Owning your dreams

Reaching Chippewa Golf Club in Doylestown, Ohio, requires driving straight down Shank Road. It could be your straightest drive of the day. When you arrive, you’ll find Brad and Melanie Stewart working hard as owners in their second full season. From the Bermuda Triangle to Finn Scooters to the Don Olney Memorial Golf Tournament, there is so much to like about this public 18-hole course, its operation and its motivated crew.

Brad became the superintendent 25 years ago, shortly after he and Melanie were married and when Kevin Larizza, then the owner, had the course renovated. Previously, Brad was an assistant at Brookside Country Club in nearby Canton, Ohio. Larizza had a portfolio of northeast Ohio courses and clubs so at one time Brad was simultaneously the superintendent at Chippewa, Rosemont Country Club in Fairlawn, and The Fairways of North Canton in North Canton. Brad can multi-task with the best of them! Larizza and Brad co-owned Chippewa for three years before the Stewarts purchased the property outright, closing on the paperwork in October 2021.

Brad started working in the golf industry as a 16-year-old at Brookside, a private club with a highly regarded Donald Ross design. “I’m not a desk kind of guy so being outside and having a job where I can use my skills and get results is perfect for me,” he says. With Brad’s tenure, he is well-versed in Chippewa’s operations, as are Brad’s and Melanie’s two children, who both help when they are home from college. “Chippewa has always been like their big backyard,” Melanie says. It’s hard for the Stewarts to imagine life without the course.

Chippewa features four sets of tees: blue (6,756 yards), white (6,101), gold (5,389) and red (4,974). Greens, tees and fairways are bentgrass. Nos. 14, 15, and 16 form a triangle at the far edge of the course across a series of ponds and they’re also the most difficult holes, earning them the moniker of “The Bermuda Triangle.” The phrase “Come play the Triangle,” has become a digital and merchandising slogan, as the Triangle is a memorable section of the course.

Melanie has 18 years of experience with sales, marketing and events for clubs throughout northeast Ohio, including famed Firestone Country Club in Akron. She believes that building relationships is the secret to a successful business.

“We try and do this every day, taking time to listen to members and league members, touching base on a personal level with employees and establishing a rapport,” she says. “That’s what it’s all about and we consider ourselves truly blessed to have some of the most amazing people walk through our doors every day.” Melanie handles payroll, the books and daily operations. She and Brad collaborate on selecting merchandise for the pro shop. 

The Stewarts joke that no two days are ever the same, but besides having a close-knit team, another fun dynamic at Chippewa is the fleet of single-rider Finn Scooters. “Golfers love them because they bring a new dimension to the game,” Brad says. “We like them because they reduce wear and tear on the golf course.”

It costs about $10 extra per round to take the scooter and the process to rent one is handled through an app that the golfer uses to sign for liability, and pay for and release the scooter for use. For Chippewa, there is a little more maintenance and repair work required to keep the bikes functioning compared to carts. Finn Scooters’ parent company, Sun Mountain, has been quick about sending parts and frames when necessary. “It’s nice to see the excitement,” Brad says. “We have people coming daily just to ride the scooters.” That’s good for golf and for business — and, ultimately, the community that Chippewa draws and embraces.

Community strength

The strength of Chippewa’s community starts with Brad’s expertise and his consistently prioritizing the course. “I start my day on the grounds,” he says. “Most of my crew is gone by early afternoon so then I make my way into the clubhouse to work on the business and financial side of things.”

Melanie shares what most superintendents won’t say about themselves. “Brad is an amazing, driven, detail-oriented individual,” she says. “He’s here almost every single day during the season and he believes the condition of the course is a direct reflection of him and his abilities. It’s not unusual for Brad to call into the pro shop and ask for golfer feedback. He has wanted to own his own course since the day I met him and I’m incredibly proud he has made this professional goal come true. He’s earned it.”   

Everyone wins with that level of enthusiasm, joy and dedication. The course is home to the Chippewa High School boys’ golf team. Don Olney, Jr., who was a former coach there and who worked as a golf professional at Chippewa for over 20 years, is fondly remembered and celebrated at the club. Olney passed away in a tragic car accident in 2015 but he was a valued colleague and friend.

Olney gave lessons to kids and adults. Teaching and coaching came naturally to him. Every October, the Don Olney Memorial Golf Tournament is a reverent event near the end of the northeast Ohio golf season to help honor and remember a great man. Proceeds from that event go toward a scholarship awarded to a Chippewa High School senior who was on the golf team and will be pursuing further education.

Another special annual community event is the Thanks & Giving Scramble. Started in November 2020, it’s another way Chippewa gives back as funds raised are donated to the Doylestown food pantry or local families battling cancer. On three-person teams, players 59-and-under play the white tees and those 60-and-over play the gold tees. Everyone enjoys gathering and helping others at the beginning of the holiday season.

Brad continues to live his dream of owning a course, and not just any course, but a course that is special for his family and the Chippewa golf community. Being the superintendent and the owner is demanding but he is motivated by his family and the people he works with. “When I make changes to manage this business effectively, it allows me to finally give back to the people and community that support our course,” he says. “That's a huge motivator for me.”

Lee Carr is a northeast Ohio-based writer and senior Golf Course Industry contributor.