Press Room

GolfVisions Takes the Reins at Tanna Farms Golf Club/T.F. Boonie's Saloon & Eatery

April 9, 2010  –  GolfVisions Management, Inc. has added another Chicago-area facility to its portfolio of leased and managed courses: the upscale, championship 18 Tanna Farms Golf Club in Geneva, Illinois. GolfVisions will also operate the Club’s award-winning restaurant, T.F. Boonie’s Saloon & Eatery.

Located just west of Randall Road near the intersection of Fabyan Parkway and Hughes Road, Tanna Farms “is a thrilling, beautiful, big-shouldered course,” said GolfVisions President Tim Miles, Sr. “We are pleased to partner with the owner, Shodeen Management, in the operation of this outstanding property.”

Said Eric Shodeen, President of Shodeen Management, “We believe GolfVisions has the expertise in golf course management to offer a quality, well-maintained course with the excellent service that our patrons have come to know and expect.”

Tanna Farms opened as a 9-hole course in 2002 with the second 9 coming online in mid-2008. The length of this par-71 track spans 6,510 yards from the tips to 4,727 from the front tees, so it poses a considerable challenge while remaining accessible to all levels of golfers. Tanna Farms boasts a host of memorable holes, including two muscular par 5s, and is renowned for its signature par 3’s island green.

T.F. Boonie’s is a full-service restaurant and bar featuring whimsical Old West theming, a delectable menu and a shady patio overlooking the 18th green. Thanks to the addition of a spacious pavilion in 2009, Tanna Farms can now accommodate groups up to 200+.  

“GolfVisions will be looking to heighten awareness among golfers that Tanna Farms is a substantial, dynamic 18-hole golf course, and among the Fox Valley community that T.F. Boonie’s, with its great atmosphere and food, is a worthy destination restaurant,” Miles commented. “This facility is ideal for outings, parties and special events, and we want to sustain and grow that aspect of the business. The ultimate goal is to position Tanna Farms for success for years to come.”

Bringing “the GolfVisions way” to Tanna Farms is part of the equation, said Vice President of Operations John O’Connor. “That means creative teamwork, discipline in all areas of the operation and strong corporate support,” explained O’Connor.

GolfVisions has tapped 17-year company veteran Chad Zipse to be General Manager at Tanna Farms. Zipse, who grew up in Batavia, has extensive knowledge of the Fox Valley golf market and expresses tremendous enthusiasm for his new role. “I’m very excited to continue the great golf and hospitality traditions that Tanna Farms stands for and start forming new ones,” Zipse said. “We are looking to build upon the relationships in place and make new friends, not just new customers.”

Much of Tanna Farms and Boonie’s existing staff has opted to continue with GolfVisions, enabling a smooth transition. “There is a great team in place here,” Zipse noted.

Based in north suburban Northlake, Ill., GolfVisions has grown slowly yet steadily over the last decade in a challenging golf industry climate. Results of customer feedback surveys suggest that golfers who play GolfVisions facilities value its hallmarks: impeccable maintenance practices, consummate attention-to-detail, friendly customer service and a commitment to “crisp, clean and green” conditions throughout the operation. GolfVisions represents exceptional value relative to each facility’s market niche and price point.

March 1, 2010: A Brand New Day at Whittaker Woods

New Buffalo, Michigan  –  Since debuting to accolades in 1996, Whittaker Woods has been a mainstay of the golf scene and a sought-after site for special events in this vibrant, southwest Michigan resort area just 90 minutes from downtown Chicago. Now the ownership of Whittaker Woods has selected GolfVisions Management, Inc. to resourcefully operate the facility and reinvigorate its tradition of excellence.

“We envision Whittaker Woods as the gateway to pure Michigan golf, in the literal sense of its location and in the figurative sense of the special, memorable experience we will offer all our guests,” says GolfVisions Vice President Tim Miles, Jr., who spearheads corporate oversight of the facility.  “GolfVisions will be very focused on optimizing course conditioning, including bunker and vegetation management, and ensuring consistent high quality of service and amenities.”  

An 18-hole championship course that plays to 7,072 yards from the tips, Whittaker Woods was designed by the late Ken Killian, the legendary architect behind Kemper Lakes.   

“Whittaker Woods is one of the highlights of Ken Killian’s fantastic career,” says Tim Miles, Sr., President of GolfVisions. “He used his talents here to create this marvelous golf course that meanders through woodlands and meadows, across streams and marshes. GolfVisions is proud to have the opportunity to reestablish Whittaker Woods as the premier golf course in southwest Michigan and northeast Indiana.”  

Like many upscale tracks of the modern era, Whittaker Woods is formidable enough, boasting a slope rating of 144 from the back tees, to challenge the most avid golfers, yet features multiple tee placements allowing golfers of all abilities to partake and have fun. Indeed, the course plays under 5,000 yards from the front tees and has been cited by Michigan Golf as offering “great, playable golf for everyone.” The course gets its name from Captain Wessel Whittaker, one of the region’s original settlers. Captain Whittaker ran his ship aground on the Lake Michigan coastline near what is now New Buffalo in 1834 and fell in love with the landscape, which he described as “a natural harbor surrounded by dunes and tall trees where a river flowed from the surrounding woodlands into Lake Michigan.” The region’s natural beauty that so captivated Captain Whittaker is on full display at Whittaker Woods.  

Remarkably, spectacular golf is only part of the draw at Whittaker Woods.  

“The clubhouse is remarkable, too, and worth the trip in and of itself,” says Miles, Sr. “It has the woodwork and stonework you’d expect from its origins as a 1920s farmhouse and an amazing and eclectic assortment of memorabilia, collectibles and sculpture displayed inside and out. Golfers and visitors will enjoy a full bar and a terrific dining atmosphere with delicious fare and friendly hospitality. Then there’s the stunning banquet facility, Fairway Hall, which can accommodate groups up to 500.”  

GolfVisions has tapped Steve Dell, a 25-year industry veteran, for the General Manager role at Whittaker Woods. Dell, who during a lengthy tenure with Kemper Sports was instrumental in opening and operating two newly constructed facilities, one in California and one in Chicagoland, has extensive start-up and multi-facility operational experience that will certainly come into play at Whittaker Woods.   “Joining GolfVisions and taking the helm at Whittaker Woods represents an exciting opportunity,” says Dell, who launched his career working at the 1989 PGA Championship at Kemper Lakes. “This is a multifaceted operation with the golf, food-and-beverage and special events aspects. I have a strong corporate team supporting me and I look forward to keeping up the great tradition that Whittaker Woods’ ownership put in place here while taking the facility to the next level.”  

To that end, one initiative that will extend Whittaker Woods to more golfers is already taking shape, and that is an adjustment to Whittaker Woods’ rate structure. GolfVisions will retain the rack rates currently in place for “prime times” on the tee sheet, but will roll out twilight and senior rates as well as shoulder-season rates for April, May, and after Labor Day. GolfVisions plans a series of specials throughout the season as well.

GolfVisions has grown slowly yet steadily over the last decade in a golf market that increasingly favors the creative and disciplined approach that the company applies. Results of customer feedback surveys suggest that golfers who play GolfVisions facilities value its hallmarks: impeccable maintenance practices, consummate attention-to-detail, friendly customer service and a commitment to “crisp, clean and green” conditions throughout the operation. GolfVisions represents exceptional value relative to each facility’s market niche and price point.                  

In addition to Whittaker Woods, GolfVisions operates via lease or management agreement nine other public courses in the Chicago area. They are:

• Ravisloe Country Club, Homewood, Ill.
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• Settler’s Hill Golf Course, Batavia, Ill.
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• Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Ill.
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• Oak Grove Golf Course, Harvard, Ill.
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• Village Green Golf Course, Mundelein, Ill.
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• Nettle Creek Country Club, Morris, Ill.
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• Hunter Country Club, Richmond, Ill.
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• HeatherRidge Golf Course, Gurnee, Ill. (9 holes)
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• Deer Valley Golf Course, Big Rock, Ill. (9 holes)

GolfVisions also operates two semi-private courses in central Florida, just north of Orlando:

• The Club at Pennbrooke Fairways, Leesburg, FL (27 holes)
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• Green Valley Country Club, Clermont, FL

January 1, 2010: Green Valley Country Club Gets New Lease on Life as GolfVisions Management, Inc. Assumes Operations          

Clermont, Florida  –  It’s a happy new year indeed at Green Valley Country Club in Clermont.          
On January 1, 2010, this semi-private, Lloyd Clifton-designed course joins the portfolio of GolfVisions Management, Inc., a Chicago-based company that also operates 27 holes at The Club at Pennbrooke Fairways in nearby Leesburg, FL. GolfVisions actually assumed operations at Green Valley as of December 1, 2009, but the new year marks the beginning of a long-term lease that represents a new lease on life for this facility, which GolfVisions has pledged to restore to its original ambiance and splendor.     

Green Valley is 44 years old; built on the site of a former orange grove, the original 9 opened in 1966 with the second 9 following four to five years later. Because the topography around Clermont is uncharacteristically hilly for Florida, Green Valley features elevation changes unusual for Sunshine State golf. The course serves up some spectacular views, including a 30-mile vista from no. 6. “That should be our signature hole, and we will dress it up as such,” says Warren Litavsky, longtime general manager of Pennbrooke Fairways whose role has expanded to include oversight for Green Valley.          

According to Litavsky, Green Valley is vintage Lloyd Clifton, the architect behind many central Florida golfscapes including The Villages’ 28 executive courses and 6 regulation courses. “Mr. Clifton is a very thoughtful and intelligent architect,” says Litavsky. “He gives golfers an enjoyable round with plenty of opportunity for challenge, yet his courses are generally open so they’re not too difficult for the average golfer.”          

Among GolfVisions’ hallmarks are impeccable maintenance practices, consummate attention-to-detail, friendly customer service and a commitment to “crisp, clean and green” conditions throughout the operation. By implementing “the GolfVisions Way” at Green Valley, “it won’t take a lot to get this golf experience to be A-1 again,” predicts Litavsky.          

“We want to take good care of the members who comprise about 25% of our play and further extend this fine amenity to the golfing public,” Litavsky adds. As such, GolfVisions is formalizing the relationship between Pennbrooke Fairways and Green Valley, offering a reciprocity program for the respective members of each facility and incentives to public golfers who play both courses.       
Providing daily onsite leadership at Green Valley is MaryAnn Willard, formerly LPGA golf pro at Pennbrooke Fairways. Willard now serves as Green Valley’s director of golf. Rounding out the key staff at Green Valley are Vaughn Arbeiter, overseeing golf maintenance, and Kenny Kronk, managing the food-and-beverage operation.    

“GolfVisions is pleased at this opportunity to restore a delightful Lloyd Clifton course to optimal conditions and attract the level of play a facility like this merits,” says Timothy J. Miles, Sr., president of GolfVisions Management, Inc. “Green Valley is a terrific facility with lots of potential.”

For further information on Green Valley Country Club, visit the Club’s Website at www.gvcountryclub.com or call 352-394-2133.  Visit www.golfvisions.net for more information on GolfVisions Management, Inc.

In addition to Green Valley and Pennbrooke Fairways, both in central Florida, GolfVisions operates 10 public courses in the Chicago area, including: Ravisloe Country Club, Homewood, Ill.
Settler’s Hill Golf Course, Batavia, Ill. Foxford Hills Golf Club, Cary, Ill.
Oak Grove Golf Course, Harvard, Ill.
Village Green Golf Course, Mundelein, Ill.
Nettle Creek Country Club, Morris, Ill.
Whittaker Woods Golf, New Buffalo, Mich.
Hunter Country Club, Richmond, Ill.
HeatherRidge Golf Course, Gurnee, Ill. (9 holes)
Deer Valley Golf Course, Big Rock, Ill. (9 holes)

December 1, 2009: Imagine Your Wedding or Special Event at Ravisloe!
Storied Country Club, Now Public, Launches Special Events Hosting and Welcomes New Food, Beverage & Banquet Manager

Imagine your wedding or special event unfolding in an atmosphere that evokes a bygone era of grace and splendor…an atmosphere unique and utterly ENCHANTING.

That place is the storied Ravisloe Country Club, which reopened as a public course April 1, 2009 and now debuts a special events program that promises to be second-to-none.

Ravisloe boasts a rich, 108-year history as one of Chicago’s finest private clubs and a majestic Spanish Mission-style clubhouse. During Ravisloe’s first season as a public course, new owner Dr. Claude Gendreau invested in enhancing the “European garden” quality of the grounds and renovating the clubhouse’s ballroom and auxiliary rooms, creating an atmosphere that exudes classic beauty.

Now, Ravisloe stands ready to host weddings and a multitude of other special events, from small, intimate private gatherings to large corporate outings. At the helm of Ravisloe’s special events program is Ashley Whitten, who joined Ravisloe in November as its Food, Beverage & Banquet Manager and is thrilled to take the lead.

“I love the challenge of setting the standard and bringing definition to the special events offered here,” Whitten says. “The possibilities are endless. We are dedicated to providing exceptional, personal service from start to finish and wonderfully memorable experiences for our guests in an environment that is truly enchanting.”

Whitten came highly recommended from Beverly Country Club, where she served as director of marketing and membership, and Idlewild Country Club, where she volunteers on the house committee. She sees her new role as incorporating a wide range of professional and life experiences as well as her passion for working with people.

Since coming on board, Whitten has established relationships with three primary caterers, all local businesses, and has begun booking events for 2010. She encourages tours of the facility. “I welcome people to visit and see for themselves the unmatched atmosphere we have here and the capability of Ravisloe to host multi-stage events and gatherings of just about any size,” Whitten says.

For more information on special events at Ravisloe, call 708-798-5600 or visit the Website, www.ravisloecountryclub.com. Ravisloe is operated by GolfVisions Management, Inc., a Chicagoland-based golf management firm whose portfolio comprises eight other courses in the area, including Oak Grove Golf Course in Harvard, Foxford Hills Golf Club in Cary, Settler’s Hill Golf Course in Batavia, Nettle Creek Country Club in Morris, and Village Green Golf Course in Mundelein, as well as Pennbrooke Fairways and Green Valley Country Club in central Florida.

February 27, 2009: Under New Ownership, New Management, Ravisloe Country Club to Reopen as a Public Golf Course

Homewood, Ill. -- It’s no April Fool’s joke.

On April 1, 2009, the storied Ravisloe Country Club will reopen…as a public golf course operated by Chicagoland-based GolfVisions Management, Inc.

It’s a win-win scenario for Chicago-area golfers and the Village of Homewood, which retains 160 acres of green space just steps from its Metra station in the heart of downtown.

“I’m absolutely delighted that the Ravisloe property is to remain a golf course and a public golf course at that,” comments Homewood Mayor Rich Hofeld. “Ravisloe has been a longstanding asset to the community in that it is an oasis of green space, provides water retention in times of heavy rain, and harbors a variety of wildlife. Now, as a public course, this focal point of our Village will be even more of a magnet to draw people to the Homewood community as well as to our shops and fine restaurants. And Ravisloe affords our golf-playing citizenry and residents of neighboring communities open access to a world-class, championship-caliber course.”

Ravisloe Country Club boasts a rich, 108-year history as one of Chicago’s finest private clubs, an iconic Spanish Mission-style clubhouse, and a reputation for diabolical greens, expansive fairways framed by mature trees, and distinctive bunkering. A classic, parkland-style course originally designed by Theodore Moreau and James Foulis, Ravisloe is registered with the Donald Ross Society for the legendary architect’s indelible imprint on the layout during a 1917-19 renovation. In 2002, Dave Esler completed an acclaimed restoration of course features consistent with Ross principles. Ravisloe’s new owner, Dr. Claude Gendreau, looks forward to making this South Side treasure available to the golfing public.

“When I first learned the property might be available and drove out there, I was awestruck by how beautiful the land was and how majestic the clubhouse building,” remarks Gendreau. “I felt I could not leave to chance the future of this park-like property and would like to be associated with its future.”

The next thing that impressed him was the appeal of the surrounding community and of the nearby downtown area. He also valued the proximity of the Metra station, providing public transportation to and from Chicago. Ravisloe is 161 acres of groomed open land, almost like a European garden that is an island in the middle of an urban area. “It’s a jewel that needs to be preserved as long as feasible, and we hope the golf operation can sustain our goal of retaining this as open space for years to come,” Gendreau says.

Gendreau, an acclaimed veterinary surgeon, is an innovator in his field, one of the first such specialists to practice outside the university setting. Indeed, he founded what is now the leading veterinary referral center in the Midwest. As an ardent advocate for eco-responsibility and sustainable living, Gendreau views preserving Ravisloe as an ideal situation to enact these values and make a difference. While he is not himself a golfer, he understands and appreciates Ravisloe’s unique heritage. His excitement in opening the course as a public venue is palpable.

“I feel more people need to have the opportunity to have access to an environment like this,” says Gendreau. He regards Ravisloe as a public amenity that should be enjoyed by everyone.

To operate Ravisloe as a public facility, Gendreau has enlisted GolfVisions, which manages via contract or lease eight other courses in the metro area and one in Florida. Tim Miles, Sr., president of GolfVisions, shares the new owner’s enthusiasm for the endeavor.

“GolfVisions is pleased and honored at this unique opportunity to bring a truly delightful Donald Ross course to all golfers,” Miles says. “Ravisloe is a very special place that has stood the test of time. It encompasses 160 acres, which was a large tapestry for courses designed during the Gilded Age of golf. The clubhouse provides a glimpse of a bygone era of opulence and grace.”

More than a history lesson, however, Ravisloe offers a spectacular golf experience. “The 2002 restoration by David Esler pays homage to both Foulis and Ross at their best,” remarks Miles. “Ravisloe’s intriguing design embodies the true values of the game. Here, there is a premium on shot-making skill and mental strategy.”

Jim Wright, a lifelong Homewood resident and unofficial Village historian, calls Ravisloe “the jewel of our community” and points to the longtime affinity between the Club and the Village. Adds Mayor Hofeld, “Not only the immediate neighbors, but the entire community, welcome the purchase of Ravisloe and the plan to retain it as open space with the golf course and other amenities available for public enjoyment.”

Further details on Ravisloe’s transition to a public, daily-fee golf course are forthcoming. Visit the Club’s Website, www.ravisloecountryclub.com for updates. Visit www.golfvisions.net for more information on GolfVisions Management, Inc., and the other courses in their portfolio, including Oak Grove Golf Course in Harvard; Foxford Hills Golf Club in Cary; Settler’s Hill Golf Course in Batavia; Nettle Creek Country Club in Morris; Village Green Golf Course in Mundelein; and Pennbrooke Fairways in Leesburg, Fla.

June 4, 2008: Nettle Creek Welcomes New Golf Professional

Morris, Ill. -- Morris native Kurt Nolen, who served as Nettle Creek Country Club’s assistant pro in 2003, has returned to Nettle Creek in the dual role of head golf professional and assistant manager. "We are delighted to have Kurt on board," says Nettle Creek GM John O’Connor. "He has great people skills and is an outstanding instructor who enjoys teaching the game."

For Nolen, the golf bug bit early. He grew up in a neighborhood adjacent to Morris Country Club where, at age 11 or 12, he scored his first golf industry job: picking up range balls for the pro. By 13 or 14, Nolen had learned about Ferris State University’s pioneering professional golf management program and settled on a career in golf. At age 16, Nolen followed the Morris C.C. pro to Nettle Creek. He worked at Nettle as a cart attendant for two years before heading to Big Rapids, Mich., home of Ferris State.

After graduation, Nolen worked as an assistant pro first at Nettle Creek, then for two years at Kishwaukee Country Club. He was the head golf professional at Marengo Ridge Country Club for three years before his "homecoming" to Nettle Creek.

Nolen is enthusiastic about the opportunity, and the course. "Nettle Creek has a great layout and is golfer-friendly," says Nolen. "It requires the use of all the clubs in your golf bag—you’re not limited to a driver and a wedge, all your clubs come into play out here."

Nolen confirms that he enjoys giving lessons and feels he especially excels at teaching women and juniors, two critical groups to involve if the game of golf is to sustain and grow its participation rate. "I’m currently in the process of planning junior golf programs to begin in July," notes Nolen.

Meanwhile, Nettle Creek is gearing up for a successful season. The facility is hosting a number of large groups in upcoming days, including the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce Friday, June 6; the IBEW Union on Saturday, June 7; and the Grundy County Sheriffs on Monday, June 16. The onsite Gables Restaurant, with indoor and patio seating, offers phenomenal 19th hole fare and continues to draw local residents for lunch and dinner, including a regular Friday-evening fish fry.

"Nettle Creek has the most attractive rates you're going to find anywhere in Chicagoland for this caliber of course," O'Connor says. "We're only 20 minutes from Joliet and 30 minutes from the Naperville-Bolingbrook area. For this kind of experience, with rates peaking at only $49 including cart on weekends, we are well worth the drive. And we run coupon specials on the Web and in print on a regular basis, so golfers seldom pay that peak rate."