John Concannon, Publicity

In a departure from the norm, I would like to feature not a playing member, but a person who has been an important part of Ironwood Golf Club’s success and a strong supporter of IMGA, Eddy Renio.

Eddy was born in Augusta, Georgia, the last of 10 children. Because his father was in the military, Eddy lived in many places while growing up. He graduated from high school in Las Cruces where he played on the golf team that went to the New Mexico State championships three of the four years he attended school there. After high school, Eddy attended New Mexico State University. He earned a B.A. in Marketing with an emphasis in sports management, participating in their PGA Golf Management Program. Also, while at New Mexico State, he was an Assistant Pro at Las Cruces Country Club. After graduation, he worked as Assistant Director of the PGA program there from 2001 to 2006.

He furthered his formal education at Eastern Kentucky University, earning a Master’s of Science in Sports Management in 2009. Eddy was part of a team that gained PGA Accreditation to become one of only 20 universities to offer the PGA Golf Management Program in the U.S. (duties included classroom instruction, player development, private lessons, instructor for summer college golf camps, Golf for Business and Life class, community relations, and conducted Kentucky PGA section apprentice workshops, and worked with adults and children with physical and mental disabilities).

Eddy also earned his Certification in Executive Coaching and Leadership Development from Teleos Leadership Institute. Eddy was employed by UNLV in their PGA Management Program from 2008 through 2010 where he was in charge of Player Development and Community Relations. He also instructed PGA educational classes at UNLV.

After leaving UNLV, Eddy had short stints as Assistant Golf Professional at Badlands Golf Club in Las Vegas (2009) and San Marcos Golf Resort in Chandler (2010). In September 2010, he was hired by IronOaks as Director of Golf. Among his responsibilities are Marketing and Membership sales, Tournament Sales, Merchandising for the Pro Shop, staffing, member relations and creating budgets for the overall golf operations. Eddy was also involved in the over haul of Oakwood and Ironwood golf courses. From almost every indication and from general comments, the Ironwood golf course is in better shape than it has been in in recent years.

Eddy is happy with the efforts of Blue Star and is confident that things will continue to improve as the management transition progresses.

On a personal note, Eddy has been married to his wife, Nicole, since 1997 and they have a daughter, Phoebe, and three sons Pierce, Ridge and Callaway. It interesting that none of his children is trying to follow in his footsteps, preferring on focusing on academics rather than sports.

I hope that your stay at IronOaks will continue and that your support of IMGA will strengthen.