Inside Top Club Upgrades: Mirasol’s Elite Racquets Program + Kalamazoo CC’s Golf Course Renovation

Matt Lambert, General Manager/COO of The Country Club at Mirasol, and Tim Rayman, CEO of Greenleaf Hospitality Group and General Manager of Kalamazoo (Mich.) Country Club, join Rob Thomas on the Club + Resort Talks podcast. Lambert was named the 2025 Facility Manager of the Year by the Racquet Sports Professional Association (RSPA), Florida Division. This prestigious award recognizes facility leaders who demonstrate exceptional commitment to the advancement of racquet sports within their facilities and the professionals who support them. Tim Rayman discusses the extensive renovations at the Kalamazoo Country Club. The club, founded in 1909, is undergoing significant changes, including a new 11-hole short course designed by Andrew Green, set to open in Q1 2026. The new clubhouse will feature two restaurants, a 34-seat movie theater, a six-lane bowling alley, and multiple pools. Additionally, a new 18-hole championship course will be built on the existing 145 acres. The project aims to enhance member retention and recruitment by offering a wide range of amenities, including a golf Performance Center with advanced teaching technology. Also in the news ... A full remodel is underway at Desert Highlands to include enhanced lighting and expansive entrance in the golf shop, as well as self-serve comfort stations in the locker room. The Country Club of Whispering Pines and Foxfire Golf Club in the Sandhills of North Carolina have been acquired by Rolling Pines LLC, a newly formed management concern with the parent company of Mid Pines Development Group. KemperSports acquired Fire Pit Productions and named Matt Ginella Chief Storyteller, while also launching Youth Golf Week to inspire young players and grow the game through stories and community. And, Scarecrow, designed by David McLay Kidd, will open for public play on August 1. The course plays to a par of 71, stretches to 6,900 yards and is turfed with traditional fine fescue, which provides for firm and fast surfaces.