New staff prepares Meadows

Highland Meadows general manager Mike Searle, left, course superintendent Mark Mixdorf and pro Nick Myers are ready.

No one is irreplaceable, perhaps, but that doesn't mean Nick Myers won't have big shoes to fill this week as the host professional for the Jamie Farr Kroger Classic.

Myers, 30, moved from Inverness Club to Highland Meadows last December as the successor to Dave Samaritoni, who retired after 33 years as the club's head golf professional.

“This is what I'd been working for,” Myers said. “Highland Meadows was a great opportunity for me and to come to a club with a pro tour event is pretty neat.”

Myers will oversee merchandise sales, both in the pro shop and in a special tent, and will supervise the practice range and bag room operations.

“The preparation has been interesting, so it will be exciting to see how it all unfolds,” he said.

As the first assistant to David Graf at Inverness for two years, Myers was involved in the preliminaries of merchandising for this past June's U.S. Senior Open.

He isn't the only newcomer at Highland Meadows. His boss, general manager Mike Searle, was hired last August and will also be working his first Farr Classic. Mark Mixdorf, the course superintendent, has been on board since May of 2001 and is the veteran of the staff.

Here are brief profiles of the top three staff members:

Mike Searle, general manager: Previously served as general manager of the Toledo Club from 1996-2002 and was manager of club operations at Lakewood Country Club (Westlake, Ohio) and Columbia Hills Country Club (Columbia Station, Ohio). A Toledo native, Searle attended Clay High School and Heidelberg College. Age 52, married, one son.

Mark Mixdorf, course superintendent: Previously served as South Course superintendent at Oakland Hills near Detroit (1997-2001), and assistant superintendent at Wakonda Club in Des Moines, Iowa (1995-97). He holds degrees in communications from the University of Northern Iowa (1992) and in turfgrass management from Iowa State University (1995). Age 34, married.

Nick Myers, PGA professional: Previously served as first assistant pro at Inverness Club (2001-02), assistant pro at Toledo Country Club (1997-2000), and as a shop assistant at Toledo CC (1995-96). Was a four-year letterman on the men's golf team at Bowling Green State University and was a first team All-MAC selection as a senior. Age 30, married.