Turnover Continues at The Blessings

A housecleaning effort started a few months ago at the Blessings Golf Club by owner John Tyson continues to have the membership asking questions.

Tom Jones, the private club’s longtime general manager and director of golf, was let go late in the summer.

Stan Wright, the head golf professional, has also exited.

Tyson, the former CEO and still the board chairman of Tyson Foods Inc., then hired Arizona-based Troon Golf, the largest golf course management company in the world, to facilitate the golf course operations — then told the company to let go of Jones’ replacement, Don Shirey, who was in the employ of Troon.

It’s unclear why Tyson — whom it’s fair to say possesses an intense personality — enlisted Troon’s services. But that can’t be taken as a good indicator of the fiscal health of a private club with only about 100 or so golf members.

We tried to reach Tyson through TFI’s media relations office for an update, but had no luck.

But according to a letter sent to the club’s members, Denis Matte, a transition specialist with Troon, is serving as the interim general manager until a permanent replacement is found.

Hillery Wilson, a collegiate golfer at the University of Cincinnati from 2004 to 2008, is currently the teaching pro at the Blessings.

But of utmost importance to many of the sources we spoke with? Antonio Avona, the club’s popular head chef, hasn’t gone anywhere.