Clubhouse facelift approved for Mozingo

Golfers heading out to city-owned Mozingo Lake Golf Course to play 18 holes next spring will be greeted by a refurbished clubhouse.

The work is being done as part of a larger effort to market the 3,000-acre Mozingo Lake Recreation area — which also comprises guest cabins, RV camping, and facilities for boating and horseback riding — into a regional recreation and vacation destination.  

Assistant City Manager Ryan Heiland received approval from the Maryville City Council this week to move forward with $30,000 worth of deferred maintenance at the clubhouse, which will include deck and window repairs, new carpet, interior paint, furniture, landscaping and decor.

The money is being taken out of municipal reserves.

Winter golfers may experience a bit of inconvenience as the facelift moves forward. Heiland said the clubhouse would be closed for six weeks from approximately Jan. 7 through Feb 17, and that the snack bar area would be shut-down for refurbishment in mid-December.

He said Mozingo staff is working on a system that will keep the course itself open for play, weather permitting, while renovations take place.

Calling the work "essential to update the image and function of the clubhouse," Heiland said the work is being done this winter in order to prepare for a  marketing and re-branding effort set to move into high gear this spring.

As currently proposed, the initiative will encompass print and radio advertising, an integrated family of logos and other graphics, a new website, a streamlined reservation system and enhanced use of social media and web-based awareness tools.

Heiland called fixing up the clubhouse "vital for the coordination and success of the re-branding and marketing efforts," an initiative that City Manager Greg McDanel said would be marked with a grand-opening event in April.

In addition to paint, carpet and furniture, Heiland, who assumed overall responsibility for golf course development after being hired this summer, said several administrative changes are planned for Mozingo as well.

These include additional staff training, staff shirts meant to promote a "consistent image" and computer-based "customer outreach."

Changes are also in the works at the pro shop, which Heiland said would tailor its inventory in order to compete less with big-box sporting goods stores while emphasizing custom club fitting and other other boutique services.