Penobscot Valley Country Club went through a period of flux over the winter as the board of governors opted to use the services of an outside management team for the first time.

The club signed a three-year contract with Affinity Management at the end of November, but it didn’t pan out as the board of governors hoped, said club president Paul Newman.

“It didn’t work out because we thought we were getting consultant work for management pay,” said Newman.

“We thought they should be on the premises and [Affinity Management] didn’t think that was necessary,” he added. “We mutually agreed to terminate the contract on March 15.”

Newman said he is “very optimistic” as he and the club look to the future. The board of governors is now running the club and has made a couple of recent hires among its staff changes.

“We have a new food and beverage manager [Charles Melino] and the meals have been outstanding,” said Newman, “and we have a new superintendent [Tavis Stewart].”

Stewart, who was hired a couple of weeks ago, is a graduate of Virginia Tech with a degree in turf management.

According to Newman, Stewart interned at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md., was the second assistant superintendent at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., and was most recently the first assistant at Aronimink Golf Club, laid out by noted golf course designer Donald Ross, in Newtown Square, Pa., near Philadelphia.

The West Course at Winged Foot hosted the U.S. Open last year and is ranked eighth by Golf Digest in its current listing of the top 100 golf courses in the country. The East Course is ranked 43rd. Congressional has also hosted the U.S. Open in the past and PGA Tour events as well. Aronimink has hosted the U.S. Amateur and Senior PGA Championship.

“We’re just thrilled to have this young kid,” said Newman of the 31-year-old Stewart. “He’s a real student of Donald Ross courses and has played on more than 20 of them.

“When he found this opening, he was just thrilled. He said this is the closest to an original Donald Ross design he has been on, and he wants to keep it that way.”

Stewart had already played the course as he is the son-in-law of former University of Maine System Chancellor Joseph Westphal and came up for family visits.

“He has played the course several times,” said Newman.

Colin Gillies, who had been the general manager as well as the golf pro, is now the director of golf operations. He is in his 14th year at PVCC.

“What he does in the golf area…. We run probably the best tournaments in the state,” said Newman.

Now that staffing and management have been taken care of, Newman said building membership is the top priority. He wants to dispel right away one notion about joining the club.

“A lot of people think they have to be invited by a member, but that’s not the case,” said Newman. “We are actively soliciting members.”

Currently, there are 213 golf members, 15 corporate members, and 20-30 social members, said Newman.

“We have stabilized dues,” said Newman, but the more important aspect, he admitted, may be that “we have guaranteed no dues adjustments [additional assessments] this year.”

There are a wide range of dues based on membership status (golfing, social, age). They include, for example, $3,564 for a family golfing membership ($1,920 for under 35), $2,772 for an individual golfer ($1,452 for under 35), and $756 for a student.

A Donald Ross Value Membership for first-time members includes the waiver of the $1,500 initiation fee and a 25 percent saving on the annual dues. The number of these memberships is limited, though.

There is still a large debt outstanding because of the new clubhouse built a few years ago, but Newman said that is not a large concern.

“Large debts are a concern,” he said, “but we are in good shape with the bank. And we paid off the second mortgage of $123,000. Bankruptcy or foreclosure is not an option.”

Hoisington honored

Scott Hoisington, director of golf at Sugarloaf Golf Club, has been recognized by the New England section of the PGA of America as its Merchandiser of the Year among resort courses.

Hoisington is also resort merchandiser of the year for the Maine chapter of the PGA.

The other Maine chapter honorees are: Don Roberts (Waterville Country Club) as teacher of the year; Tony Decker (The Woodlands) as junior golf leader; Nick Glicos (Martindale Country Club) as the Bill Strasbaugh Award winner for commitment to mentoring PGA professionals, members’ service to the association, and involvement in community and charitable activities; and Pieter DeVos (Kebo Valley Golf Club) as public course merchandiser of the year and Doug Van Wickler (The Woodlands) as private club merchandiser.

Dave Barber can be reached at 990-8170, 1-800-310-8600, or by e-mail at dbarber@bangordailynews.net.