Mariani takes over golf operations at Gogebic Country Club

IRONWOOD – Gary Mariani was recently named the new Manager of Golf Operations at the Gogebic Country Club after golf pro Tyler Leskela resigned to pursue employment opportunities out of the area.

“We thank Tyler for giving us 3 to 4 good years, but he was ready to move on to full-time employment,” said Cheryl Carr, who is the president of the Gogebic Country Club’s Board of Directors. “So we were looking for somebody and Gary had worked with Tyler and managed the golf pro shop. He had the background and knowledge of the course, the golf systems and the business end of it. He had the whole package and then he presented his plans to us with a lot of enthusiasm. He had some great ideas and possibilities. We were lucky to get someone like Gary—he will be a great asset. Now we can continue to run smoothly and have less interruption.”

Mariani seemed to be excited to be hired into his new position and is eager to get started.

“I was asked to take the job and I was more than happy to do it,” Mariani said. “I love golf and I look forward to the challenge of building up memberships and running a business. A golf course has big expenses, but we want to try and make improvements and make things better.

“But one of my main goals is working with all the people at the golf course. People have a lot of stress and health issues and I want them to come out and enjoy the game and have a good memory. Enjoy it and come back. I invite people to stop by the Pro Shop and have a cup of coffee. I enjoy dealing with people on an everyday basis.”

Besides being in charge of the daily operations of the golf course such as collecting green fees, managing the Pro Shop, running the different leagues and the business part of the Gogebic Country Club, Mariani said he wants to promote the game of golf and different activities at the golf course.

“Public relations is important and I want to promote and get people to our tournaments by getting the word out,” Mariani said. “On June 6, we have the Wakefield-Marenisco Booster Club Tournament and on June 13, there’s the Ironwood Sports Hall of Fame Tournament. And on June 20, we have the Gogebic Community College Classic.”

And then there’s the granddaddy of all golf tournaments in the area—the Milakovich Memorial, which has no trouble filling up with 100 teams and 200 golfers. The country club always hosts the tournament on the third Saturday in July and it brings in people from far and wide along with great weather.

Mariani is concerned that not enough young people are taking up golf and he feels that if they try the sport they’ll like it.

“I want to put special emphasis on youth and getting kids out golfing,” he said. “I want golf to be a positive thing for them. Starting on June 9, we would like to start golf lessons to teach them how to play. It would be for the junior kids (ages seven on up). Just hitting a lot of golf balls and if they don’t have clubs or golf balls, we have them here. All they have to do is show up. We’re hoping to do that on a weekly basis.”

For the older kids, Mariani is hoping to put together weekly matches with area high school and GCC students. It would be another opportunity to get young people playing and having “a good time.”

And Mariani hasn’t forgot about potential adult golfers. On Tuesday nights, he wants to start adult group lessons for beginning and intermediate golfers. Once again, Mariani wants to teach the adults how to golf, but also have fun doing it.

There are many facets to running a successful golf club and Mariani can’t do it alone.

Fred Tijan, of Hurley, is still invaluable as the Head of Golf Maintenance and he and his staff keep the 18-hole course in good playing shape, especially in dealing with some adverse U.P. weather conditions. And area golf clubs are not blessed with big budgets that could be used for new projects and improvements.

Chris and Carlo Lahti have entered into a new agreement to provide restaurant and bar services at the Elk and Hound, which could also be called “the 19th hole.”

“The Pro Shop and Elk and Hound are like two businesses working together,” Mariani said.

Mariani is aware area golfers have the itch to get out golfing, but he has no control over the weather.

“I know everybody is getting shack happy,” Mariani said. “We’re shooting for a May 1 start. If the weather permits, we might be able to open a little sooner.”