(RESTON, VA) – Billy Casper Golf (BCG) – the highly respected and innovative manager of golf courses, country clubs and resorts – has been selected to partner with Oglebay Resort and Wheeling Park in Wheeling, WV. The partnership centers on BCG overseeing golf operations, and strengthening the Ohio Valley’s golf offering for the future.
BCG will guide golf course maintenance, marketing, sales; staffing and training, merchandising, food and beverage, golf instruction and financial management for Oglebay’s three golf courses, and Bloch Memorial Golf Course at Wheeling Park. With more than 500,000 golfers living within a three-hour drive of the property, BCG’s management will position Wheeling Park Commission’s golf portfolio to become even more of a “go-to” golf destination and enhance, as well as improve the experience for local golfers.
“Oglebay and Wheeling Park have a storied golf history that’s approaching its centennial,” says Stephen Hilliard, President and CEO of Wheeling Park Commission, the governing body of Oglebay. “Billy Casper Golf’s state-of-the-art operating and marketing platforms, guest and employee service programs, and course conditioning strategies will ensure our golf program positions us as a local and regional golf powerhouse and prepare our brand for the next generation.”
Oglebay’s 63 golf holes present a compelling mix of classic and modern styles. The Speidel Golf Club houses two championship layouts – the Jones Course (Robert Trent Jones, Sr.) and the (Arnold) Palmer Course. The original course – Crispin – opened in 1930 and, at just over 5,600 yards, is ideal for players of all abilities. Oglebay also boasts a Par 3 course and driving range. Rounding out the courses is the family-friendly, nine-hole executive Bloch Memorial at Wheeling Park.
“Our namesake, the late Billy Casper, would’ve loved to be involved with Oglebay’s rich golf tradition and valued spot in the Wheeling community,” says Peter Hill, Chairman and CEO of BCG. “Our team is intensely focused on building a lasting partnership with Oglebay and Wheeling Park by developing more golf programming to increase rounds played and solidify long-term customer value.”
Those interested in new employment opportunities for the 2017 core golf season should visit the Speidel Clubhouse for more information and an application.
About Oglebay and Wheeling Park
Situated in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains one hour southwest of Pittsburgh, Oglebay features exceptional overnight accommodations, world-class amenities and 1,700 acres of year-round recreational opportunities. Swimming, tennis, horse stables, miniature golf, mountain biking, an aerial adventure course, miles of paved walking and jogging trails, shopping and sightseeing are among the activities.
Once the estate of Earl W. Oglebay, the land dates back to the late 1700s. Upon his death in 1926, Oglebay willed his property to the people of Wheeling for as long as “they operate it as a place for public recreation.” Today it is the only self-supporting public municipal resort in operation. Funded mainly through operations, Oglebay Park has more free activities than many facilities of its type in the country and attracts more than one million visitors annually.
Oglebay is widely known for its variety of golf courses, including two championship layouts at the Speidel Golf Club. The par-71 Arnold Palmer design is a modern links layout that takes advantage of rolling terrain with strategically-placed bunkers, contemporary mounding and ample-size greens. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., the Jones Course is draped over the hills and dales of a former dairy farm, and hosted the West Virginia LPGA Classic for 11 years. A nine-hole, par-3, full-service practice range and short-game area at Speidel offers warm-up and game-improvement opportunities. The property also features the 18-hole regulation Crispin Course – Oglebay’s original layout. In addition, Wheeling Park’s Bloch Memorial nine-hole, executive course, provides a nice complement for golfers of all abilities, located just minutes away in residential Wheeling.
Oglebay Resort accommodations include the inviting, 251-room Wilson Lodge, quaint cottages overlooking the lush greens of the golf courses, and spacious estate houses. With more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space, Oglebay amenities meet today’s business demands and are an ideal setting for training programs and corporate retreats.
More information: www.oglebay.com, 304.241.2545
About Billy Casper Golf
Billy Casper Golf is one of the largest privately owned golf course management companies in the U.S., with nearly 150 properties in 29 states. Headquartered in Reston, Va. – with regional offices across America – BCG has more than 25 years of results-driven expertise. The company specializes in full-service course management as well as assistance in specific segments of the golf business, including course and property maintenance, staffing and training, career growth, clubhouse operations, food and beverage, merchandising, golf instruction, marketing and public relations, special events and financial management.
BCG continues to evolve the golf experience through customized solutions and innovative programs like the annual World’s Largest Golf Outing – a national golf fundraiser conceived by BCG Chairman and CEO Peter Hill. The company recently launched its newest management solution, Billy Casper Signature, as a boutique division focused on country club, resort and private club management.
More information: www.billycaspergolf.com, 703.761.1444
Contact:
Kira Jones
Buffalo.Agency
703.940.3599
kjones@buffalo.agency
