50 years and counting
VALENCIA — The McManus family works at home — and loves every minute of it.
John McManus is a retired superintendent of Rittswood Golf Course. His wife, Jennifer Ritts McManis, is general manager of the facility. Their house is located right off one of the holes on the golf course.
“This is a wonderful place to raise a family,” Ritts McManus said. “There's so much open land, you're not crowded by neighbors and the people who come here are so friendly.”
She would know.
Her niece, Bethany, gave birth to daughter Ella — the fifth generation of the Ritts family — less than a year ago. Bethany's husband, Jay Braund, is in his second year as superintendent of the golf course.
“We met right here (at Rittswood),” Braund said. “Another family member introduced us.”
So it goes at Rittswood. Uncles, cousins, sisters, nieces, sons, etc. have all worked there. The golf course is in its 50th year and was originally a cattle and chicken farm.
Ritts McManus' grandfather's house still sits in the middle of the course today.
“We primarily use it as an office now,” Ritts McManus said. “Some family members in from out of town might stay there from time to time.”
A little more than 75 years ago, Arch V. Ritts Sr. moved his father into a small farm on this property and began raising chickens. After acquiring more property and adding cattle through the years, Arch Ritts and sons Skip and Bill decided to transform the farm into an 18-hole public golf course.
“They felt a change was needed and they wanted to keep the land usable and in the family ... not let it become a housing development or something,” Ritts McManus said.
That was in 1963. Well-known golf course architect Jim Harrison and partner Phil Garbin designed the course.
John McManus served as superintendent of Rittswood for 25 years. He helped groom Braund to assume that role, but still lends a hand to the course's upkeep.
“We have remained true to our roots,” McManus said. “But we have embraced the latest technology available in turf management and the quality of our mowing.“We invest a lot of the proceeds here back into maintenance of the course. We want to provide our customers with the best product possible.”Rittswood has no sand, but has plenty of grass bunkers and trees play into some holes. The course is walkable, though there are some hills.The No. 5 hole, a par-4 that plays 404 yards from the white tees, is a downhill shot from the tee-box.“The air currents on a given day could take that ball anywhere,” Braund said. “It's challenging.”Rittswood has four par-5 holes and four par-3s. The longest hole is No. 4, which plays 511 yards from the white tee. The shortest par-3 is No. 15, which plays 144 yards.“We've been able to maintain the original intent of this course, which is the look of an old-style course like in Scotland and Ireland, with deep green bunkers,” McManus said.As a family-run business, the commitment is there. Braund, McManus and Ritts McManus' oldest son, Zack — Braund's assistant — are out maintaining the course seven days a week, 12 hours per day.“We're not out there as much on weekends because we don't want to get in the way of the golfers,” Braund said. “Like most courses, we're more crowded on weekends.“We give each other breaks, but there's always someone out on the course working during the week.”Rittswood is offering some special rates for its 50th season. Weekday greens fees are $28.50 with a cart, $26.50 for seniors age 62 and older. Golfers can walk the course for $19, or $17.50 for seniors.Tee times are available daily and are strongly recommended on weekends before 1 p.m. Tee times are also available weekday evenings, along with evening specials on Friday and Saturday.“We want people to enjoy the course,” Ritts McManus said. “We try to offer specials in that regard.”Sundays after 2 p.m., a child age 9-18 receives a free round of golf with a paid adult greens fee.Rittswood also serves as the home course for the Mars High School golf teams.“This place is home for us,” McManus said. “When your life revolves around a golf course, it doesn't take long for it to get in your blood.”
