Bill Stine still has the moves. The long-time industry veteran who helped found Meadowbrook Golf, heads Cypress Golf Management, which just added four properties.
Stine oversaw Meadowbrook’s growth in the 1990s, eventually making it the third largest management company in the U.S. with 57 courses. He also co-founded International Golf Maintenance, which at one time handled agronomy for more than 40 courses.
Apollo Investment took an ownership stake in Meadowbrook in the late 90s and that gave the company money to acquire courses. But the investment company pushed Stine out as CEO in 2000.
Stine started Cypress soon thereafter, but the company is only recently seeing growth in terms of courses managed.
It operates 19 courses, up from six just a few years ago. The four recent adidtions are all agronomic deals: Hunters Creek CC in Greenwood S.C; Heather Hills C.C. in the Birmingham Ala. Area; and Tara Verti and Breckenridge golf faculties in the Fort Myers, Florida area.
Heatherwood Hills has been closed for several years. Cypress will oversee the renovation and rehab of the facility. At the completion of the renovation it will begin a ten-year management contract.
“[We are] looking forward to turning the course into one of the must play facilities in the area,” said John Fogel, COO and president of Cypress. “We want the success that we’ve experienced at the Augusta Municipal Golf Club since we started working with them”.
Cypress has been managing the Augusta Municipal Golf Club since July 2014.
Scott Zakany, who worked with Stine at IGM, is president of the Cypress’ agronomic division.