Glen Oaks is an award-winning gated community in West Des Moines, Iowa, and is the centerpiece of a master-planned community. The Club is shared by friends and families who embody a lifestyle marked by quality, tradition, and unrivaled amenities. World-renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio designed the golf course at Glen Oaks Country Club, and, with any Fazio design, it’s as beautiful as it is challenging. When it comes to course conditioning, Glen Oaks is second-to-none, and the course is consistently ranked in the top 3 in the entire state. The course underwent a major renovation that included rebuilding and…
Author: David Theoret
David Theoret
The Golfin’ Guy aka David (or Dave, but never Davey) Theoret grew up in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, where it was naturally assumed he would play hockey. Beginning at the age of 3 and continuing into his late 30's, he did just that. However, after one too many pucks to the head, he realized that golf was a lot easier on the body and took the game up. Whoever said hockey players were slow? Since that time, golf has become his passion – just ask Belinda. From 2003 until 2009, David ran the sales and marketing department of TravelGolf Media and took his team to over $1M in annual advertising revenue. While at TravelGolf, an editor told him he had a flair for writing and the lightbulb came on. He started writing articles about anything golf related: courses, destinations, resorts, shoes, apparel, equipment and training aids and sending them to websites and magazines. At first, his articles were picked up by a few golf websites and magazines, but the number steadily grew – enough that he could call it a career. Most days he’s on a course somewhere, either working or playing. Actually, to him playing IS work. Occasionally you’ll find him on the practice range reinforcing bad habits. David plays to a 12 handicap - unless there is money involved in which case it goes considerably higher. He currently resides in Fairfield Glade, TN with his wife Belinda and their two "kids," Duncan and Paisley.
Although Blue Hill Country Club is turning 100 years old, there was a point in its history when things looked bleak. Members were trying to find a way to pay down the club’s bank debt and, at the same time, make some necessary improvements. Blue Hill had just completed a $5.9 million irrigation system renovation and golf course improvement project in 2003-2004, but the clubhouse still looked like something out of the 60s, and the golf maintenance building wasn’t up to code. Membership was decreasing, while dues and assessments were increasing. It seemed hopeless. One thought was to sell off…
Tucked away amidst towering pine trees and ancient oaks lies a golf resort that may not be on many golfers’ radar. But then again, Manistee National isn’t your typical golf resort. By comparison, it’s small; a 42-room Inn, a lounge, a full-service restaurant, and two golf courses (actually 2 ½ with the recent addition of The Short Course). But what this Michigan golf resort lacks in size, it more than makes up for in service, aesthetics, and playability. Manistee National is about 2 hours north of Grand Rapids in an area best known for its natural beauty. This explains why…
I think it’s safe to say that the main attraction at Gleneagles is golf, at least for the members I spoke with. Golf course architect Karl Litten originally designed both the Legends and Victory courses. Both have received total renovations by Kipp Schulties and South Florida Golf Renovations, beginning with the Legends in 2011. The newly designed Victory Course reopened in January 2024. Schulties’ renovation of the Victory Course included new tees, fairways, redesigned greens, new wood bulkhead retaining walls, and a state-of-the-art irrigation system. Gleneagles also did a couple of things to enhance the course’s visual aesthetics. Several water…
New Yorkers – particularly those on Long Island – in search of a private club that has it all, should seriously consider Muttontown Club. The first thing that most people notice – and are in awe of – when they arrive at Muttontown Club is the mansion that serves as the clubhouse. This elegant 70,000-square-foot Georgian mansion took five years to build and was completed in 1919 by Howard C. Brokaw, owner of Brokaw Brothers Clothiers of New York City. It was nicknamed “The Chimneys” because of the 13 chimneys and 26 fireplaces spread throughout the 44-room home, which would…
Florida is a much sought-after destination for retirees or those sick and tired of the winter weather. Having recently turned 64, I now fit into both of those categories. And it makes sense. Having grown up in the “snow belt” in London, Ontario, I had seen more snow in 17 years than most will see in a lifetime. Florida offered an opportunity to see sunshine all year round, although sometimes the summer heat can be downright oppressive. And as an avid golfer, it allowed me to play golf twelve months a year. What’s interesting about migration into the state is…
Jack Nicklaus is arguably recognized as the best golfer of all time and as one of the most renowned golf course designers of his time. One of his lesser-known designs is the Sagamore Club in Noblesville, Indiana, a town recognized as one of the most attractive places to live. It’s a city with a small-town feel and big-city amenities just minutes away. In addition to Central Indiana’s only Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, the Sagamore community features beautiful custom homes with wooded water views, walkouts, and low maintenance costs. Lots range from quarter-acre villa sites to estate sites that are almost…
On September 19th, 2023, the headlines in the Yonkers Times newspaper read, “The Summit Club Armonk Gets Approval to Build Westchester’s First Residential Golf Community.” It may not look like much right now, but in due time, things will change. For now, Summit Club consists of an 18-hole golf course and a trailer that serves as the pro shop, snack bar, and sales office. The Club’s history is unique. It was originally named the Canyon Club and was owned by Mitsubishi, which built the property so that its local executives could play golf nearby. Community residents were allowed to join the…
When Arnold Palmer says, “I don’t think you will ever see three holes better than the last three here,” you know you’re onto something. And, if you’re a golfer, you’ll want to check it out for yourself. Welcome to the Oasis Golf Club in Loveland, Ohio! Arnie made this comment shortly after playing the inaugural round at the Club in 1998. The championship Arnold Palmer-designed golf course at The Oasis Golf Club is a links-style, par 72 layout. With five sets of tees on each hole plus two hybrid yardages, there’s a suitable distance for every golfer. The course plays…
Just outside of Austin, TX, sits a golf course that has slowly but surely risen from virtual obscurity to being recognized as one of the premier all-around golf facilities in the area. The master-planned Star Ranch community surrounds the golf course and offers new homes, shopping, schools, and restaurants within an easy commute. The Golf Club at Star Ranch is built on what was once the Timmerman cattle ranch and is unique in that several architects collaborated on the design: Jay and Carter Morrish and the Bechtol, Russell design firm. The course was designed to be enjoyable, not punishing. Over…