If the owners of Empire Golf Management were looking for a diverse resume when they sought out a new director of operations, they certainly found the right person in Rudy Virga.
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The 40-year-old has progressed through to top management ranks of Empire from the ground up, as they say. An accomplished player, he was a Tour pro and then an assistant professional at several Empire/Club Max clubs until taking over the position of general manager at Empire’s Pine Barrens Golf Club in New Jersey 10 years ago. With 14 years of experience in the company, Virga says he’s ready to help lead it into the future.
“This has been a part of my life so long that this is a natural progression for me,” said Virga. “I understand the entire process and have the respect of the other managers because I’ve been there, having a hand in day-to-day operations and management.”
Prior to joining Pomona, N.Y.-based Empire Golf Management, Virga held the position of first assistant professional at Baltimore Country Club in Maryland for two years, and prior to that worked as first assistant professional at Westchester Country Club--the largest private golf club in the metropolitan New York area.
He competed nationally and internationally on various tours, including the Ben Hogan Tour, South African Tour, T.C. Jordan Tour, Canadian Tour, the Emerald Coast Tour and the Gold Coast Tour. His amateur career was highlighted by the 1989 U.S. Amateur at Merion Golf Club where he finished among the final 32 players in match play. He earned membership to the PGA of America in 1999 and currently holds a PGA A-9 Classification.
"Empire wanted to build on the impressive track record Rudy has established at Pine Barrens Golf Club,” said Mark Unger, president of Empire Golf Management. “His leadership ability, superior customer service skills and hands-on expertise will ensure Empire's continued success. From conceptualization through implementation in all aspects of club and corporate operations, Virga will further strengthen Empire's leadership position in the golf industry," said Unger.
Empire Golf’s Club Max facilities include Hollow Brook, Branton Woods and Minisceongo golf clubs in New York, Pine Barrens, Pine Hill, New Jersey National and Twisted Dune golf clubs in New Jersey and The Links at Madison Green in Florida. All except Twisted Dune and The Links at Madison Green are private clubs.
Club Max is the brainchild of Empire Golf Management owner Eric Bergstol, who also designed several of the courses in the cache. The goal of Club Max is to provide top-level golf and other amenities that go beyond the normal country club membership. Membership at one Club Max facility entitles the holder to membership and playing privileges at the others.
Virga, a graduate of Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, Conn., with a bachelor's degree in marketing and management, is looking forward to his new task. One of his charges will be to plot the future growth of Empire Golf’s holdings and grow the company’s Club Max membership base.
“I see the company’s future growth coming not in new construction as has been the case during the past 10 years, but in acquisition of existing clubs. In this way we can connect the dots between our existing courses and add value to being a member of Club Max. As for the immediate future, we want to continue to build our membership base and keep the quality of golf high at our properties.”
He added, “One of the strengths of Club Max is that once you join a club you become a member at the others in the portfolio. I’m not talking about reciprocal play but full membership, where you are treated like a member when you visit another Club Max course. We really believe this is a unique business model and one that will become increasingly popular and valuable as we continue to grow. I just think we are beginning to scratch the surface of what Club Max will be in the next three to five years.”
Virga said emphasis will be placed on making Empire clubs more family oriented by instituting events such as more junior clinics, social functions, arts and crafts days and movie nights.
“Our clubs are golf clubs. But you don’t have to have a pool and tennis courts to be a place where the entire family can come and be together. We have already done this with family golf tournaments and clinics. But the demographics say families want to spend more time with one anther and that is what we have to accommodate if we want our company and our individual clubs to continue to be successful.”