Wes Forester, PGA Director of Golf at Reynolds Lake Oconee joined Rob Thomas on the Club + Resort Talks podcast to discuss Richland—the seventh golf course at the Greensboro, Ga. property. The new 18-hole layout was created by acclaimed course architect Tom Fazio by combining nine holes from his existing National course with nine all-new holes. This gives Reynolds Lake Oconee two Fazio designs (Richland and The National) along with courses from Jack Nicklaus (Great Waters), Rees Jones (The...

Matt Adamski, General Manager of Sweetens Cove Golf Club, joins Rob Thomas on the Club + Resort Talks podcast to discuss big plans for America’s Sweetheart. Sweetens Cove, a 9-hole course in South Pittsburg, Tenn. known for its cult following and distinctive approach to golf, is set to expand. While the main course will remain at nine holes, the club is adding a par-3 short course along with a range of new amenities aimed at enhancing its appeal to traveling golfers. The expansion includes...

B.K. Browne, CEO and Founder of SpeakSport, introduces the cutting-edge technology on the Club + Resort Talks podcast. With this innovative A.I. technology, clubs can free up hours of time every day from answering the phone for tee time bookings and miscellaneous questions—allowing them to drive revenue, and divert valuable human resources elsewhere, such as providing personalized service to guests/members on-site. Also on this podcast: Canyon Springs Golf Course, nestled along the Snake...

Mark Bado, General Manager/COO of Mizner Country Club in Delray Beach, Fla. joins the Club + Resort Talks podcast to discuss plans for a comprehensive renovation of its main clubhouse, with construction slated to begin in June 2025. The renovation will encompass key areas of the clubhouse, enhancing the facility’s aesthetic appeal and functionality. It will be designed to ensure members enjoy an elevated experience. The renovation will focus on several areas, including: – Lobby: A refreshed,...

B.K. Browne, CEO and Founder of SpeakSport, introduces the cutting-edge technology on the Club + Resort Talks podcast. With this innovative A.I. technology, clubs can free up hours of time answering the phone to book tee times—allowing them to divert valuable human resources elsewhere. Also on this podcast: Palm Beach County, Fla.’s First Responders were again honored for their dedicated service to the community at Mizner Country Club’s 8th Annual First Responders Day. Representatives from...

In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which hit Asheville, N.C. harder than expected, Aaron James, General Manager of the Country Club of Asheville, opened up about the challenges the club and its surrounding community have faced during recovery. In an interview with Rob Thomas on the Club Resort Talks podcast, James shared the harrowing experience and the ongoing efforts to rebuild. In other news from across the country, the Omni Tucson (Ariz.) National Resort now utilizes 225-acre feet of...

Joe Smith, General Manager/COO of Countryside Golf and Country Club in Naples, Fla. joined the podcast to talk about everything happening at the club. Countryside celebrated the groundbreaking of its $14 million club renovation project, aptly named “Countryside 2.0,” in January. This project marks a significant milestone for the community, further enhancing the exceptional lifestyle residents and members have enjoyed for more than 35 years. Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of Club + Resort...

Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of Club + Resort Business and host of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, sat down with Gilles Gangon, Director of Sales at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic. A close personal friend of Pete Dye, Gilles was the longtime Director of Golf Operations at the acclaimed resort before taking on his new role. He has some VERY entertaining stories to share … as well as news on the upcoming renovation of Teeth of the Dog. Also in the news … After a two-and-a-half-year...

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Will Young, PGA Head Golf Professional at Hartford Golf Club in Wisconsin talks about the rise of his presence on TikTok and gives some advice to other club professionals considering the platform. Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of Club + Resort Business, also takes a look at the latest news from across the industry. The new short game practice area at Indian Hills Country Club in Bowling Green, Ky. allows golfers to practice their putting on...

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rob Thomas speaks with Mike Karnath, CCM, CCE, General Manager / COO of Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg, N.Y. Wanakah Country Club is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year and recently had a Gala, Family BBQ, and donor appreciation party. Earlier in the year the club hosted a kickoff event, “A Taste Through Time,” held the New York State Men’s Amateur Championship, approved a $5.6 million irrigation and bunker project...

On the latest episode of Club + Resort Talks, Senior Editor Phil Keren visited with Eric Peterson, General Manager of Cragun’s Resort, Golf & Conference and Cragun’s Legacy Golf Courses in Brainerd, Minn. Peterson talked about his facility recently hosting the CRMC Championship, a PGA Tour Americas event. The four-day tournament in late August and early September was won by Denmark native Frederik Kjettrup with a score of 24-under par. This was the third consecutive year that Cragun’s...

On this episode of Club + Resort Talks, Senior Editor Phil Keren interviews Rich Wade, Director of Squash and Padel at The Philadelphia Cricket Club, about the club’s padel offerings. Wade gives a primer on padel, discusses why the club decided to offer the sport, and reviews the padel programs and leagues that are available. Phil and Editor-In-Chief Rob Thomas also reviewed news stories happening with clubs in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Georgia, North Carolina, and New York. The market for...

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Editor-in-Chief Rob Thomas speaks with Monique “Mo” Gesualdi, PGA and LPGA Director of Instruction at St. John’s Golf & Country Club in St. Augustine, Fla. Coach Mo was recently awarded the 2024 Troon Coach of the Year. She talks about her journey to becoming a golf coach and the health challenges she had to overcome in her 20s. Coach Mo emphasizes the importance of a holistic coaching approach that considers the physical, mental,...

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Senior Editor Phil Keren speaks with Andy Hughett, General Manager of Whitmoor Country Club in Weldon Spring, Mo., and Chrisitan Dunn, Director of Corporate Development at Concert Golf Partners, about Whitmoor leaders’ efforts to offer a family-friendly venue. Concert Golf Partners acquired Whitmoor CC from the Whitaker family in late 2022. Hughett shared an overview of the club’s amenities, talked about the steps the club has taken to...

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Rob Thomas speaks with Robin Shelton, PGA Master Professional and General Manager of Newport Beach Country Club, and Bianca Gillett, the club’s Director of Fitness and Recreation. The trio discuss the celebrated club’s newest edition—an outdoor fitness center called “The Cove.” Gillett shares the space’s unique features and amenities, how it integrates with the existing facilities at Newport Beach Country Club, and what types of fitness...

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Club + Resort Business Editor-in-Chief Rob Thomas speaks with Erik Whitehead, Membership Director at Myakka Golf Club in Myakka City, Fla. Miakka Golf Club, a private club currently being built by Dana Fry and Jason Straka with consultation from PGA veteran Paul Azinger, is located near Sarasota, construction is well under way and preview play is expected to begin the fall of 2025. The course is being built on more than 1,100 acres of land...

The new clubhouse at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. is taking shape, marked by a recent “topping off” ceremony celebrating the completion of the steel structure for the 110,000-sq.-ft. building. This milestone is part of a $104 million project, nearly two-and-a-half years after the original clubhouse was destroyed by a fire caused by a contractor mishap with a blowtorch. During the “topping out” ceremony, members and staff signed the final steel beam before placing it,...

On this edition of Club + Resort Talks, Senior Editor Phil Keren speaks with Phil Anderson, General Manager of Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn., about the club’s preparations to host the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship Aug. 12-18. The club is planning to donate all tournament profits to The Loop Community Experience for accessible golf. The goal of this initiative is to unite Minnesota communities by growing the game and making it more accessible to anyone who wants to play. It...

On the latest episode of Club + Resort Talks, Editor-In-Chief Rob Thomas and Senior Editor Phil Keren reviewed a variety of projects happening in multiple spots across the country. Plus, what could go wrong with the name Buchholz in Closed Captioning? Rob and Phil discussed a yacht club reopening after being destroyed by a hurricane, an $82 million renovation project at a Florida club, an effort to restore the oldest public golf course in Wisconsin and the reopening of a California golf club...

On this episode of Club + Resort Talks, Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of Club + Resort Business, speaks with Mike Dowd, General Manager/COO of Oakdale Golf and Country Club in California. The club just finished building eight new pickleball courts and is adding an event pavilion and outdoor patio bar, as well as a bocce area within the next couple of months. This comes on the heels of a clubhouse refresh, bunker renovation, and expansion to six sets of tee boxes on the golf course. With...

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of Club + Resort Business, chats with John Woodeshick, SVP and General Manager of The Hills Country Club in Austin, Texas. Woodeshick discussed the comprehensive renovations at the club's Live Oak Golf Course. These efforts are part of an ongoing reinvestment project at the club focused on creating a refined yet inviting environment that best serves today’s members. The Hills is one of several properties...

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief of Club + Resort Business, chats with Brock Orlowski, MBA, CDORS, USPTA Elite, PPR, Director of Racquet Sports at Fort Wayne (Ind.) Country Club. The two talk about everything from growing the racquets industry through The Directors’ Club of America and the inaugural Directors’ Club Retreat, to cultivating the rapidly growing interest in racquet sports—pickleball, tennis, padel, and more. Rob and Senior Editor...

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Senior Editor Phil Keren speaks with Jennifer Bermingham, Director of Golf Programming for Invited, and a PGA/LPGA member. June is Women’s Golf Month. Invited, the leading owner-operator of private golf and country clubs, and city clubs in North America, has partnered with the LPGA Foundation to celebrate Women’s Golf Month. Invited has launched numerous women’s golf programs at 120 of its clubs in North America. Bermingham discusses the...

On this episode of the Club + Resort Talks podcast, Rob Thomas speaks with Patricio Misitrano, Co-Founder of The Sports Haus in Norwalk, Conn. The Sports Haus is an indoor club with padel, pickleball and golf sims—the first club to have these three sports under one roof IN THE WORLD! Misitrano, who formerly directed three platinum clubs, talks about padel and how most clubs are not getting ready for what’s coming. It happened to a lot of clubs with pickleball and it will happen again with...