Doug Bell, PGA Director of Golf and General Manager
A 1989 Graduate of Ferris State University's Professional Golf Management, Doug joined the staff at Manistee National in 1999. He has developed operational skills as well as training in golf instruction throughout the country. Doug has trained in Dallas, Texas at the Dallas Athletic Club, in Kennebunk Beach, Maine at Webhannet Golf Club, in Birmingham, Alabama at Linkside Golf Center and finally in West Palm Beach, Florida with the PGA of America's winter tournament programs.
Prior to Manistee National, Doug was the Head Golf Professional at County Highlands in Bear Lake, Michigan and the Golf Director at Eldorado in Cadillac, Michigan. Doug's experience in golf operations, course construction, and his teaching ability will provide you, our guests with a terrific visit to our property. Doug continues to play throughout Michigan in professional events. In 2004 he was selected as the Michigan PGA Resort Merchandiser of the Year.
Doug's interest's outside golf includes spending time with his family snow skiing and coaching his son's basketball teams over the last few winters. In the summer during early mornings or late evenings, Doug can be found flying the coastline. Teaming up with his father to build his own airplane, a Vans' RV-8, Doug enjoys flying when not at the course. He calls it scouting the competitions parking lots to count cars. So if you're playing the resort and see a fast, sleek plane circling the courses, it's our ranger in the sky.
A 2001 Graduate of Ferris State University's Professional Golf Management Program, Ian joined the Manistee National staff in 2001. His work experience includes training under some of the best PGA Professionals in both golf instruction and golf equipment technology. Ian has spent time training in Dallas, Texas, West Palm Beach, Florida and closer to home in Cadillac, Michigan. Ian is very knowledgeable in club fitting and is certified with Titleist and Cobra golf. He has developed the terrific ability to assist player in becoming better through proper club fitting, lessons and practice routines. Ian was awarded PGA Membership status July 2002.
Ian brings to our staff another fine attribute, that of an accomplished and aspiring player. His competitive career began playing for the Ferris State University Men's Golf team in 2000 and 2001. Ian continues to pursue playing most notably in Michigan where he has finished in the top ten of the Michigan Open in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. He also has strong finishes in the Michigan PGA Championship finishing seventh in 2005, third in 2006 and eleventh in 2008. Ian competed nationally at the 2007 PGA Professional National Championship in Bend, Oregon where he finished thirty-ninth. Ian's first professional victory came in 2007 after winning the NMPGA Chapter Championship where he finished with a fifty-four hole total of seven under par. One of Ian's biggest playing accomplishments came in 2006, where he qualified for the PGA Tour's Buick Open held at Warwick Hills Country Club. Ian's career low round 62, career low tournament round 66.
His determination and overall golf knowledge is easily transferred to our guest and his students. Customer service ultimately is what you will see from Ian upon your visit to Manistee.
A 1980 graduate from Michigan State University, with a Turf Management Degree, Joel also completed a Business Administration degree from Ferris State University in 1989. Joel began his career in 1976 at County Highlands Golf Course in Bear Lake, Michigan. Joel ran the grounds operation there before moving to Manistee National in 1993. Involved from day one of construction Joel has guided all turf related activities since then. He has assisted in the resort developing from a stand alone 18 hole course at conception, through the addition of the Inn, and then the construction of our second 18 holes in 2000. He also acts as Facility Manager, overseeing the maintenance of all buildings, equipment and pools. Joel brings a vast knowledge to our operations. Rest assured that while visiting our property, you will be treated to expertly manicured grounds throughout. Players of all abilities comment on the ground conditions being of a consistantly high quality when playing either of our courses.
Ken came to Manistee National in the fall of 1994. With the guidence of our Grounds Superintendant Joel, Ken has increased his turf knowledge and was promoted to assistant superintendent on the Canthooke course in 1999. In 2002, Ken moved over to our Cutters' Ridge course and this is where you will find him today as you visit the property. The challenge of maintaining one of the best courses in Michigan is one that Ken enjoys and he is proud of the results he produces. You may see Ken and Duke, (his black shepard) riding from job site to job site around Cutters'. Ken can also be found assisting at the Inn during our off season. Ken is one of our certified pool technicians and handles the maintenance of our pools during the winter months.
Dennis Shinn Inn Manager
Dennis joined the Manistee National team in 2004 as part of our Inn staff and is now our Inn manager. Dennis moved to Manistee in 2002 from the Ann Arbor area where he spent 23 years in the commercial printing industry. He and his family had spent quite a bit of time in Manistee and really felt like it was the place to move if and when the opportunity arose.
Dennis handles our day to day Inn functions and helps coordinate our golf package sales. He can also assist you and your family in other recreation activities throughout the Manistee area. Dennis is an avid cyclist and spends most of his time away from the resort enjoying the great roads to ride along the coastline. Being a key to your enjoyable vacation or business stay, Dennis is always available to help.
Todd Cole (a.k.a.) Kabuki Food and Beverage Manager
Todd Cole joined the Manistee National Staff in 2002 and brought with him a fun-loving attitude. Providing our guests with weekend breakfasts, terrific lunches on the turn, and mouth watering steak dinners has become his staple. Training throughout the Manistee area for most of his career, Todd learned the main ingredient to providing a wonderful dining experience, is good food and a great attitude. Guests comment regulary on "The Singing Chef", "That great guy serving the steaks" or "That extremely happy chef who prepared our meal". Allow Todd to provide for you one of his delicious meals the next time you visit us. The Grille will reopen this Spring however we are available upon request for private parties durning the Winter months.
Cutter Resort Mascot and Customer Service Assistant
Cutter joined the staff in 1999 and brought with him 4 years of course mascot experience. He greeted hotel guests regularly at the front door and sometimes even wandered over to the clubhouse to see how that operation is running. If all was well around the resort he would usually end up under a cool desk in one of the hotel offices. He would also ride along side the beverage cart staff to assure good service. Sadly we lost Cutter December 29, 2009 after a battle with cancer. He will be greatly missed by his family, resort staff and the many guests he interacted with. His legacy lives on however in CJ and Ferris here at the resort.
Ferris and C.J. (Cutter Junior) Resort Mascots in Training
Cutter retired from the Stud Service in the Summer of '05, and from his last litter comes Ferris and C.J. Now 5 years old, the boys are definately following in their fathers paw prints . Ferris can be found on a golf cart outside of the clubhouse in the summer or snoozing under the desk of his master, Head Golf Professional Ian Ziska during the winter months. C.J. likes to stay close to his master, General Manager Doug Bell at the hotel. There is a good chance they can be found at the hotel during breakfast hours working to insure the very highest quality of our continental breakfast. Ferris and CJ still have a lot of learning to do in the way of the golf industry but have had a great trainer in thier late father Cutter. And like Cutter, they will stop on a dime for a snack. (Ferris is on the left in this picture)
Manistee National • 4797 U.S. 31 South • Manistee, MI 49660 • 231 398-0123
