CHICORA— Colin Dunwoody always wanted to own a golf course, but not as a means of breaking into the business.

He wanted to culminate his career in the business.

"I've done just about everything else in the sport," the Philadelphia resident said. "I've served as a consultant, a superintendent, distributed and manufactured golf clubs, done pro shop work, designed and served as an architect for golf courses.

"I wouldn't recommend anyone to get into the golf business without knowing about the golf business. I've got 25 years in the business. I've just never owned a course."

Until now.

Dunwoody bought St. Jude Golf Club in Chicora from Richard Fuhrer in November. Chuck Doll, a McCandless Township resident, was hired as the club's general manager shortly thereafter.

Dunwoody admitted that owning a golf course in Western Pennsylvania while living on the eastern side of the state "presents somewhat of a logistics problem.

"But I've got very capable people running things over there,"he said. "The course superintendent (Mike Dunn) and club pro (Ron Milanovich) have been there for years. I met Chuck through business and I know him well."

Milanovich, a former PGATour player and Tri-State Section PGAchampion, has been club pro at St. Jude for 26 years.

The course opened in 1927 as a nine-hole facility known as Ridgeview. The Fuhrer family owned the course for 40 years before selling it.

"(This sale) was a very emotional time for them,"Doll said. "This course continues to be listed among the top 20 most challenging courses in Western Pennsylvania."

Which is the main reason Dunwoody bought it.

"Without a doubt, there is a very good membership there,"he said. "I'm interested in maintaining the facility as a private club. It has a good core of membership."

Dunwoody was born in Scotland, grew up in Canada and was heavily involved with golf courses in Germany.

He came to the United States through his employment with American Golf Management.

"Most of the golf courses in Germany are private clubs,"he said. "They boost membership by allowing non-members to play there during the week. We'll be using that philosophy at St. Jude."

St. Jude has about 200 members, including prominent Western Pennsylvania Golf Association players Nathan Smith, Sean Knapp and Rob Voltz.

Men's opening day at the club is Saturday. Women's opening day is May 3.

Long-term changes in store for the facility include:

n Renovation and expansion of the clubhouse.

n Opening a restaurant, including a new kitchen and expanded dining area. Achef has been hired and the club has applied for a liquor license.

n Renovating the bunkers.

n Transforming the No. 3 hole from a long par-3 to a short par-4.

n Installing a putting and chipping green, along with a driving range.

"We want to get involved more with the WPGAand make the facility amenable to their qualifications for hosting an event,"Doll said. "We have interest in hosting the Butler Eagle Amateur as well."

Dunwoody has no intention of leaving the golf world any time soon.

"My home borders a golf course," he said, laughing. "My backyard is practically its driving range.

"I'm hoping to generate more membership. St. Jude is a tremendous facility to begin with. I only want to make it better."

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