By Helen Farrelly
Ask any golfer about what defines a club, and they’ll tell you it’s the people. That sentiment certainly holds true at the Meadow Brook Club, where two of the people who have helped shape the club over the past few decades are set to retire after this season. Dennis Harrington has served as the general manager for 40 years, making a tremendous impact at the club, while golf course superintendent John Carlone’s work has allowed Meadow Brook to maintain its status as one of the best-conditioned courses in the Met Area for 29 years. The club, as well as golf in the area, has greatly benefited from Harrington and Carlone’s work and their shared desire to always be improving.
Harrington got his start in the restaurant industry at 15, working near his home in Northport, N.Y., on the North Shore of Long Island. After attending Wesleyan University, where he was a defensive tackle and co-captain of the football team, Harrington became a graduate assistant coach for the New York Jets, reporting to the defensive coordinator and preparing weekly scouting reports. More coaching jobs followed, as did stints with Hunt West and Foods and McNeil Laboratories, before he migrated back to the restaurant industry.
“I just always liked being around food and people and chatting and whatnot,” he says.
While working as a restaurant manager, he met a chef from Manhasset Bay Yacht Club, who encouraged him to break into the club industry. Manhasset Bay was Harrington’s introduction to the club world – he was the assistant manager there for four years before he was hired at Meadow Brook in 1986.
“I was 31 when I came; I’m 71 now, and I haven’t really stopped moving since I got here,” he adds. “There’s always something to do to make it better. I’m a big believer in that.”
Harrington has certainly left his mark at the club, handling all aspects of the club’s operations with ease and always providing a welcoming environment to everyone who walks through the doors at Meadow Brook. He played an integral role when the club hosted the Long Island Classic on the PGA Tour Champions from 1988–2002. He’s also been involved in the planning of all outings, club events, and local tournaments, and oversees all day-to-day operations of the club. He’s still made time to volunteer, serving as chair of various committees with the Metropolitan Club Managers Association (he was inducted into the MCMA Hall of Fame in 2011). He was inducted into the Honor Society of the Club Managers Association of America and is currently serving as hospitality co-chair of the upcoming Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
He has the ability to find staff who not only meet his standards and high level of performance but also reflect the values and culture of the club. He personally greets all members and guests and ensures that their needs are met. While running a “tight ship,” he possesses a keen sense of humor and creates a comfortable atmosphere where everyone feels like family.
Harrington has certainly seen many changes in his four decades at the club, but there’s one principle he always comes back to. “The one thing that you can’t lose is the human side of the business, how you treat people,” he says. “I’m a big believer in moments of truth, like the first shot you get to say hello to someone or to meet someone to shake their hand, look them in the eye.”
That personal touch is a hallmark of Meadow Brook.
“We are most proud of our ability to provide our members and guests with a premier golf experience in a welcoming environment in which camaraderie and respect are paramount,” says current club president Bill Collins. “These qualities are embedded in our cherished club culture, and Dennis has been of profound influence in their cultivation here over these past 40 years. For all of that, we are deeply grateful.”
Up next for Harrington in retirement is more family time, travel, and hopes to visit all the baseball fields in America.
Harrington’s colleague for the past 29 years, John Carlone, knows every blade of grass and grain of sand on the property. The Carlone family has called Meadow Brook home since 1996, when John accepted the superintendent role after spending 11 years at Middle Bay Country Club, and moved his young family into their home on the club property when his children were 6, 3, and 1 – they’re now 35, 33, and 30.
Carlone developed his strong work ethic working at Carlone’s Florist, which his parents started in 1954, in Portsmouth, R.I. After graduating from the University of Rhode Island turf program, he worked at the Stanwich Club under Scott Niven before he made the move to Long Island and Middle Bay.
His first task was getting the course ready for the 1997 Long Island Classic. Despite the strain of hosting a championship in late July or early August, a strenuous time for superintendents in the Northeast, Carlone describes the events as “a lot of fun. I really enjoyed it.” Tour officials and competitors credited Carlone with greatly improving course conditions, ensuring that the tournament returned to Meadow Brook.
Carlone has witnessed many changes in the industry, notably the introduction of lightweight fairway mowers in the early 1980s, improvements with chemicals used on the course, and the switch to soft spikes.
Carlone worked closely with Bradley Klein on the renovations done to the course in 2016, when the course was closed for nearly nine months before reopening for the 2017 season. The project included new tees, bunker renovations, a new short-game area, and a greens project. Length was added to the course, taking the blue tees from 7,101 to 7,475 yards. Over the years, numerous trees have been removed to open views and improve the quality of the turf, much to the satisfaction of members and guests.
Carlone has also dedicated his time to industry groups, including serving as the president of the Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association. He was honored by the MetGCSA with the Sherwood A. Moore award in 2013 for “advancing the professional image, status and reputation of the golf course superintendent.”
In addition to the Long Island Classic, Meadow Brook has been a tremendous supporter of local golf, hosting three Met Opens, three Ikes, and three Met Amateurs, as well as the Met PGA and other local events throughout the years.
“The club has hosted every group,” Carlone says. “They have a history of doing that, and probably always will. And I was very happy to be a part of it. I enjoyed doing it, it was fun showcasing the club, and it’s a great golf course on a great piece of land.”
His swan song was this year’s Met Open.
“Hosting the Met Open in the summer just days before John’s retirement this fall has been a wonderful opportunity for us to showcase the results of his dedicated service to our club over the last 29 years,” Collins says. “During John’s tenure here, and as a consequence of his leadership, our golf course has evolved and improved dramatically, and this was on full display during the Met Open.”
With the Met Open in his rearview mirror, Carlone can now fully focus on his next chapter while reflecting on the memories made at Meadow Brook.
Thanks to Harrington and Carlone’s impact and dedication to the club, the members have many fine memories, too.