BJL to lead staff building and elevating the member experience at this historic club

ALPHARETTA, GA – Bobby Jones Links (BJL), the golf industry’s leading client-centric, boutique management company, proudly announces that it is now managing Green Oaks Country Club in Verona, Pa. This classic Donald Ross design is a par-71 that Ben Crenshaw once likened to playing in heaven.  Originally a nine-hole layout, the membership in 1913 engaged Donald Ross for a new 18-hole course after purchasing an additional 46 acres adjacent to the original property. Ross returned in 1914 to finish placing the bunkers, and the course opened in the fall of 1914.

“Pittsburgh is a very golf rich market with an excellent history and Green Oaks is part of that with a classic Donald Ross design and a strong legacy. The club is extremely accessible and it offers a top-notch course and playing experience, as well as a fully amenitized clubhouse with a large members grill, pool, tennis, and new pickleball courts. The board is intent on continuing to elevate the member value proposition through the execution of a strategic capital improvement plan,” said Doug Hellman, Chief Development Officer at BJL.

This classic golf course has certainly remained the centerpiece of the club, and now the BJL team has begun reestablishing and elevating the facility's leadership team. “We are handling the executive search and vetting of all candidates, and in collaboration with the Board will place individuals in key leadership positions who are complementary to achieving the club's and board's goals,” said Hellman. “We immediately placed an interim general manager – Allyson Kahl-Darling – a senior member of our team, so we could hit the ground running. She’s worked with our staff training and leadership center.”

The Green Oaks executive board did a thorough search for the best fit in a management company and chose BJL for their expertise in navigating growth and developing staff with key leaders in critical roles. “We're enthusiastic about the future at Green Oaks with Bobby Jones Links managing the club's operations.  The level of complexity that has come with the club's consistent growth over the past three years made it clear that we needed some help,” said Club President Marc Olin. “I expect the member experience to be elevated by BJL's management and team-building skills and that they will optimize the club's service delivery. We look forward to BJL shepherding the process of hiring for key roles and infusing engaging and enriching programming and culture at Green Oaks. With our recently renovated Donald Ross golf course and fantastic membership, we're confident that Green Oaks can be one of the premier club experiences in the region.”

Green Oaks has a very welcoming environment and showcases its many historical and vintage characteristics. “They put a great deal of time and investment into the course – installing a new irrigation system, removing trees and opening it up so members can fully appreciate how Donald Ross laid out the course more than 100 years ago. It’s really quite spectacular,” said Hellman. “There are no homes lining the fairways and the topography and elevation changes are dramatic, which adds to the enjoyment of playing one of the best historic courses in the Pittsburgh area.”

BJL is also implementing new programming events and member communication platforms immediately. “People are going to notice a dramatic change in the culture of the club and the staff, the level of hospitality and stewardship," said Hellman. "The overall membership experience will be elevated.”

For more information, visit BobbyJonesLinks.com and GreenOaksCC.com.