By Vinnie Manginelli, PGA
Maureen Farrell is the PGA of America Director of Instruction at Oakwood Country Club in Kansas City, Missouri. She is a 2023 GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional and is the subject of our GRAA “new award winner profile” in next month’s issue of Golf Range Magazine. For this issue, however, she shared some time to talk about her facility and all it has to offer.
Oakwood Country Club was recently recognized as a 2023 GRAA Top 50 Private Facility and earned one of three 2023 GRAA Top Range Renovation awards, its first two Golf Range Association of America awards, and likely the first of many. As Farrell starts her third year at Oakwood, she is excited about some recent renovations and enhancements done at Oakwood and anticipates a stellar 2024 for her and her members.
“I was brought on board to be the Director of Instruction in January of 2022. This was two years after a Ken Block-led acquisition group purchased the club from the membership and began a complete renovation of the facility,” Farrell explains.
Kenneth Block, of Block Real Estate Services in Kansas City, had been an Oakwood member for many decades and wanted to see a better fate for his long-time recreational home. So he led an ownership group that purchased the facility.
With no formal player development programming just a couple of years ago, Farrell was brought on board with an exceptional resume and background in the game (awards, accolades, experiences and a great reputation). Tune in next month for details!
“I was hired to help build out the performance center and run everything golf performance, player development and instruction,” she adds. “Ball-tracking technology was just installed on the range as I joined the team and the slab was poured for the Oakwood Golf Performance Center.”
Within the past four years, most of the holes were reshaped or transformed on the golf course, the small driving range was moved and expanded and they redid the short game area to enable more than a dozen short game shots to be recreated and practiced every day. They even improved the quality of the cart paths for a better look aesthetically and a smoother ride during a golf round.
Ownership purchased some surrounding land to build a bigger practice facility. In addition to a larger 350-yard driving range with ball-tracking technology and six practice target greens and the enhanced short-game area, Oakwood Country Club members now enjoy a 12-hole lighted putting course with food and beverage services to boost the social experience and increase their enjoyment with friends and family.
The Oakwood Golf Performance Center is also equipped with ball-tracking technology and has state-of-the-art launch monitors that enable Farrell and her team to ensure the highest quality golf lesson that delivers maximum improvement for their students. Members also use them for indoor golf simulation when Mother Nature has other ideas for outdoor play. Also installed are Swing Catalyst pressure and force plates and SAM PuttLab.
Farrell applauds ownership for its ability to keep the course and facilities open to members even during these extensive renovation projects. There are new tennis and pickleball courts, a new locker room and a fitness center. In fact, Farrell recently brought on a performance coach to provide a whole new level of fitness and health and wellness attention to the membership.
Matt Stensrud is a physical therapist and is TPI-certified. He is collaborating with Farrell and the other PGA of America Golf Professionals at Oakwood to bring a holistic approach to game improvement. The industry is increasingly understanding the importance of the body’s abilities within the golf swing and Farrell has demonstrated a commitment to bettering her members with the addition of Stensrud to the team.
Farrell and her team offer instruction and programming that includes ladies’ clinics, driver clinics, short game clinics, private instruction and a growing junior program.
Looking ahead, the golf shop and kids’ pool are slated to be redone this year, and they’re planning for a nine-hole Par 3 course that will open this spring. Each hole will be inspired by a famous golf hole. Villas and cottages are opening on the property within the next year to promote a national membership strategy. There is a limit on memberships but it is based on rounds played and frequency of visits. Also, there are no tee times at Oakwood, as it is important that members can come out whenever convenient and get out on the golf course.
“Mr. Block hasn’t missed one thing over his few years as owner,” Farrell says. “With lodging, F&B and a full slate of golf and non-golf amenities, we’re seeking to attract local families, as well as individuals from across the country for our National membership category.”
With a great ownership team, fantastic staff and exceptional PGA of America Director of Instruction, the people at the helm at Oakwood Country Club are building a home away from home for its ever-growing membership.
