Eric Dietz’ track record of success in Hershey, Pa. was an
integral reason he was recently named Director of Golf for
Ridgemark Golf and Country Club.
Eric Dietz’ track record of success in Hershey, Pa. was an integral reason he was recently named Director of Golf for Ridgemark Golf and Country Club.
Another contributing factor was Dietz’ association with current Ridgemark General Manager Terry Clark. Both Dietz and Clark worked together at Hunt Valley Country Club in Hunt Valley, Md. in 1991.
“When Kathy Wake resigned at the end of December, I had remembered Eric,” said Clark, who has served as GM at the club for one year. “He was always on the top of my list.”
In late 1996, Dietz was hired as Director of Golf of four different golf properties in Hershey. He worked there until 2000. Clark had kept tabs on Dietz and his work in Hershey, home of the chocolate company.
“What made Eric an attractive candidate to me was that Hershey is just a carbon copy of Hollister,” said Clark. “It has all the things the town of Hollister has. Eric had done very well there and it had a like property.”
Wake gave notice last December 21 and Dietz began as interim head pro on January 7, 2003.
“At that point I got involved with the everyday golf operations,” said Dietz. “They were going through a search process for the Director of Golf position.”
The whole situation has worked doubly well for Dietz. His wife, Leigh, was hired by Ridgemark as its Food and Beverage Director not long afterward.
“It’s a great fit,” said Clark, who had much to do with the husband/wife hiring.
Culture shock
The Dietz’ went back to their home in Mt. Gretna – 25 minutes from Harrisburg – and sold their house in a day. That was the good news. The bad news was the cost of buying a house in this area.
“We went through the culture shock of home prices,” said Eric of the price differential. “We looked all over the place. We really felt like we were looking forward to be part of the community. We wanted to stay here due to the way that the community of Hollister is shaped and the history here.”
So far, so good for Dietz.
“The members have been great,” Dietz said. “They’re very supportive. I remarked to a group of members the other evening how similar Hollister is to Hershey in its surroundings. It’s made up of good people.”
“Eric’s a great guy,” said first assistant pro Mike Ostoja. “He’s been great to work with. Our personalities really click. If the board at Ridgemark listen to what he has to offer, they’ll be going in the right direction.”
Dietz’ first goal is to build the daily base of golfers.
“We want to give the golfers in the San Jose area the reason to come play golf in Hollister,” said Dietz. “We have to motivate them.”
Dietz worked with management to create the “4 for $100” offer, where four players can play during the week, plus carts for $100. It has been extended for weekend play at “4 for $180”.
“We want to expand the memberships here, also,” said Dietz. “We have a good nucleus of 400-plus members with no limit to expansion. We also want to expand our Jr. program. We have 75 to 100 now. It’s a great way to introduce young people to the game.”
Maryland beginnings
Dietz was born in Washington, D.C. and attended Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, a D.C. suburb. He attended the University of Maryland, tried out for the golf team, but didn’t make it. On that team was current pro Fred Funk. George Burns, the golfer, not the comedian, is another Terp illuminary.
“I played some pro-ams with Fred,” said Eric. “He’s a good player and a great guy.”
Dietz, who had done gofer work as a 10 year-old at Poolesvill GC in Potomac, returned to the club at the age of 24 as an assistant pro. He was there two years before it was on to Longview, a public course. Then it was a stint as an assistant pro at Paterson CC where the 1988 U.S. Women’s Open was held.
He changed profession to work as a food broker, but kept his PGA affiliation. In 1995, Dietz was hired as head pro at Hunt Valley. After Hershey, he took a job at Lancaster CC, a 100-year-old club with conservative ways. Dietz, who had won the job out of 200 applicants, secured a major women’s tournament for 2004. The club declined it.
“They wanted to go in a different direction,” said Dietz. “The only reason we got the bid was due to my connections. I felt it was time to leave.”
Dietz is well-known in the Philadelphia area, having worked on different boards there. He received several honors for his work back there, including the 2000 Bill Strausbaugh Award, which goes to a pro who develops club relations and lands jobs for prospective head pros. Fifteen of Dietz’ former assistants are head professionals.
Ridgemark will still hold the Toyota Challenge in late May and the Westerfield Jr. tournament in June.
