RESTORING ROSS at MAKETEWAH

The Cincinnati, Ohio club enlisted architect Brian Silva to return the Golden Age Donald Ross design to its original intent.

By Rob Thomas, Editor

WHAT’S OLD IS NEW AGAIN at Maketewah Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio. The club recently completed a $6.5 million master plan restoration to the “Golden Age” Donald Ross golf course.

Construction began in September 2022 and was completed in November 2022. Cart path installation was completed in May of 2023, and the course re-opened for play on June 1, 2023.

“Maketewah prides itself on being a golfers’ country club,” says General Manager Mark Bechtel. “Our Mission is to ‘Securely establish Maketewah Country Club as the first choice for those seeking the best golf experience in Greater Cincinnati, while providing excellent dining and social experiences.’”

Restoration

For the all-important golf aspect of the member experience, the club enlisted Brian Silva, who specializes in Ross restorations. “Each hole is a unique journey all itself,” he says. “The land has great character.”

“The membership at Maketewah is delighted to see the completed result of our course,” Bechtel said in a prior release. “With a full clubhouse and pool renovation, elevated indoor practice facility and dining experiences, as well as growing membership, the course redesign is the crown jewel in achieving member satisfaction for years to come.”

Bechtel says the process started with a Master Plan Committee to decide a direction for the course.

“Once the committee was formed, they selected Brian Silva as the course architect,” he explains. “Silva then presented a plan to the committee which was then presented to the membership. Each phase was financed by the membership, which required a membership vote to move forward.”

Being a golf-centric property, Dave Bahr, the club’s Head Golf Professional, needed to be proactive with members during the restoration.

“We engaged our membership by keeping our practice facilities open for their practicing pleasure, creating a simulator league in our new Trackman simulator room and maintaining reciprocity with most of the area clubs,” Bahr says.

Golf Activity

Maketewah logs between 20,000-22,000 rounds annually, including a pair of Member-Member events (spring and late summer), Club Championship in July, and Member-Guest in September.

“I would also include the U.S. Open qualifier in May that we have hosted over 50 times,” Bahr says.

In many parts of Ohio, the winter months can be long and hard on golfers, but Maketewah is uniquely situated.

“Our offseason can be fairly short in Cincinnati … we have many years when we play each month of the year,” Bahr says. “With that said, our winters consist of giving many lessons in our indoor practice facility, which in- cludes a state-of-the-art video room and club fitting room, administering our simulator league, hosting events such as our Snowflake and Founders cup putting events, etc.”

The heart of the season runs between Memorial Day and Labor Day, but Bahr also points to the club’s occasional Pilgrim Scramble around Thanksgiving and a Dick Clark par 3 event on New Year’s Eve.

With golf at the forefront of activity, it’s incredibly important for Bahr and Golf Course Superintendent Ted White to be on the same page. White says the two communicate “every day” and he “will call him as soon as possible to inform him of the situation” if something unexpected pops up.

White’s staff—24 part-time employees and six full time workers—has been bolstered in 2023. “This is the first year that we participated in the H2B Visa program,” he says. “It has been fantastic.” Which is a good thing, considering maintenance needs have increased.

“We now have more work to do with regards to bunkers … because we have more,” White says. “With the new grasses on the tees and fairways, we are able to push the turf more.

Executive Chef Brandon Bobb’s menu changes often and he challenges himself and his staff to maintain a 90% from-scratch kitchen. “It helps keep off the stagnation of cooking the same things over and over again,” he says.

Mealtime At The Mak

Cincinnati may be known nationally for its chili, but Executive Chef Brandon Bobb’s menus go much deeper and change often.

“We are very seasonally charged at Mak. We sometimes change one item or two but sometimes we scrap everything and start from scratch,” Bobb says. “In the off season we change our entire menus monthly with different themes and variations on the features. We believe the exercise of change helps us to become better chefs, to keep the membership engaged when golf isn’t at its high point, and continue to grow and learn ourselves in this industry.

The indoor practice facility includes a state-ofthe-art video room and club fitting room. The club hosts a simulator league and events such as the Snowflake and Founders cup putting competitions.

“It’s very important to me that we continue to strive to learn and change,” he adds. “This is why we challenge ourselves and maintain a 90% from-scratch kitchen. We make everything. Also, it helps keep off the stagnation of cooking the same things over and over again.”

Staffing has been an issue across the industry, but Bobb—a graduate from the Midwest Culinary Institute at Cincinnati State University—doesn’t have to go far in search of new talent.

“I go directly there every season and get the very new, greenest chefs that have a desire to be great. I want passion and I will take that over skill any day,” Bobb says. “I retain my staff by leading and letting them be themselves. I work directly with their growth and show them how to reach that next level. I listen and engage. I would never ask them to do anything that I wouldn’t do, and I show them my loyalty to them and my job.

“I love being a Chef and I want them to want it as bad as I always do every day I put on this uniform,” he adds. “I think by leading and teaching everything I know and just being present with them every day is what keeps them here with me.”

Off The Course

Off the golf course (and not counting the 10,000-sq.-ft Indoor Golf Practice Center with TrackMan and leagues, hitting bays, putting and bunker greens), Maketewah offers members platform tennis, bowling leagues, and an ac tive pool scene.

“We offer a full social activity and event schedule for all ages of members,” says Seana Hue, Director of Membership and Market- ing. “We also offer several and various social activities and events year-round that are geared just for families, including: platform tennis themed events, swim team and lessons, movie nights … family bowling nights, slime making parties, and an annual Easter egg hunt; all include various entertainment surprises such as a D.J., bounce house, face painting, or other special activity.”

Seana Hue, Director of Membership and Marketing, says attracting new members and retaining existing members comes holistically.

Maketewah Country Club members enjoy an active pool scene and competitive swim team. Additionally, the club offers non-golf amenities such as pickleball, platform tennis and a six-lane bowling alley.

With myriad activities, attracting new members and retaining existing members comes holistically.

“Our membership are our best brand ambassadors who are active in referring friends, family and colleagues, which whom we provide consistent updates on club development and sharable content about the club,” Hue says. “We retain our existing members by keeping them informed and engaged. Organic growth and member testimonials communicated through social media platforms is our most important and successful means of conversion to membership.” CRB