Sycamore Hills Golf Club Hires Nationally Recognized Eric Schneider as New COO and General Manager
FORT WAYNE, Ind., January 18, 2012—Sycamore Hills Golf Club announced today it has hired Eric Schneider as its new COO and general manager. Schneider’s 30-year career has been spent as a PGA professional and in club management, most recently as vice president, club and golf operations for Georgia-based Sea Island Company, where he also had a tenure as general manager of the Forbes Five Star, AAA Five Diamond Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club. He is a PGA Master Professional, has been named PGA National Merchandiser of the Year for Private Clubs, and managed winners of Golf World magazine’s Business Top 100 Golf Shops five times.
“We are honored to have someone of Eric’s caliber on board at Sycamore,” said club managing director Barry LaBov. “His experience in national PGA and USGA events and private club management are a rare combination. To bring him to our Fort Wayne club is phenomenal, for both the members and the community. With the lineup of championships we have, Eric will be able to jump right in and lead. We are truly excited. His energy, enthusiasm and experience will help us continue to grow and develop our membership, and attract even more national events.”
“Sycamore Hills’ national reputation and ability to attract the championships it has are true testaments to the quality of the club’s facilities, members, leadership and employees. Everyone involved has a sense of ownership and continuity of purpose for the club to bring high-profile events the whole community can share,” said Schneider. “That is both unusual and a great asset.”
Schneider grew up in Fort Wayne, leaving in 1996 to pursue bigger career opportunities. “I am still very connected to Fort Wayne and my longtime friends there, so I look forward to returning. Fort Wayne is an attractive place and I am excited to be a part of a club like Sycamore Hills and to continue its reputation for bringing gracious, attentive service in outstanding facilities,” added Schneider.
Schneider officially takes the reins in March, replacing outgoing COO Don Hunter, who is headed to Chapel Hill Country Club in North Carolina. “Don has done a great deal to elevate our national reputation and he will be missed,” said LaBov. “But we understand his career goals and desire to move back to the south. We wish him nothing but the best, and we are confident in his continued success.”
Hunter commented, “It is refreshing to know that such a talented professional will be picking up the COO role. I am more excited now than ever for the potential future success of Sycamore Hills Golf with Eric at the helm.”
About Sycamore Hills Golf Club
The Jack Nicklaus-designed Sycamore Hills Golf Club opened in 1989 and is one of the Midwest’s preeminent golfing venues. Golf Digest magazine has honored it as the top course in Indiana twice and ranked it more than 10 times as one of America’s top 100 courses, most recently ranking it No. 69 for 2011-2012. Sycamore Hills has hosted the 2009 USGA Women’s State Team Championship, the 2010 and 2011 Junior PGA Championships and the 2011 US Senior Open qualifier. Sycamore is scheduled to host the 2012 Junior PGA Championship and the 2013 U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship. You can learn more about Sycamore Hills Golf Club online at www.sycamorehillsgolfclub.com.
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Media Contact:
Sonya Beckley
LaBov & Beyond, Inc.
sbeckley@labov.com
260.348.3749
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