Wickenburg, Ariz. (September 12, 2017) – Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club has named Ed Shimkus as the club’s new director of agronomy and Mollie Beale as the new director of membership. Shimkus will oversee all agronomy operations for the club’s award-winning 18-hole, par-71 course known as Big Wick as well as its 9-hole, par-3 course, Li’l Wick. Beale will continue to grow the club’s membership as Wickenburg Ranch begins to transition to a private club.
Located in historic Wickenburg, Ariz., approximately one hour northwest of downtown Phoenix near the intersection of Highways 89 and 93, Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club will ultimately become an exclusive private club reserved for members and their guests. For a limited time as the community builds out, the spectacular club will be open to a controlled amount of unaccompanied non-member play.
Shimkus has 23-plus years of agronomy and turf management experience at many high-profile Arizona golf courses. Most recently, Shimkus served as the golf course superintendent at Scottsdale National Golf Club where he oversaw the construction of 27 new holes and maintenance of the club’s existing 18-hole golf course. Prior to Scottsdale National (formerly The Golf Club Scottsdale), Shimkus worked as Troon Golf’s regional director of agronomy from 1998 to 2002 where he oversaw turf management at the company’s Arizona properties. A former avionics technician in the U.S. Marine Corp, Shimkus is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University’s Turfgrass Management Program.
Beale has 18-plus years of guest and hospitality service experience, having most recently served as the director of food & beverage at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. Prior to being named director of food & beverage, Beale simultaneously served as the director of catering at three facilities, including Troon North, Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix and Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, Ariz. Beale is a graduate of Northern Arizona University with a degree in public relations.
“We welcome Ed and Mollie to the team at Wickenburg Ranch,” said Corby W. Foster, general manager, Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club. “Ed’s experience and fine attention to detail will be invaluable as we transition Wickenburg Ranch to a private club. Meanwhile, Mollie’s energetic and positive approach to work and life will undoubtedly be appreciated by members and her co-workers. We’re excited to have both of them on board.”
The Golf & Social Club is the centerpiece of the Wickenburg Ranch community. The club’s 18-hole par 71 course, known as Big Wick, opened in 2015. Since opening, Big Wick has received numerous accolades including being named No. 4 on Golf Digest’s list of “Top 10 Best New Courses in North America” in 2015 and No. 5 on Golfweek’s 2017 list of “Best Courses You Can Play in Arizona.”
Troon®, the leader in golf course management, development, and marketing, recently began managing the golf and club operations at the award-winning facility located just outside of Phoenix.
To learn more about Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club please visit wickenburgranch.com.
About Wickenburg Ranch
Located in historic Wickenburg, Ariz., Wickenburg Ranch is a luxurious all-ages community with a modern Western flair, offering championship golf, innovative home designs, and a 5-star resort club built on a spectacular site overlooking the golf course and serene desert terrain. For more information, visit www.wickenburgranch.com.
About Troon
Headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Troon is the world’s largest golf management company, with more than 270 golf courses in its portfolio. Troon also specializes in homeowner association management, private residence clubs, estate management and associated hospitality venues. Troon’s award-winning food and beverage division operates and manages more than 150 restaurants located at golf resorts, private clubs, daily fee golf courses and recreational facilities around the world. The company oversees operations at Troon Golf, Honours Golf, Troon Privé (the private club operating division of Troon) and Troon International with properties located in 36 states and 31 countries. Additionally, there are 57 Troon affiliated properties featuring 79 courses that have been recipients of a “Top 100” ranking by national and international publications. Troon properties include Lake of Isles Golf Club in North Stonington, Connecticut; Kapalua on Maui, Hawaii; Mauna Lani Resort on the Kohala Coast on Hawaii; The Centurion Club in London, England; Tiburón Golf Club at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples in Florida; Els Club Desaru Coast in Malaysia; and Palmilla Golf Club in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. For additional news and information, visit www.Troon.com.
Contact:
Rob Myers
Troon
480.477.0506
rmyers@troon.com
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