Page 42 - The Golf Guide, Summer 2016

Out of the Bag

Congratulations go out to The Golf Guide’s Senior Staff Writer Mike Ahrnsbrak, who is
now the General Manager at Lexington Golf & CC in Lexington, VA. Mike has been a
PGA member since 1981 and will continue his duties with the magazine. Previously Mike
was Head Pro at Shenandoah Valley Golf Club in Front Royal, VA, from 1985 to 1999,
the GM at Musket Ridge Golf Club in Myersville, MD, from 2003 to 2006, and most
recently the head Professional and GM at Blue Ridge Shadows Golf Club in Front Royal,
VA, from 2007 to 2016.
Brian Jones has taken over as Blue Ridge Shadows Club’s new general manager. Brian
graduated from Methodist University in Fayetteville, NC, where he studied business
administration with a concentration in golf course management. Jones now enters his 17th
year in the golf business. Brian has managed clubs in various parts of the United States
including stops in Pennsylvania and Louisiana. A majority of his career was spent at
Bowling Green Country Club in Front Royal, VA, where he managed the club from 2004
through 2013. Brian is excited to be back to the region and looks forward to bringing his
enthusiasm for golf and passion for customer service to the members and guests at Blue
Ridge Shadows.
In other news from the Shadows, superintendent Chris Dieter has left to take the
same position at Virginia Oaks Golf Club in Gainesville, VA, with former BRS Head
Professional Glenn Payne.

FlingGolf, the latest adaption on the game
of golf, is seeing substantial growth and
some Shenandoah Valley courses have
had quite a bit to do with it. Packsaddle
Ridge in Keezletown, VA, (see page 38)
has added FlingGolf to its playlist, and
Massanutten Resort in McGaheysville, VA,
will feature FlingGolf during the Virginia
Commonwealth Games in late July. Created
in Boston, the sport requires only a FlingStick (made of lightweight, carbon fiber and a
cradle for the ball at the end) to play. You actually fling a regulation golf ball and use the
other end of the stick to putt on the greens. PGA Pro Brett Mowbray introduced FlingGolf
to the Woodstone Meadows course in the Spring of 2015, and it quickly became one of the
leading FlingGolf courses in the country with hundreds of players playing more than 1500
rounds. The tournament is open to any Virginia resident in multiple age groups. Visit
commonwealthgames.org/fling-golf to register.
Heritage Oaks Golf Course in Harrisonburg VA has a new food vendor working their
clubhouse. The Triple B Café is run by the Boyett’s and features a hearty menu of
breakfast, lunch, and dinner favorites for the golfer. They also do carry-out and catering,
and you can view their daily specials on Facebook.
Colonial Williamsburg’s premier golf course, the Golden Horseshoe’s Gold Course,
closed on May 9 to undergo a complete renovation of all grasses and bunkers and will
remain closed until spring of 2017. “Colonial Williamsburg’s board of trustees has
approved a significant investment for the renovation of the Gold Course,” said Mitchell
B. Reiss, Colonial Williamsburg president and CEO. “It is vital that we take care of
the precious assets left in our stewardship so that we can offer our guests the premier
resort experience today’s travelers demand.” The renovation will not be a redesign,
although elevations on greens 2, 6, 12, and 18 will be altered. According to Colonial
Williamsburg, the improvements will ensure the Golden Horseshoe remains one of the
top golf resort destinations in the nation. Colonial Williamsburg has also recently entered
into a partnership with Brightview Golf Maintenance for comprehensive maintenance

40 GOLFGUIDEINC.COM