Hailing from Gaylord, Michigan, PGA of America Golf Professional Kyle Holmes has managed the Quail Ridge Golf Club in Ada, Michigan for the past six years. Holmes grew up around golf, as his dad was a course superintendent, and he would go on to be part of the Grand Valley State University men’s golf team for four years.
After college, Holmes served at several clubs as an assistant golf professional, head professional and even in the general manager position. He’s worked in Michigan, Minnesota and was once an assistant at the famed Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, New York in 2011.
Holmes purchased Quail Ridge Golf Club from its previous owners this past winter and closed on the deal on January 27 of this year. His business partner and co-owner is Tim Topolinski, the club’s superintendent and the first employee that Quail Ridge ever had.
“He’s the heartbeat of this place,” says Holmes, “because he’s never left.”
Quail Ridge Golf Club is a high-functioning 18-hole public golf course that tips out at almost 7,000 yards and hosts 45,000 rounds of golf in its relatively short eight-month season. The driving range has grass and mat hitting stations and golfers enjoy a short game area and two practice putting greens.
“Just a few months into this endeavor, course ownership doesn’t feel much different from the role I had before purchasing the facility,” Holmes explains. “Our previous ownership was very hands-off, trusting the way I ran the business. I had a lot of autonomy to do what I always felt was best for the facility. They were always available when I needed them, but were so supportive to allow me and our superintendent to take the proper measures to maximize profitability.”
As course owner, Holmes has a small team of golf and F&B professionals who make Quail Ridge a home away from home for its golfers and a wedding destination for local couples tying the knot.
Marc Gerst is a new PGA Associate Assistant Professional who will assist in golf operations, tournament administration, golf shop sales and service, coaching and even events through the F&B department when needed.
F&B is led by head chef Charlie Schroder, a 13-year veteran of Quail Ridge. He hires the kitchen staff and prepares the many delicious meals served to Holme’s die-hard core public golfers and members.
In the restaurant, burgers, wraps and salads are the preferred fare, and the bar is often busy with golfers sharing stories or catching up on the big game.
Kristin Dreger oversees the F&B service staff and is Holmes’ “day-of” wedding representative who facilitates the events after Holmes himself meets with prospective wedding clients as they tour the facility and discuss their goals and desires for their big day.
“I am very detail-oriented and good with people,” Holmes explains. “I want to be the face of the facility in not just golf, but in our wedding planning and special events hosting, as well. I enjoy seeing them through the process.”
Membership is capped at just 50 golfers and they predominantly play on weekday mornings before weeknight leagues commence or public play fills the weekend tee sheet. In addition, Holmes is proud to host more than 45 outside outings of 80-140 people and countless smaller ones as well.
With five young children between 4-12 years old, the 38-year-old Holmes looks forward to the day when he’s not the one unlocking the doors each morning. As a new owner, that takes trust, of course. When speaking with him, Holmes had nothing but stellar remarks to say about his team. He anticipates a time when he can “train his replacement so he can step away from the day-to-day grind and take a summer vacation with his family” without stressing over whether or not the business is running as smoothly as it does when he’s on the property.
Despite the extensive duties he has as co-owner and GM, Holmes still teaches as much as he can. He’s got clinics planned for this year that have been wildly popular in the past. Some programs starting up in April and May include those for women and men, and he has big plans for his junior golfers this summer.
Holmes doesn’t stock a lot of clubs in the golf shop but does sell a good amount of hard goods via custom fittings. He carries wedges and putters in the shop and is a huge seller of TaylorMade golf balls, one of the biggest green grass accounts in the state.
“Michigan is a golf-crazed state, and Grand Rapids is an affluent area. However, there are very few really good public golf courses. I’m proud to say that we sell out about 75 percent of our days and are seeing golf continuing to thrive,” he adds. “The opportunity to get into facility ownership was too hard to pass up, as every year exceeds my expectations by 20 or 30 percent.”