve (11/10)

Eileen Johnson, GD: #6 at Grande Dunes Members Club (11/13)

Stanley Griffin, HH: #8 at Holston Hills (11/15)

Tim Massie, HH: #4 at Holston Hills (11/15)

Roger Williams, RES: #17 at The Reserve (11/17)

Michael Spillars, RCC: #3 at Wakefield (11/19)

Denny Hattersley, HH: #4 at Holston Hills (11/24)

Bob Beasley, SCC: #8 at The Cardinal (11/25)

Graham Chase, PCC: #4 at Providence (12/4)

Michael Adams, CCA: #13 at Asheville (12/6)

Jimmy Henderson, MM: #2 at Musgrove Mill (12/9)

Tony Villa, GD: #16 at Grande Dunes Members Club (12/10)

Larry Chiappetta, RES: #12 at The Reserve (12/15)

Tim Cunneen, TCC: #13 at Treyburn (12/19)

 

CLUB KEY:

BV: Brook Valley Country Club

CARD: The Cardinal by Pete Dye

CCA: Country Club of Asheville

GD: Grand Dunes Members Club

HH: Holston Hills Country Club

MM: Musgrove Mill Golf Club

ONS: Old North State Club

PCC: Providence Country Club

PN: Porters Neck Country Club

RCC: Raleigh Country Club

RES: The Reserve Golf Club

SCC: Sedgefield Country Club

TCC: Treyburn Country Club

WE: The Water’s Edge Country Club

WP: The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation

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Short Game Practice Facilities

by Brad King

 Apr 21, 2021 at 12:00 PM

Making Practice Perfect

McConnell Golf emphasizes short-game practice facilities

While gathered for the 2020 Wyndham Championship at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, North Carolina, the PGA Tour competitors raved about the club’s new short-game practice area.

“A-plus-plus,” says longtime Wyndham Championship Tournament Director Mark Brazil, grading the new facility, which is adjacent to Sedgefield’s stately, Tudor-style clubhouse.

The two-acre practice area — designed by Steve Wenzloff, Senior Vice President of Design Services for the PGA Tour — made its debut during the spectator-free Wyndham event in August. Wenzloff, who also updated the short-game area at TPC Sawgrass in 2016, incorporated ShotLink technology to review data from every Sedgefield green complex.

Providing Sedgefield with five times more practice space, the new area features two Ultradwarf Bermuda greens that measure about 3,600 square feet apiece, along with a trio of bunkers, giving players the option of working on greenside bunker shots as well as 30- to 40-yard bunker shots.

The expanded space also features closely mowed areas off the greenside slopes and shoulders, where players can focus on putting the ball up the hill or practice a pitch shot up the embankment to a tight pin. The addition gives Sedgefield about 15,000 square feet of short-grass area, allowing a dozen or more players to hit shots from a variety of locations.

Brazil calls the new short-game practice area, which was financed by the tournament, “a huge upgrade for the Tour pros one week a year and for the Sedgefield members 51 weeks a year.”

“This upgrade will definitely help us attract and retain new members,” says Sedgefield’s PGA Director of Golf Rocky Brooks. “The layout and size of our new short-game area afford us the opportunity to work with multiple students [men, women or juniors] at the same time. This is a luxury most clubs don’t have the space for.”

The new amenity is a tremendous asset for Sedgefield Country Club as well as visiting members from other McConnell Golf properties.

“Anytime you give members time to improve their golf games, they’re much more likely to play golf and spend time at the club,” Brooks says.

Sedgefield’s PGA Head Professional Eric Ferguson agrees. “From beginners to advanced players, we’ll now be able to help players execute just about any shot they will see on the golf course,” he says. “For our junior golf programs, it is almost like we have our own two-hole golf course for them to learn on.”

The ability to improve one’s game is crucial to the pure golf experience. Sedgefield’s comprehensive practice facility, including TrackMan radar technology swing analysis, complements the club’s expert instruction from its Class A PGA Professionals.

McConnell Golf has overseen numerous enhancements to its stable of short-game and practice areas at more than two dozen clubs around the Southeast.

“One of the areas McConnell Golf will always focus on is the short game,” says Brian Kittler, McConnell’s VP of Golf Operations. “If you’re playing a McConnell Golf property and you don’t have a good short game, you might be in for a long day.”

Sedgefield’s new upgrade “is about as good as it comes,” Kittler says. “It enhances what we provide, the quality of the venue, not only from the golf course, and service at the clubhouse with food, etc., but practice facilities. Working with John (McConnell), you know that in time, when there’s opportunities to do some upgrades, he’s been willing to invest in the practice and short-game areas at the facilities.”

McConnell Golf performed a significant expansion to the Raleigh Country Club practice area in 2005-06, and golf course architect Kyle Franz has sketched additional plans for potential future upgrades to RCC’s short-game area.

In 2012, McConnell Golf completely redesigned the range and short-game area at the Country Club at Wakefield Plantation in Raleigh, North Carolina — while also modernizing the entire clubhouse — completing McConnell Golf’s trifecta of upgrades to its three Triangle practice facilities, including RCC and Durham’s Treyburn Country Club.

Wakefield’s golf learning center is 1,600 square feet, and includes two indoor-outdoor hitting bays, an indoor putting studio and the latest in game-improvement technology. Each hitting bay is outfitted with video technology and multiple flat-screen TVs, allowing players to monitor their improvement during private instruction. The Wakefield staff uses a Flightscope launch monitor to help members find the right equipment.    

Wakefield’s total practice facility measures approximately nine acres, with a teeing ground nearly an acre-and-a-half. The practice chipping green is 4,000 square feet, with a pair of practice bunkers around this green. There are five short-game pins between 75-125 yards for wedge game practice.

Several McConnell Golf properties boasted extensive practice facilities before joining the portfolio, including Old North State Club in New London, North Carolina; Musgrove Mill Golf Club in Clinton, South Carolina; and Holston Hills Country Club in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Other clubs had very minimal practice areas — and McConnell Golf has significantly enhanced these over the years.

“We upgraded The Reserve [Pawleys Island, South Carolina] about 10 years ago and added a short-game facility,” Kittler notes. “There was an open area by the practice facility that wasn't being utilized. Richard Mandell [golf course architect] went in there and created a short-game area, so you can work on your chipping and pitching, bunker shots, the whole nine yards. Just a neat little added touch.”

When the Country Club of Asheville was renovated several years ago, McConnell Golf added a short-game and chipping green to the left of the No. 10 fairway and to the right of the practice range.

“We acquired Providence Country Club in Charlotte and they had a really good short-game area out there behind the clubhouse by the 18 green,” Kittler says. “We converted them over to Bermuda greens. We did the same thing at Brook Valley [Country Club in Greenville, North Carolina], added a little putting green by the first tee and also a chipping green over by the practice facility. Even at the land-locked Cardinal [Greensboro, North Carolina], we were able to do a little bit of improvement there — adding a short-game green by the road.”

One of McConnell Golf’s recent acquisitions, Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington, North Carolina, possesses what might be the largest hitting tee of any club in the McConnell Golf collection.

“They have a really good, huge hitting tee, a short-game area and a big putting green,” Kittler says. “The neat thing is, there’s some land available. If we ever down the road want to upgrade that area, there’s room to do so. That’s the biggest thing – sometimes golf courses don't have the available land or areas to increase or improve their practice facilities and the short-game area. Luckily, the majority of the places that we’ve had, there’s been room and we’ve been able to make it work.”

McConnell Golf is also focused on incorporating technology and software to aid in teaching and club fittings.

“We’re good right now. We’re just looking to take it to another level,” Kittler says. “The goal is by having these tools, our members will get better and enjoy the game that much more. And because of that, they’ll play more golf. Everything we can do to help members out, is what we try to do.”

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American Heart Month

by McConnell Golf

 Jan 31, 2021 at 6:17 PM

Join us in fighting heart disease and stroke in millions of women across the country by showing your support and wearing red on Friday, February 5! McConnell Golf will serve a Heart Healthy Seared Ahi Tuna Salad in honor of American Heart Month and the Eat Seafood American Movement. A portion of proceeds will go to the American Heart Association.

Post your photos wearing red on social and tag McConnell Golf and your home club, in addition to using #EatSeafoodAmerica to show your support.

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Giving Back, Round After Round

by Brad King

 Jul 06, 2020 at 8:15 PM

Footprints on the Green, McConnell Golf’s community engagement program, encourages members and club staff to join forces to give back to the community. The program often encompasses food drives and community service days, but recently participants have contributed by playing golf. A lot of golf.    

Golf Marathon Supports Folds of Honor

On May 27, Holston Hills Assistant Professional Joey Batuello played a golf marathon to support Folds of Honor. Staff also participated at CC of Asheville and Old North State Club, and together the sister properties raised over $40,000.

After a “breakfast of champions” complete with “some pre-emptive Advil”, Batuello headed to the club on his day off.  He played a total of 180 holes covering a whopping 62,717 yards in 13 hours and 15 minutes. Batuello finished 13-under-par for the day with 33 birdies, two eagles and just one double bogey. Amazingly, he played the first 145 holes using the same ball.

Batuello was inspired to join the cause by the CC of Asheville golf staff, who invited others to join them in the golf marathon. “I have some family that served and two of my best friends are currently serving in the Navy,” Batuello explained. “It’s an absolutely perfect reason to do it.”

The Folds of Honor mission is to provide educational scholarships to the spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members.

Batuello set out to raise $5,000 in donations, the equivalent of one scholarship. The Holston Hills membership responded immediately, meeting the goal in less than 48 hours. When all was said and done, Batuello had raised nearly $19,000.

“It’s just awesome to see how they rally around our troops, our soldiers, and our country,” he said of the Holston Hills membership.

Batuello admitted that midway through his fifth 18-hole round of the day, the aches and back pain began to creep in enough to take some more Advil. But his motivation behind the marathon encouraged him to keep going.

“You gotta think about soldiers who are going all day long,” he said. “They can’t stop. It’s not like they have a way [to rest] if they’re going through the desert or they’re going through anything. Why should I stop because I’m in a little pain?”

 

PGA Shootout Event Expands the Effort

Just a few days following Batuello’s exploits, Holston Hills stepped up again, when a foursome of PGA Tour players who hail from the Knoxville area — three-time tour winner Scott Stallings, Wes Roach, Peter Malnati and Eric Axley, who is a member at Holston Hills — participated in the Holston Hills Country Club PGA Shootout presented by Pete Michaels Traffic.

All told, the event raised $6,000 for local charities. “It's nice to be able to give back, playing junior golf in Knoxville here,” said Roach.

    

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Pickleball Takes Center Court

by Martha-Page Althaus

 Mar 22, 2019 at 1:00 AM

It’s the fastest growing sport in the country, and McConnell Golf members have home-court advantage.

Pickleball is a paddle sport, similar to tennis or badminton, but with fewer rules and, some would say, even more fun.

“This year is our test year for pickleball,” says Kyle Thortsen, McConnell corporate director of tennis. “We’re educating our tennis pros on how to play and running demos at clubs, so be on the lookout for more details from your pro shop on upcoming pickleball socials this year.”

Holston Hills Country Club and Country Club of Asheville have seen a big interest in the sport; both clubs have a regular group of players who meet weekly.

“The biggest fans of pickleball are usually those who are aging out of tennis,” says Thorsten. “It’s a slower-paced game with an underhand serve, played on a smaller court. It’s great for tennis players who may have had injuries or can’t take the wear and tear of covering a full tennis court.”

At CCA, Director of Tennis Bill Barber says pickleball is bringing new people to his indoor courts.

“I’m seeing new people out here, which I love. It gets people active, and that’s a great thing. I’ve been shocked at the interest. There’s a very quick learning curve and it’s an incredibly social game. People are watching and laughing at the good, the bad, the ugly shots. It’s almost like adult ping-pong. I love when I hear members say ‘I haven’t laughed this much in years.’” 

CCA member Wayne DiCastri recently moved to Asheville from Minnesota, where he and his wife, Ingrid, played the sport regularly. They didn’t miss a beat when they joined CCA last fall.

“We have a great core group that plays regularly,” he says.

“It was a great way for us to meet new people and get some exercise. There’s less area to cover on the court and all the equipment is here. You just show up and start playing.”  

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The McConnell Golf Dream 18 Course

by Brad King

 Dec 13, 2017 at 6:44 PM

With the 2016 additions of Providence Country Club and Holston Hills Country Club, McConnell Golf encompasses a dozen 18-hole, private golf courses throughout the Carolinas and Tennessee.

For those of you scoring at home, that’s a total of 225 golf holes in the McConnell Golf portfolio, and they are undoubtedly among the finest you’ll play anywhere. McConnell Golf properties feature courses designed by legends such as Donald Ross, Pete Dye, Tom Fazio, Arnold Palmer, Greg Norman, and Hale Irwin. In 2017, as they do year in and year out, McConnell Golf courses dominated the various state rankings.

So picking the 18 “very best” McConnell Golf holes is no easy task. But through nominations from pros and member votes, that’s exactly what we’ve done. We’re pleased to present the final course in the words of those whom know it best.

Head over to Facebook for photos, descriptions and tips on each hole >>

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Fitting In Fitness

by Jessie Ammons

 Dec 16, 2016 at 7:05 PM

McConnell Golf is thinking creatively to expand and enhance premium fitness facilities.

Resourceful planning has yielded impressive improvements at four McConnell Golf Clubs. Thanks to ingenious use of clubhouse spaces, the Country Club of Asheville and Holston Hills Country Club have brand-new fitness centers; and Old North State Club has significantly renovated its center with Providence Country Club soon to follow suit. Here’s a look at how each property made it happen.

Scenic Workout

In the mountain clubs of North Carolina and Tennessee, there were rooms with a scenic view that no one could appreciate. “We had an old dining space that wasn’t used that often,” says Country Club of Asheville Club Manager Michael Methot about the spark of an idea. “We converted it – completely transformed it – into a fitness center.” Now, the 2,800-square-foot space is decked out with treadmills and resistance weight machines, a “one-stop-shop facility,” Methot says. What’s more, another spare room was outfitted with mirrors and a new floor to become an exercise studio. There, eight group fitness classes happen each week, and members often use it for stretching and personal exercise routines. “We had the facilities, they just weren’t fitness facilities,” Methot says. The center opened in October 2015. “We’ve been able to create a really great center for our members.”

Likewise, one of the first renovations made to the clubhouse at Holston Hills Country Club was a similar extra space overhaul. With new flooring, lighting, and equipment, a former dining room has become that club’s state-of-the-art fitness center.

At both clubs, the new space has opened the door for exciting new programming. At Holston Hills, new activities director Katelyn Graham was brought on board to oversee an active group fitness class schedule and personal training sessions. At the Country Club of Asheville, a robust fitness class schedule has been so popular that they’re now offering unique activities like chair yoga and a multiweek dance class series. At both places, “we have a good mix of equipment and programs for everyone,” says Corporate Director of Member Activities and Wellness Natalie Clemens. Clemens was instrumental in both overhauls, but turned to each club for specific details. “We really took our members’ thoughts and inputs into consideration,” Methot says. “It’s another way to engage and offer them more.”

On the Move

Sometimes small changes can make a big difference. Such was the case at Old North State Club, where the fitness center received a relocation and renovation. “We had a fitness center, so this isn’t new,” club manager Frank O’Hara explains, “but it is new in the sense that it’s a new space.” The former fitness center had been near the pool, accessible but slightly disconnected from the hub of clubhouse activities. Now, it’s almost twice as large and in the clubhouse. “It’s more centralized and therefore offers itself to more of our membership,” O’Hara says. A new location has made existing equipment feel fresh, and a key-fob system allows members 24-hour access (a feature at the Country Club of Asheville and Holston Hills centers, too). “It’s been really well-received,” O’Hara says.

Soon, a similar facelift will be underway at Providence Country Club. “We’re excited to be doubling the footprint of our existing fitness center,” says general manager Howard Murphy. The plan is to swap the locations of the clubhouse’s golf shop and fitness center, and also add a kids’ zone adjacent to the new fitness location. “We’ve never had a kids’ zone before, and we’re really looking forward to that,” Murphy says. Murphy anticipates a late spring 2017 debut for the new center.

 

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