In the world of golf, the word “hybrid” is used to describe golf club technology that combines the best qualities of irons and woods — the familiar swing mechanics of irons with the more forgiving nature and better distance of woods.
But at Lion Hills Golf Club in Columbus, the word “hybrid” is a pretty good description of the entire operation.
Once a traditional, members-only establishment known as Columbus Country Club, over the past seven years the facility is now a blend of three distinct entities. While it retained memberships, it is also open to the public. The greatest of all changes, however, is the ownership/management of the facility.
In 2012, East Mississippi Community College purchased the floundering golf club, which had been in bankruptcy for more than a year as club memberships declined. By 2010, the members-only club had just 240 members and there was talk of selling the property to a residential developer.
Will Arnett, director of golf at Lion Hills, said the evolution of the facility has been more difficult than it might appear to outsider observers.
“It’s been difficult,” Arnett said. “For 70 years, this was a private club. Getting the word out to the public that we were open to them was hard at first. It was a little different blend than people were used to seeing, so that was a challenge.”
For Arnett, reaching people unfamiliar with today’s Lion Hills is still a top priority. That mission is reflected in the hiring of a new golf pro — Tripp Pritchett.
Pritchett, 30, comes to Lions Hills after five years as golf pro at Highland Park Golf Course in Birmingham, Alabama.
When the golf pro position opened at Lion Hills, Arnett knew Pritchett was just what he was looking for.
“Tripp and I had worked together at Starkville County Club when he was an intern for the golf pro there,” Arnett said. “I knew from that relationship that he was an extremely hard worker. He was also a Class A PGA professional.
“When I talk to Scott Buntin (SCC’s general manager), he indicated to me that Tripp was the most talented guy he had ever had in dealing with members,” he added. “That was the final selling point for me.”
As golf pro, Pritchett is in charge of daily golf operations, with a heavy emphasis on building relationships with players, both members and non-members alike.
A 2015 graduate of Mississippi State’s Golf Pro Management program, Pritchett said the job at Lion Hills was appealing not only because it brings him back to the area, but because of the emphasis the club is putting on the playing experience.
“As golf pro, there are a lot of duties that go along with the job,” Pritchett said. “But the biggest part of the job, the one that matters the most, is making sure customers feel at home here and have a great experience.”
Arnett has been at Lion Hills for almost three years, but his history with the old Columbus Country Club goes back to his childhood, when he used to play with his grandfather, who was a member.
“It’s much different than it was back then,” Arnett said. “Back then, there were a lot of families that were members and it was a real focal point of social life — not only the golf course, but the pool and the dining facilities.
“But it’s different in Columbus today,” he added. “It’s a different market and we have to position ourselves to be successful, not only on the golf side, but from our role as an educational facility, too.”
Arnett noted that Lion Hills is very much a teaching facility for a host of EMCC programs — golf course management, turf management, culinary arts and hotel/motel management.
“Much of the work you see out here is done by students,” Arnett said. “They are out here learning the job in a real setting, and that’s invaluable experience.”
Arnett said he had reservations about the job when he first arrived.
“I was concerned about whether EMCC was going to make the financial commitment I felt we needed on the golf course side,” he said. “But to their credit, they’ve made that commitment. We’ve replaced the greens with best Bermuda greens you’ll find anywhere. The golf course is really in good shape. We’ve added (45) new electric golf carts, too. It’s really coming along.”
Although Lion Hills is very much a hybrid operation, Pritchett feels comfortable in the new job.
“In a lot of ways, it’s like where I was in Birmingham,” Pritchett said. “There, we had members and public play, too. So this is a situation I think I understand. It’s a good fit.”
Slim Smith is a columnist and feature writer for The Dispatch. His email address is [email protected].
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