ORLANDO, FL – Eagle Creek Golf Club in south Orlando has named Josh Czarnecki as its new golf course superintendent.
Czarnecki comes to the two-year-old Eagle Creek after two assistant superintendent roles at Orlando-area golf courses. He served at The Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Point from 2000 to 2002, and Grande Pines Golf Club the past two years. Sandwiched between those two stints was an interesting assignment. Czarnecki managed 39 golf holes and a multi-cultural staff of 80 people at The Emirates Golf Club Dubai, UAE, site of a European PGA Tour tournament.
"We are fortunate to have Josh on our team," said Eagle Creek General Manager Gary Piotrowski. "He brings with him a vast array of experience, not only from his work at courses in this area, but also from the job he did in Dubai. He has proven to be not only a premier keeper of the golf course, but also a first-class manager of people and resources."
Czarnecki is equally as impressed with the course and staff at Eagle Creek.
"It’s a great opportunity for me to be a part of a first-class operation like Eagle Creek," said Czarnecki." Gary and Tony (Crawford, head golf professional) are great guys to work around. They have a high attention to detail, and that is what I am all about. I am excited to be part of a great team with high expectations."
The golf course has been a pleasant surprise to Czarnecki.
"Eagle Creek’s design is a fun layout, and it has a lot of potential," he said. "I am really impressed with all I have seen with the Mini Verde greens. I am excited to continue to build upon what they have already accomplished here at Eagle Creek, and to make it the best in Orlando."
When it opened in March 2004, Eagle Creek was the first golf course in Florida to utilize Mini Verde on its greens, and so far the decision has proven to be a good one. Mini Verde is the fifth type of ultra dwarf Bermuda in existence. It provides extremely durable and fast-rolling putting surfaces. It is similar to Bent grass, which promotes a truer, faster putter surface than Bermuda. But Bent grass can only be maintained in cooler climates. Mini Verde is much sturdier than its Bermuda family members, and thus can stand the heat of Florida’s summers.
"Our greens continue to be the star of the show here," said Piotrowski. "Like a lot of courses in the area, we suffered briefly from the hurricanes and the wet weather pattern over the last two years. But our greens came back in a big way. They really held up well and are in great shape now."
Eagle Creek, the highly acclaimed Ron Garl/Howard Swan design has hosted dozens of major golf competitions and corporate outings in its two years of existence, including the National Finals of the Buick Scramble, the PGA Pro-Pro Series, the National Championships of the Mutual of Omaha Drive, Chip & Putt Junior Challenge on The Golf Channel and many others.
Several important ones are on the horizon, including two FGSA events – a Florida State Junior Championship qualifier this year and the 2007 Florida State Public Links Championship.
Along with recognition as one of the top event management courses in Central Florida, Eagle Creek has also gained a reputation as an outstanding golf course. Travel and Leisure magazine tabbed Eagle Creek as one of the top 10 new courses in Florida this decade; the par-5 18th has been named among the best finishing holes in Florida; The Grille Room was named by Orlando magazine as one of the top 10 19th Holes in the region.
Located just minutes from Orlando International Airport, Eagle Creek proved to be a favorite among visiting golfers as their "getaway round," thus the slogan "Save The Best ‘Til Last" was the theme of one Eagle Creek advertising campaign.
For more information about Eagle Creek Golf Club, or to schedule a tee time please call (407) 273-GOLF or visit the club’s Web site at www.eaglecreekgolf.info.
Contact:
Mike Jamison
407-330-4674
mike@jamisongolf.com
