Thomas H. Rodems, President, has been involved in golf operations since 1966. Tom’s career began at the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club, a semi-private club operating on a military base in Rock Island, Illinois, where he first nurtured his love of golf by cleaning clubs and shining shoes. Throughout high school Tom spent his summers working as a laborer at Indian Bluff Golf Course, a County Forest Preserve Golf Course in Milan, Illinois. Later, while attending Western Illinois University in pursuit of an accounting degree, Tom gave in to his desire to be on the golf course and applied to the acclaimed Turfgrass Management Program at Penn State University. He was accepted into the program and began his formal training as a superintendent. Through Penn State Tom received an internship at Oakwood Country Club, a private club in Coal Valley, Illinois (also annual host for the PGA Tour’s “Hardee’s Golf Classic”).

After graduating from Penn State in 1974 with High Honors, Tom chose to work in the golf mecca of Chicago. He served as Assistant Superintendent at Ravinia Greens Country Club, a private club in Riverwoods, Illinois and later as Assistant Superintendent at Twin Orchard Country Club, an exclusive 36-hole facility in Long Grove, northwest of Chicago. In 1977 Tom was awarded the Golf Course Superintendent position at Kankakee Country Club, south of Chicago. For 11 years Kankakee Country Club was known for its pristine conditions and its continued improvements under Tom’s direction. His years at Kankakee were highlighted by a complete renovation of fairways from Poa annua to bentgrass in 1982. Tom was twice appointed general manager of the Club and directed the entire operation of the Club’s facilities. In 1988 Tom was selected as the Golf Course Superintendent at Olympia Fields Country Club in Chicago, a past site for the U.S. Open, the PGA Championship and the Western Open. Under his direction and care, this exclusive 36-hole private club maintained its position as one of Golf Digest’s “Top 100 Golf Clubs” in the country. During his tenure at Olympia Fields, Tom was instrumental in hiring architects Geoffrey Cornish and Brian Silva to renovate the North Course in order to secure a U.S.G.A. event. As a result, Olympia Fields hosted the 1997 U.S. Senior Open as well as the 2003 U.S. Men’s Open.

In 1990 Tom accepted the position of Golf Course Superintendent at Meridian Hills Country Club, one of the finest country clubs in Indiana. Throughout his five years at Meridian Hills, Tom initiated an extensive renovation of the golf course and supervised the installation of a state-of-the-art irrigation system. Tom brings extensive experience and a unique understanding of golf course operations to the position of President of H.G. Golf Properties. His background as a superintendent ensures that the Company’s first priority and main objective are focused on course conditioning and customer service.

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