New owner at Ennismore golf course
Darragh Moroney takes over Tamarac with his children
ENNISMORE – There’s a new owner at Tamarac Golf and Country Club, but taking over the business will involve a family effort.
Peterborough entrepreneur Darragh Moroney, 69, bought the 18-hole, 6,425-yard, par 72 championship course on Ennis Road, but his children will be the ones handling most of the operations.
“It’s a little late to start a whole new venture by myself … I wouldn’t want to tackle it alone,” he said after the sale of the course, built in 1962, closed Thursday.
His oldest son, local Re/Max realtor Darragh ‘Too’ will handle most of the financials, while his youngest son Hart will be up bright and early taking care of the course. His daughter Shanna will serve as an administrator.
Moroney, who owns more than 150,000 square feet of city industrial and commercial space, brings more than 45 of business experience to the effort and joked that his children know more about the sport than he does.
He has owned Erskine Avenue flooring warehouse Better Floorz since 1988. He also owned Peterborough Speedway for one year in 1986 and was also a part-owner of Liftlock Golf and Country Club in the early 1990s.
Moroney promises to breath new life into the course by refreshing the aging clubhouse, improving the grounds and setting up weekly dining specials on the patio. He will retain the 12 to 15 staff and honour all 2018 prepaid memberships, he said.
The course, which also has a driving range, practice facility, restaurant and fully licensed bar and patio, benefits from having plenty of mature trees and water, said Moroney, who first golfed there in 1974 when he lived in Omemee.
“I’ve always known it’s a beautiful place … this is a little gem out there,” he said.
There was a limited window of opportunity to buy the course, so the entrepreneur had to move fast – particularly with the new golf season fast approaching. Plans are now well underway to get the course ready for opening day, he said.
Moroney takes great pride in the success of his many investments. Asked what advice he would offer his children to ensure Tamarac will be another, he said it will come down to everyone giving maximum effort.
NOTES: For more information about Tamarac Golf and Country Club, including rates, visit www.tamaracgolfclub.ca or call the pro shop at 705-292-8761.… The course is located at 155 Ennis Rd. just west of Ennismore.