Improvements on the horizon at Yankee Trace
With an interior facelift, a huge patio expansion in the plans, an upgraded restaurant and innovative new staff members, The Golf Club at Yankee Trace is poised to grow.
“At the essence of The Golf Club at Yankee Trace, we are a community gathering space for people to socialize, entertain and enjoy recreation. The future of golf should be inviting people of all ages — and our club is evolving to serve the whole family. These improvements will help us achieve that,” Yankee Trace Administrator Steve Marino said.
After celebrating 25 years in 2020, the course logged a record 69,000 rounds of golf. Yankee Trace broke the record again in 2021 with nearly 70,000 rounds. Centerville leadership and staff have planned strategic improvements to secure the club’s spot as a favorite destination in the Miami Valley.
Clubhouse transformation
Expansive interior renovations to the clubhouse included the lobby, ballroom and restaurant. The men’s and women’s restrooms were updated, and crews created luxury lounge areas in each with a bridal suite in the women’s locker room.
Dark browns were converted to brighter colors and the look overall is cleaner and more modern.
Additionally, an overhaul of the audio/visual system made the ballroom more functional for meetings. Now, three projection screens and a state-of-the-art audio system are available for any event.
Expanding on that work, the next phase of improvements will focus on a planned expansion of the outdoor patio. The project will capitalize on a cocktail area space outside the ballroom, create
a fully conditioned room where the awning is now, create an indoor/outdoor bar area and bump the entire patio out to the area that is currently the cart path, creating an unparalleled scenic view of the golf course. One of the earliest changes guests are likely to notice is the replacement of all clubhouse windows with more efficient replacements this summer.
Restaurant improvements
The upcoming renovations to The Golf Club at Yankee
Trace include a kitchen facelift, which will provide staff with improved equipment and functionality. Additionally, the space will be rearranged to allow staff to more conveniently prep and serve meals.
Centerville recently made several key hires that will improve service tremendously. Jack Skilliter, former owner of Oregon District restaurant Corner Kitchen, signed on as Yankee Trace Food Service director.
“Jack brings a wealth of experience to Yankee Trace. He looks at our guests, space
and menu in a new way, helping us innovate and provide a truly special guest experience,” Marino said.
The club’s new executive chef Jacob Marcum has a diverse background including private country clubs and casual dining. Chef Melissa Deaton is the latest to join the team, boasting experience at Rue Dumaine and Dublin Pub. These changes will significantly improve the food service experience for customers.
Golf course
Yankee Trace will purchase new golf carts in 2023, replacing the current popular Club Cars with
a newer model. In addition to the unmatched GPS Shark Experience with streaming music, live sports and accurate yardage monitors, these carts will offer bucket seats, variable speed control to protect patrons and the grounds and long-lasting lithium batteries.
Staff is also considering upgrades to the practice facility, which would include an entertainment area for the driving range.
This year, we will introduce FlagD, a mobile distance calculator for the eight target greens on the driving range that help guests improve their game.