GOLF COMMUNITY BAFFLED Over Resignation of Golf Pro
To the frustration of members, residents and supporters of the Groton Country Club, the resignation of the club's Golf Professional, James Tennant - after less than a year on the job - is a giant step backward in the Club's evolution.
After suffering through years of unmet, unrealized potential, the club started to show signs of a real turnaround this season under Jim Tennant's direction. Carol Sambol said, "Jim was the best thing to happen to the Country Club in years. The atmosphere was so positive."
Under his leadership, play at the club increased, a successful junior league golf camp was initiated, new tournaments were begun, and when asked he gave, "constructive lessons that worked," said another member.
Other members attributed the improved fortunes of the Club to Jim Tennant's attention to detail including his focus on customer service. According to another club member, "Jim really delivered. He showed what could be done in less than a year."
The search committee established criteria for what they were looking for in a PGA professional and during the seven months he was in Groton, Tennant met and exceeded expectations.
Another concerned member of the Club summed up other feelings saying, "He was a progressive thinker. His resignation is Groton's loss."
The upbeat golfing atmosphere has been created by Jim through his professional and personal management style in his interactions with the customer/member. It is further enhanced by his engaging personality and his directed interest in each member he meets. His enthusiasm for the golfing experience permeates the conversation. He certainly is a man who loves what he was hired to do.
Other members could only speculate why Town Manager Haddad appeared unwilling to reappoint such a successful contributor to a town property that had previously seemed immune to improvement.
