Travis Merritt is the new general manager (GM) of the TS&M Woodlawn Golf Club.
Golf club president Jeff Ward said Merritt brings a diverse background in the game to Woodlawn. Most recently Merritt worked to set up the Western Canadian branches of Golf Tech, but Merritt has also been a GM at golf courses in Crowsnest Pass, Alberta, and at Avonlea. The previous GM experience was a big factor in Merritt getting the job.
“He’s a certified PGA pro,” said Ward. “He’s had food and beverage experience, budget experience, and that high level of management experience that you really want to see as a general manager who can oversee all facets of the organization.”
His first official day on the job will be March 15. He replaces Kyle Mulligan, who stepped down in January to take a job in Regina.
Merritt said he was looking at the GM job a couple of years ago when the golf course hired Mulligan. Some family issues came up that kept him from applying, but this time he was in a position to go for the job.
“Obviously the golf course has a pretty good history,” said Merritt. “If you look at the staff, they’ve been there a very long time, which is very important. The board of directors is a good team. The overall city is something that attracted us.”
Merritt is looking forward to living in a smaller community and working at the golf course. He’s also excited to watch the Power Dodge Estevan Bruins play hockey, and to snowmobile in the area.
Merritt turned to golf when he was a youth, after suffering three concussions while playing hockey. His doctor told him to find a less physical sport than hockey or football. He had a couple of friends at Holiday Park Golf Course in Saskatoon, and was hired at the course in 1989.
He turned pro at an early age, and has worked at different clubs across the country to gain experience.
“Once I got to the highest level, we discussed where do we want to settle down, and that leads to Estevan,” said Merritt.
Golf is an addiction, he said, and being out in nature and seeing wildlife while playing the sport is a big part of his love for the game. And he loves meeting people through golf.
“People come golfing for the love of the game, and people work in the industry for the love of the game as well,” said Merritt. “It’s just a fun place to be every day.”
Merritt is pleased that Woodlawn has recovered since the flood of 2011. It has a lot of trees, and that they have both a strong membership base and a healthy contingent of green fee golfers.
And it appears to be a stable environment, since it has had just a couple of general managers in recent years.
Amanda Minchin will remain the golf course’s head pro. Bob Currie will be the course superintendent and Tracey Tuchscherer will be in charge of food and beverage services.
