Meckes, GM at Brown’s Run from 1984-97, has returned to the club in the same position, and, 18 years later, his goal hasn’t changed: Increase revenue and recruit new members.
Meckes, 56, said the club turned a profit in November, typically the slowest month of the year in the business because no one is playing golf and there are no holiday parties or banquets. But he said food and beverage sales in November exceeded $10,000.
He’s reinvesting that money back into the club. The clubhouse has received a face lift with new window treatments, new LED lights, dining room furnishings, restroom fixtures and a coat of paint. All of the painting was done by Brown’s Run staff, he said.
He also purchased $3,000 worth of art from Artique Gallery at the Pendleton Art Center. He tries to always support local businesses, he said.
Eventually, he’d like to purchase maintenance equipment.
When asked about spending money, Meckes said: “We can’t save our way to prosperity. You have to build the base.”
Eighteen years ago, there were more than 500 members at Brown’s Run when Meckes left for the same position at Clovernook Country Club, one of the most prestigious clubs in Cincinnati. Now, he said, there are close to 200 members.
He’s starting to see the hard work and investment pay off. He said four members joined Brown’s Run in December and people traditionally don’t think about golf until early April when The Masters is played in Augusta, Ga. He’s planning on hosting a Chamber of Commerce Serving Middletown, Monroe and Trenton and Middletown Board of Realtors events at the club, and hopes to attract more non-profit golf tournaments.
He believes once people are introduced to Brown’s Run, they’ll be hooked.
“This is a special, peaceful place,” said Meckes, who described the atmosphere as “country club casual.”
He called the 18-hole layout “the gem” of the facility, but said he’s making improvements to the dining facility and upgrading the menu.
Then late last week, he announced that Dave Tieman, the longtime golf director at Weatherwax Golf Course, was hired as head pro at Brown’s Run. He called Tieman “a pillar in the golf community and another key to the revitalization” of Brown’s Run.
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