Russ Curtis has over twenty-five years of leadership experience at private Clubs that led to multiple improvements at each of the five Clubs he led.
Curtis began his Country Club management career with CCA (ClubCorp) at The Club at Falcon Point in Katy, Texas, which was the southernmost club in the United States at the time with Bentgrass greens. As General Manager, Curtis helped the team to achieve a cap in membership in the late 1990s. Curtis continued his career at Ipswich Country Club on the North Shore of Massachusetts as General Manager, where the Club built a waiting list of 69 members during his tenure. In 2002, Curtis accepted the General Manager position at Eagle’s Landing Country Club in Stockbridge, Georgia and served there for over 9 years. The Club hosted the LPGA Chick-fil-A Charity Championship hosted by Nancy Lopez during his tenure. Curtis also coordinated with Fazio Design’s Tom Marzolf and builders/contractors to construct an additional nine holes to add to the original eighteen hole championship course.
In 2011, Curtis accepted the General Manager position at MacGregor Downs Country Club in Cary, North Carolina and served the Club for six years. Curtis successfully led the Club both as a member-owned entity and after a recapitalization by Concert Golf. Curtis led many amenity improvements and raise the profile of the Club during his tenure which helped lead to elevations in its ranking by the North Carolina Golf Panel.
In 2017, Curtis accepted the position of COO/GM at Hound Ears Club in Boone, NC and served for five years. During his tenure, Curtis led the team to be a good steward of club finances, raise the member experience, and grow the Club to achieve a joining list. A long-term asset study was undertaken by Curtis to help decision making of future Boards and Management. Additionally, Curtis collaborated with the employee team, Boards, and Committees toward many projects including the construction of a 5,800 SF Fitness Center, a Clubhouse renovation, pickleball courts, a 110 acre land closing, and golf course improvements that helped to improve the Club ranking by the North Carolina Golf Panel to be the #1 course in the state under 6,500 yards in 2022.
Curtis has an English degree from the University of Georgia, an MBA from Wake Forest University, and is an Eagle Scout. Curtis is a Certified Club Manager (CCM), a Certified Chief Executive (CCE), and a Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA). Curtis is married to Lisa Cooper, the President of Mast General Store, and has an adult son, John, in Texas.
Curtis’ diverse experience and poised, sincere leadership style is a strong fit for interim management assignments to effectively bridge the time and achieve improvements before the incoming COO/GM arrives. Curtis’ operating experience is well suited toward consulting projects and has enjoyed internal projects related to golf, governmental/community relations, long-term capital planning/projects, POA/Club, and team selection/development.