Scott Beasley has left Meadowbrook Golf and has started a new company, WSB Resorts & Clubs, which will manage Lajitas Golf Resort and Spa in Lajitas, Texas. Beasley was vice president of operations at Meadowbrook since 2007. Beasley took over the contract for Lajitas while at Meadowbrook, managing the entire town. He is now looking for additional management contracts.
Up-and-coming golf course designer, Jay Blasi recently opened his own golf architecture firm, in the San Francisco Bay area. The Wisconsin native spent more than a decade working at Robert Trent Jones II, which prepared him for his own firm — Jay Blasi Design — where he is focused on creating, renovating, and restoring golf courses around the world and has already started a number of projects throughout the United States.
Brian Gaines has joined RDC Golf Croup as vice president of sales and marketing. The 25-year club industry veteran will oversee the membership sales efforts at RDC’s five owned or managed properties along the East Coast that include Shackamaxon Country Club in Scotch Plains, N.J., and the renowned Forsgate Country Club in Monroe, N.J., among others. Gaines previously operated his own consulting services company, and worked for ClubCorp and KemperSports.
Cathy Harbin has joined ClubCorp as vice president of golf revenue, helping the company’s golf and country club division in initiatives to grow the game of golf, increase rounds, drive golf instruction, and enhance the member and guest experience. Harbin was executive director of Golf 20/20, where she helped start the Get Golf Ready program.
What is Arnold Palmer’s favorite drink after a round of golf? Eliza Gaudet, founder of Executive Golf International, has released a new book that answers this question. The book, Two Good Rounds, combines golf, cocktails and 19th hole stories from 36 of the top PGA Tour Pro golfers.
Gaudet interviews Gary Player, Ernie Els, Padraig Harrington, Jim Furyk and many others. Learn the preferred drinks of these top players, and fun stories – from raucous celebrations to heartfelt memories of childhoods.
• Western Golf Properties promoted Rob Ford to President and John McNichlos to the position of Chief Financial Officer.
Ford has been with the company for two decades, the last six as Vice President of Golf Operations. He has also been Director of Golf at Stonewall Golf Club in Northern Virginia as well as Pelican Hill Golf Club and Oak Creek Golf Club in Southern California.
David Chu, known by many as the grandfather of golf in China, passed away at the age of 61 after a long battle with nasal cancer.
The Hong Kong native, who picked up his first set of golf clubs on a Toronto course in the late 1980s, was inspired to scoop up a piece of land shortly after in an area north of Shenzhen. The first course of his on that land, designed by Jack Nicklaus, hosted the World Cup in 1995. Nearly two dozen golf courses later, he has built what is now the largest golf club in the world known as Mission Hills.
• OB Sports appointed Steve Hupe as Director of Golf at Victory Ranch club in Park City, Utah. Hupe will be responsible for all golf operations, membership services, sales, merchandising, and tournaments for this Rees Jones-designed course.Hupe is a twenty eight year PGA of America member and is a Park City resident. Prior to joining Victory Ranch, he was the Director of Golf at Promontory Ranch Club in Park City Utah. He is a 27 year associate for Marriott International were he held various golf professional positions.
•Jack Hrad, a former Golf Inc. Most Admired Operator, has moved from Pearl Valley Golf Estates to Brynwood Golf & Country Club in Armonk, NY, both Troon Golf facilities.
