Michael Rienzi

Director of Golf Course Maintenance

Phone: 561-686-3772
Email: [email protected]

Mike grew up in Marlton, New Jersey, where he was introduced to golf at a very young age with his family belonging to multiple private country clubs in the South Jersey / Philadelphia area. As an excellent athlete, he played Division I college baseball and lettered his freshman and sophomore years at the University of Dayton, but always dreamed of working in the golf industry. He ended his baseball career, changed majors, and graduated from Rutgers University with a degree in Turfgrass management.

Mike began his career as a Golf Course Superintendent at Augusta National Golf Club, participating in the preparations of four Masters tournaments. He has followed a progressive career path being named the Assistant Golf Course Superintendent at Old Waverly Golf Club in West Point, Mississippi, where he participated in the United States Women's Open. His major tournament experience also includes preparations for the Walker Cup, United States Amateur, and United States Open at Merion Golf Club, in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

Mike has an extensive background in golf course construction and renovation, having completed the golf course construction, and transitioning to the role of Golf Course Superintendent at Kiva Dunes Golf Club, in Gulf Shores, Alabama, where he had a 19-year tenure running the operation. At Kiva Dunes, Mike worked with Golf Course Architect and U.S. Open Champion, Jerry Pate, to win "Golf Digest 1995 Best New Golf Courses in the United States", and subsequently being awarded "Golf Digest Top 100 Public Courses in U.S" 18 times from 1996-2013.

Seeking a different challenge, Mike took his career back towards the construction / renovation path and completed a new construction project with Kempersports and Golf Architect, Mike Poellet, building Vista Mar Golf & Beach Club in San Carlos, Panama. His time with Kempersports also included a stint as the Director of Agronomy at a 54-hole Fountains Country Club in Lake Worth, FL, where he completed an extensive renovation project of the West Course. Additionally, he worked with Nick Price Golf Design on master planning and the transition, remediation, and sale of the North Course for future real estate development.

He was most recently the Director of Golf Course Operations at Grand Harbor Golf Club in Vero Beach, FL, where he was working with Davis Love Golf Design on master planning for a 36-hole renovation of the club.

Mike and his wife Jimena have three children, Sarah (26), Andrew (23), and Jasmin (13), along with welcoming his first grandchild, Mary James, as the best Christmas present he has ever received, this past December 23rd.

He is beyond excited to start his next chapter at Bear Lakes, and to take his career back to its roots of producing elite golf course conditions, and championship playability.