The Cuddy brothers—Joe, Steve and Craig – will take over management of the Jefferson Municipal Golf Course for the next golf season. The Jefferson city council at its Dec. 10 meeting approved a two-year management agreement with the Cuddys, doing business as Greene Properties, LLC, to manage the course, which became a city-owned facility last spring.
Per the council’s consensus, the course will be renamed the Jefferson Community Golf Course.
The Cuddys did a presentation at the Nov. 26 council meeting. All three are Jefferson Community High School graduates who pursued careers away from Jefferson but are returning. Joe Cuddy explained that Craig had moved back a few years ago, while he and Steve have recently purchased homes in the community.
Joe Cuddy will handle the day-to-day management of the golf course. He has previous job experience at recreation centers, golf courses, and the student center at St Olaf College. His vision for the golf course is that it become a place for healthy recreational activity in addition to golf. He said yoga and cooking classes may be offered at the club house. He plans to encourage new and casual golfers to use the course, and to reach out to golfers in surrounding communities. “This isn’t just an old boys’ club anymore. This is a golf course, a very beautiful golf course, and it’s very playable by all levels of golfers… We want to make it a welcoming spot for people to come,” Cuddy said.
The agreement between the city and Greene Properties calls for the city to retain possession and responsibility for maintaining the golf course, while the Cuddys lease the clubhouse and manage the course. The city will hire Brett Madsen, who did the turf management in 2013, as greens keeper. Madsen will use city-owned mowers and fertilizers and chemicals paid for by the city. City administrator Mike Palmer will oversee Madsen.
