By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Nick Hartong, Rootstown High School alumnus (2007), has been named the new Clubhouse Manager at Paradise Lake Golf Club in Suffield.

Hartong has an impressive resume.

Following graduation from Rootstown, Hartong graduated from the Pennsylvania Institute of Hospitality and Restaurant Management.

Following that, he was an intern for three years at the prestigious Pinehurst in South Carolina.

“Pinehurst is my home away from home,” said Hartong.

He went back four years ago for a golf trip.

He also worked at the Robert Trent Jones Oceanfront Golf Course at Hilton Head before coming home to work at Firestone Country Club as the restaurant manager for three years also handling purchasing and beverage management duties.

How did he get to Paradise?

“I worked outside on the grounds crew for Mike Rainieri during COVID,” said Hartong.

That led to the Clubhouse Manager at Paradise Lake, where Hartong is looking forward to getting to know the new faces and maybe reconnect with familiar ones as well.

“We have a tenured staff at Paradise and they know the customers,” said Hartong, offering that the staff has been a big help.

“It is important to know your customers,” said Hartong, who is responsible for food, beverage and beer selection, as well, and may bring in a few of different selections, including John Daly’s Good Boys.

“Thursday night is our busiest league night,” said Hartong, who is also looking to offer food specials, including taco specials this week for Cinco de Mayo, meatball sandwiches and the sausage sandwiches, a milder version, that Paradise is known for.

Golf outings are a staple on the calendar at Paradise Golf Club with outings concluding in the pavilion near the tee on hole 10.

“We no longer have banquets and are exploring other options for the banquet room,” said Hartong.

Hartong is also looking to build a membership at Paradise Lake.

Currently it is $900 without cart and $1,600 with cart, and he is encouraging parents to play with their kids.

Paradise is host to both the Mogadore High School and Waterloo High School varsity golf teams.

“We are a league and outing destination for many, with two outings sometimes scheduled for every Saturday,” said Hartong.

Hartong said he is a sports junkie and loves to not only meet and greet the golfers, but talk with them about their games following a nine-hole or 18-hole round.

Long term, Hartong would like to have a Paradise Lake beer.

But, for now, having all new riding carts, adding items and specials to the menu, expanding membership and taking care of the golfers who call Paradise Lake home is the focus.

“I look forward to working with our incredible staff,” said Hartong who wants to keep the reputation Paradise Lake has built over the years and improve the golfers’ experience.