GROVE CITY — Grove City Country Club is in its 101st year — and getting younger every day.

Scott Choura was hired as general manager of the facility over the winter and is excited about the opportunities and potential of the organization.

“Grove City has a unique offering that is refreshing to see,” Choura said. “I haven't experienced such a tight-knit group of members, some of whom have known each other since elementary school, but with an openness to visitors and new members that is remarkable.”

GCC has 210 members. The membership was over 300 in the 1970's, but the overall golf industry has leveled off since then. Grove City has maintained a steady membership of over 200 for the past 25 years.

And it is looking to add more.

“The board of directors here is very young,” Choura said. “The oldest of its nine members is 55. This is a group of working professionals.

“Grove City has shifted its leadership to a young, enthusiastic composition, represented by professionals from hospitality, environmental, finance, IT and legal industries who get actively involved.”

The facility offers a variety of memberships, including traditional, annual and social.

Besides golf, GCC offers a restaurant, bar and banquet room, a swimming pool, driving range and Barmoore Lake, on which members can fish, boat, kayak and canoe.

The lake is stocked with fish at least every other year.

“There are affordable means for people to enjoy the club,” Choura said. “The annual membership enables golfers to come play the course anytime that year for $10 walking and $25 with a cart.

“Social membership is for non-golfers who want to enjoy the other amenities the club has to offer.”

The GCC board and equity membership decided to add a general manager late in 2017.

“I didn't replaced anybody,” Choura said. “I'm a pure addition, here to oversee the property and the operation.

“There was already a chef here, a restaurant manager, office manager, golf pro, superintendent, etc. The staff here is fantastic.”

Course superintendent Mike Masterson worked with Choura for five years at Lake Arthur Golf Club when Choura was GM there. Masterson moved on to Grove City Country Club.

“Mike raved about how good the people were here, how it's like a family,” Choura said. “I was happy to come on board and join that environment.”

Dave Altemus has been the PGA pro at GCC for 22 years. He previous served in that position at Toftrees in State College, Laurel Valley and Wildwood.

“It was easy to do,” Altemus said of anchoring down at Grove City Country Club. “There is definitely a friendly, family atmosphere here. Everybody knows everybody.

“The members all know each other and they're very welcoming to newcomers. It's a pretty special place.”

The pro shop at the club has doubled in size over the past couple of years.

“My basic job here is to help provide the golf equipment to our members, run the member tournaments and teach members and their children how to golf,” Altemus said. “I love every aspect of it.”

And golfers can play a round quickly.

The average round of golf at GCC is three hours and 21 minutes. Four or five hours may be needed to get in a round at most private and semi-private clubs.

“A public course might have 25,000 rounds played in a season,” Choura said. “We average maybe 10,000 to 12,000. The course is practically always available to get on.”

Grove City Country Club will also host eight recording acts on its patio this season. They will take place on Fridays and weekends beginning Memorial Day weekend through mid-September.

“Those will be laid-back events where people can sit in lawn chairs or whatever out back, relax and enjoy,” Choura said.

Around since 1917, Grove City Country Club expanded to an 18-hole course in 1996. Altemus was in the first threesome to play the new nine back then, joining then club champion Jack Cline and PGA standout Paul Azinger.

“Getting a chance to play that day was a thrill for me,” Choura said. “Paul came back for our 100th anniversary celebration.”

Altemus said the signature holes on the course are the par-3 No. 11 hole and the par-5 No. 18, which features a double dog-leg.

“The lake really accentuates the scenic quality of the course,” he said.

Altemus added that 20 to 30 club members are from the Cranberry Township area.

“It's 32 minutes from Route 228 to our front door,” he said. “People don't realize how close and accessible we are, the benefits we have. It's all here.”