Worcester Business Journal

18 Worcester Business Journal | January 7, 2019 | wbjournal.com People. Places. Product. Photographic images for advertising, public relations, graphic and corporate communications groups . See the difference. 165 Holly Lane • Holliston, MA 01746 Phone/Fax: 508.429.3188 • www.ronbouleyphoto.com R O N B O U L E Y P H O T O G R A P H Y F O C U S T o A d d a T o u c h o f L u x u r y BY GRANT WELKER Worcester Business Journal News Editor Worcester Country Club adds new amenities BEST VENUE FOR AN EMPLOYEE OUTING Apex Entertainment Marlborough, www. apexentertainmentcenter.com Top executive: General Manager Marcus Kemblowski Founded: 2017 Employees: Approximately 200 In more than 80,000 square feet inside the larger Apex Center hotel and retail development, Apex Entertainment offers go-karts, bowling, golf simulators and conference rooms. The entertainment venue has overhauled its food and beverage program, including with New England's largest pretzel. Notable runner-up: Kimball Farm W orcester Country Club is aware fewer people are playing golf these days, and those who do might be looking for a different game experience than a generation ago. But the country club hasn't survived for more than a century based on tradition alone. The club has kept its membership levels consistent by creating a new resort-like pool area, implementing a discount rate for members under 30, and starting adding untraditional course events, such as wine or beer strolls to get club members on the course who otherwise have maybe never stepped onto a fairway. "The club realized that golf alone can't do it," Bill Shaw, the club's general manager, said of how it has branched out into new ways for members to spend their time. The country club has even worked with Wachusett Brewing Co. in Westminster to create its own line of only-at-Worcester Country Club beers, which has so far rotated through a lager and an ale. There's always the original two-lane bowling alley in the basement, too. The pool has been an especially popular amenity, Shaw said. "It has been the biggest hit that we could have imagined," he said. The par-70 course, designed by leg- endary golf architect Donald Ross, remains the centerpiece of the club. The same course hosted the 1925 Men's U.S. Open, the 1927 Ryder Cup and the 1960 Women's U.S. Open and now is working to get on the major circuit once more. The club is working to get the 2025 Solheim Cup, a compe- tition between American and European female golfers. The club pitches tournament orga- nizers on fan support and nearby attractions, which carry as much sig- nificance as the venue itself, Shaw said. BEST PRIVATE GOLF COURSE Worcester Country Club* Worcester, worcestercc.org Top executive: General Manager & COO Bill Shaw Founded: 1900 Employees: 125 "The Worcester area is such an easy sell," he said. Worcester Country Club has brought in renown current-day names to bring back some of the course's glory. Ron Pritchard was hired to restore much of the course's open links-style play, while course members voted in May to hire another architect, Gil Hanse, to refine the course, perhaps through newly placed bunkers or forward tees for women or beginners. W Apex Entertainment BEST HOTEL FOR BUSINESS CLIENTS Beechwood Hotel* Worcester, www.beechwoodhotel.com Top executive: Sayed Saleh, asset manager and managing director Founded: 1989 Worcester Country Club

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