Provided by Casino Marousi – Καζίνο Μαρούσι
https://casinomarousi.com
https://casinomarousi.gr

Jun 28, 2023
Dennis Grall photo Nate Rousseau has been named director of golf at Sweetgrass Golf Club. The 2019 Escanaba High School graduate will replace Dave Douglas, who is retiring July 8.
HARRIS — Dave Douglas has helped guide tremendous growth as Island Resort & Casino has become a major player in the golf resort world.
Douglas will retire July 8, opening the door for fellow Escanaba High School graduate Nate Rousseau to become director of golf. He will take over at Sweetgrass Golf Club and Sage Run Golf Course, two of the state’s premier golf facilities.
Yet Island Resort & Casino general manager Tony Mancilla says “golf does not drive us. We are a casino first. Golf is an amenity. Golf is a good fit for us.”
Rousseau, a 2019 EHS grad who hasn’t even received his diploma as a 2023 Ferris State University grad, has a ton of experience thanks to his FSU career. He began working at Escanaba Country Club before he even graduated and has held intern positions at Sweetgrass, prestigious Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, N.J. (retired quarterback Tom Brady is a member) and Benton Harbor Point O’ Woods Golf and Country Club among seven other courses.
“He is a good fit for us,” said Mancilla. “He is not bringing 20 years of experience, but he will eventually understand what we do. This is a great opportunity for him.”
Mancilla said Island Resort & Casino has enjoyed bountiful success through various expansions and noted Rousseau “brings a lot of tools with him. He can look at our customers and make packages based on what our customers are looking for. We are getting a lot of demand for what we offer.”
Sweetgrass was selected course of the year in 2022 by the National Golf Course Owners Association (Ryder Cup 2022 host Whistling Straits received that designation in 2023).
Mancilla said that award helped “get us overrun with tee times,” noting Sweetgrass will book more than 39,000 rounds this year after getting 36,500 last year. “He (Rousseau) understands the package concept.” Mancilla said lodging has been “pretty full.”
Mancilla said it will be important to increase convention space and perhaps add another nine holes at Sage Run to increase openings for people who prefer to play morning golf rounds. “We want to get through this summer,” he said.
Part of Rousseau’s role will be to merge the golf, lodging and customer packages together. Mancilla said “I feel he will be a long-term solution. I was looking for someone with a business degree and who would get us to the next level.”
Rousseau knows he has big shoes to fill and is looking forward to the challenge.
“There is a lot going on in golf,” Rousseau said, indicating he plans to work with Douglas to learn the ins and outs of the trade. “I’m still in the process of letting it sink in,” he said of his new job.
“I’d like to take what Dave has to say and take it to heart. I’m not sure it has sunk in yet. I would like to have the kind of career Dave had. I hope to maintain the level of professionalism Dave had here. We have an unbelievable facility. A lot of people know about this place.
“My goal is to grow the game even more than we did, make sure communication is great and maintain a good staff that enjoys working,” he said.
Douglas started at Sweetgrass in 2008 and added Sage Run when that opened in 2018. He had been director of golf at Gladstone Terrace Bluff Golf Course for 19 years and also spent two years at Appleton, Wis. Butte des Morts CC.
Douglas, who is an excellent player and has three brothers who are also standout players, plans to play more golf once he gets out of the clubhouse. “I enjoy playing the game instead of working the game,” he said. His son, Bryce, won the 2019 UPGA men’s title and received a golf scholarship to the University of Detroit.
Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox
Saturday’s games Soccer NLL tournament at Big Bay de Noc, 8:30 a.m. Cross country Rudyard at Rudyard …
FLAT ROCK — The Marquette cross country teams continued their dominance here Thursday by sweeping both ends of …
Look for the rest of our Week 8 High School football coverage online and in print on Monday, Oct. 16.
NORWAY — It took some time, but the Norway Knights were able to step up and win what is probably the school’s …
Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Copyright © Daily Press | https://www.dailypress.net | 600 Ludington St., Escanaba, MI 49829 | 906-786-2021

source
Visit
Provided by Casino Marousi – Καζίνο Μαρούσι
https://casinomarousi.com
https://casinomarousi.gr

Contact : casinomarousi@gmail.com

Please follow and like us: