River
Chase Golf Course
New
managers plan upgrades
for River Chase Golf Course
Membership
drive is now under way for the 2006 season
By
Don Ward
Editor
MADISON, Ind. (January 2006) River Chase Golf
Course will offer some physical changes and new management when the
downtown Madison, Ind., nine-hole facility re-opens next season.
The ownership group has leased the course to partners
Ernie Gauck and Brian Daeger of Greensburg, Ind., after the previous
management team, led by Johnny Gullion of Scottsburg, opted not to renew
its contract. Gauck and Daeger introduced themselves at a Dec. 14 reception
at Bella Vista Restaurant, located on the site of the former Madison
Country Club.
Gauck owns and operates North Branch Golf Course, a 27-hole facility
in Greensburg. Daeger is a certified public accountant who works in
health care administration at a Batesville Hospital. North Branch Golf
Course pro Kurt Balser, who attended the December reception, plans to
divide his time between the two courses to provide instruction and direct
major outings. An on-site manager will likely be hired to direct the
day-to-day operations, Gauck said.
The new managers outlined their plans for generating profit at the semi-public
course to nearly 40 people in attendance. Those plans include an aggressive
membership drive, numerous outings, leagues and golf pro shop sales.
The golf course is owned by a group of former Madison Country Club members.
Owners representative Tony Waltz told the group that a new 20x40-foot
golf pro shop/clubhouse would soon be constructed on the premises to
replace the existing pro shop. The outside patio below the restaurant
will continue to be used for post-golf parties, he said. The new managers
already have applied for a three-way liquor license to serve alcohol
at the clubhouse, Waltz said.
Other physical changes to the course include leveling of some tee boxes
and the creation of a four-way tee system by adding a senior tee box,
Gauck said. There will also be a new fleet of gasoline-powered golf
carts that he will bring in. He also wants to figure out a way to create
a driving range at the facility, perhaps by using colored balls in the
fairways.
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Photo
provided
Hole
5 at River Chase Golf Course.
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The partners said they want to create a fun, yet affordable
place to play golf in Madison.
Tee times will be enforced, Gauck said, to make playing the course equally
accessible to members and non-members, alike. We are here to make
money, and to do that we need the public, he said. The more
revenue we can generate, the more we can do for you as players.
He promised to hold outings only on Saturdays and to keep Sunday play
open.
We came down here and saw a real opportunity with this course
to try and repeat the success weve had at Greensburg, Daeger
said. Were here to listen to your ideas and try to incorporate
them.
The new managers want to start a new ladies league, hold a pro-member
tournament and offer Senior Day on Mondays. We have
that up at Greensburg, and the people there just love it, Gauck
said.
Madison golfer Stacy Ginn said he was pleased with what he heard at
the reception. I love playing golf here, and Im glad they
were able to find someone so soon to take it over. It sounds like they
know what theyre doing.
The new managers used the reception to sign up members for the 2006
calendar year. Rates are $450 for a single membership; $550 per family
(two adults and all children under 18); and $75 per junior (for those
under age 18 if parents are not members). A collegiate rate also is
being considered for $150. Those rates are for green fees only and do
not include the cart fee, which is $5 per nine holes. A 20-punch per
9-hole golf cart card will be available for $90.
Weekday fees for non-members are: $8 per nine holes walking; $12 per
18 holes walking; $14 per nine holes riding; $24 per 18 holes riding.
Weekend fees for non-members are: $11 per nine holes walking; $15 per
18 holes walking; $17 per nine holes riding; $27 per 18 holes riding.
The course will open in the spring as soon as weather permits, Gauck
said.
For more information, call pro Kurt Balser
at North Branch Golf Course at (812) 663-6062.
Back to January 2006
Articles.