The board of directors of TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club has decided to part ways with Brian and Cindy Dueck.
Brian was the club's general manager and head pro and had one year left on his contract, while Cindy was the food and beverage manager and her contract was up.
Brian had been with the course for 20 years.
They were informed of the decision on Oct. 21.
Woodlawn president Ward Tuttle said the board decided to make a change mainly to grow the membership.
"We wanted to go in a different direction. Brian is a respected golf pro. The board completed a year-end review and we've been working diligently on building a mission and value statement for the course. Brian has been a big part of that and represented the course very well. We've always felt he brings a very unique set of skills in the job and we always will thank him for that.
"(But) the board looked at where we felt we needed to go in terms of membership issues, and we felt at this time, it was appropriate to make some changes. To a person on the board, everyone thanked Brian for his work and he obviously took us through some challenging circumstances with the (2011) flood. Financially, the course is in sound position and that, as well, is due to Brian's strengths. Primarily, it was just the thought process that we felt we needed to make some changes and bring some new ideas into the course and that was why."
Dueck declined comment on the matter.
In recent years under Dueck's lead, the club was dealt a devastating blow with the floods of three years ago, but managed to recover financially and build a new back nine in the process.
Tuttle said the board respects Dueck and that this was not a nasty separation.
"It was a difficult decision and it wasn't one that was made lightly, but the board feels that that was the direction we had to go," he said.
"He really was a pleasure to deal with from my standpoint. He's always been very professional."
The course must now find a replacement.
"We've struck a committee within our executive, with the assistance of some external parties, and we will begin the process of posting a job for the position of general manager and club pro. We should have it posted very shortly with, we hope, a number of applicants responding to that."
Tuttle said there is no timeline for filling the position, adding, "We want to take great care in making sure the appropriate person is hired to do what we feel needs to be done."
They will be looking for a well-rounded candidate with certain strengths.
"I'm not saying these were deficiencies on Brian's part, but certainly someone with good experience in golf management, clubhouse management, and even someone with some marketing experience, or at least that area. I think what we see nationally and even provincially is numbers have been struggling in golf and we want to see that it's being promoted to all levels of players and all types of individuals.
"The position of general manager and club pro, I've always said that this job is primarily to be the ambassador of the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club. We want someone who will embody that role. That will continue to be in how we deal with our corporate tournaments, our membership, and also just as important, in dealing with the various teams of staff that we have within the golf course. It will be someone who has a strong ability to manage other people."
