Grey Bruce Golf News

New GM at Northern Dunes

Former top junior player takes over

Joe McIntyre knows all about life as a professional tour player and golf instructor. But now at age 25, he's venturing into another side of the golf business as general manager of Northern Dunes Golf Club in Hepworth. The Belleville native was Canada's top-ranked junior at age 17 and 18 and, after turning pro at age 18, he played on the Great Lakes Tour, the Canadian Tour, the Tar Hills Tour in North Carolina and briefly on the Nationwide Tour - one step below the PGA Tour. He moved to Charlotte, N.C. two years ago to play professionally and got involved in teaching at the Golf ETC Academy, where he held the position of director before leaving to take the Northern Dunes position. The Class A and Master level golf instructor also worked as an instructional consultant for 15 Division I NCAA programs. He's hoping to use his experience and connections with the American schools to help junior golfers at Northern Dunes become more aware of scholarship opportunities. While McIntyre has a background in teaching golf, in his position as general manager he will be focusing on sales and marketing - an area he also has experience in. As a result, he's not expecting to have much time for teaching. His plans for the season include getting involved in the local community. His returning staff includes clubhouse manager Tiffany Greig and Jason Dowling, who served as general manager last year but is returning to his former position as course superintendent. New to the staff this year is pro shop manager Terry Dugdale, who worked at the club in 2004. McIntyre said he's excited about moving to Grey-Bruce. "I love the area. It's very picturesque," he said. His appointment as GM comes at a busy time as his wife Gillian recently gave birth to their first child - a boy they've named Royce.