Post by rocket on Jan 25, 2014 8:56:42 GMT -6
All in the Family: Pflibsens continuing golf tradition at former Streator Country Club
For Streator's Pflibsen family, golf runs through their veins.
The family, headed by Ruthie Pflibsen and the late Robert Pflibsen and comprised of 10 children and 20 grandchildren, have owned and operated Twin Creeks Golf Course for 38 years.
Now, while continuing their legacy at Twin Creeks, they are embarking on a new adventure.
On March 1, they will open the Eastwood Golf Course and Restaurant at the site of the former Streator Country Club.
"The really cool thing about this place, our family started here," said Muff Travelstead, who, along with her brother Greg and his wife Nancy Pflibsen, are the official owners of the newly-named nine-hole golf course. "My dad was a member and bought Twin Creeks in 1976. We're kind of coming back to where we started."
Looking back to their early days at Twin Creeks when Robert Pflibsen took a vote from his children, then ages 5 to 20, on whether they should proceed with the venture, the entire family has been part of the process for the Eastwood. Everyone was included on a vote whether to purchase the property and on decisions about redesign. Grandchildren Luke and Tori have designed the entirely remodeled and upgraded the interior of the clubhouse and logo and the family has done its own demolition and some construction — utilizing some wood from the former Lipton Tea Building around the bar area. Granddaughter Jill Zavada will manage the restaurant and bar, with Sadie and Sheri Clift managing the kitchen.
"(My father's) biggest goal/dream was getting all the kids to work at the same business together," Greg Pflibsen told The Times. "Whenever there was a project, it didn't matter how small you were, you helped out, whether cleaning, whatever. There's so many things in the golf business, it's endless — we need to do the only thing that saved us ... With us we do everything ourselves. Someone in the family has some knowledge of watering, fixing, how to grow grass. We've been really fortunate in just being able to do stuff (ourselves)."
The family attributes its continuing success to 84-year-old matriarch Ruthie Pflibsen.
"She's the worker of the family," Travelstead said. "Ten kids, never been to a doctor, never complains. My mom always stood behind him and supported (my father). He's kind of the mastermind, she's the brawn of it all. She comes out to check on us. She does everything. She's our rah-rah girl. She's the one that started this whole, crazy thing."
The Eastwood and Twin Creeks will intertwine — the golf courses will offer memberships, dual memberships and daily fees — and when one course may be occupied for a tournament or fundraiser, the other will be available to the general public. Greg Pflibsen refuted rumors that Twin Creeks' availability will be cut back.
"That's the last thing we want to do," he said. "That's where we grew up."
"It's really cool; guys like to play different courses," Travelstead said. "It will just be a unique situation. People like to mix it up."
The banquet hall will include a dining room and bar and will be open for lunch and dinner seven days per week. It also is available for parties, weddings, anniversaries, showers and receptions.
"There's a lot of people that leave town on Friday, Saturday night," Greg Pflibsen said. "We want to make it a place for them to go and to draw people here from other towns."
"I think people are going to be blown away by the changes here, the decor and ambiance," Zavada said. "I think people will be very excited to come back."
www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/all-in-the-family-pflibsens-continuing-golf-tradition-at-former/article_4370b5ef-21d6-5bc1-8d4d-2f80a167adec.html
For Streator's Pflibsen family, golf runs through their veins.
The family, headed by Ruthie Pflibsen and the late Robert Pflibsen and comprised of 10 children and 20 grandchildren, have owned and operated Twin Creeks Golf Course for 38 years.
Now, while continuing their legacy at Twin Creeks, they are embarking on a new adventure.
On March 1, they will open the Eastwood Golf Course and Restaurant at the site of the former Streator Country Club.
"The really cool thing about this place, our family started here," said Muff Travelstead, who, along with her brother Greg and his wife Nancy Pflibsen, are the official owners of the newly-named nine-hole golf course. "My dad was a member and bought Twin Creeks in 1976. We're kind of coming back to where we started."
Looking back to their early days at Twin Creeks when Robert Pflibsen took a vote from his children, then ages 5 to 20, on whether they should proceed with the venture, the entire family has been part of the process for the Eastwood. Everyone was included on a vote whether to purchase the property and on decisions about redesign. Grandchildren Luke and Tori have designed the entirely remodeled and upgraded the interior of the clubhouse and logo and the family has done its own demolition and some construction — utilizing some wood from the former Lipton Tea Building around the bar area. Granddaughter Jill Zavada will manage the restaurant and bar, with Sadie and Sheri Clift managing the kitchen.
"(My father's) biggest goal/dream was getting all the kids to work at the same business together," Greg Pflibsen told The Times. "Whenever there was a project, it didn't matter how small you were, you helped out, whether cleaning, whatever. There's so many things in the golf business, it's endless — we need to do the only thing that saved us ... With us we do everything ourselves. Someone in the family has some knowledge of watering, fixing, how to grow grass. We've been really fortunate in just being able to do stuff (ourselves)."
The family attributes its continuing success to 84-year-old matriarch Ruthie Pflibsen.
"She's the worker of the family," Travelstead said. "Ten kids, never been to a doctor, never complains. My mom always stood behind him and supported (my father). He's kind of the mastermind, she's the brawn of it all. She comes out to check on us. She does everything. She's our rah-rah girl. She's the one that started this whole, crazy thing."
The Eastwood and Twin Creeks will intertwine — the golf courses will offer memberships, dual memberships and daily fees — and when one course may be occupied for a tournament or fundraiser, the other will be available to the general public. Greg Pflibsen refuted rumors that Twin Creeks' availability will be cut back.
"That's the last thing we want to do," he said. "That's where we grew up."
"It's really cool; guys like to play different courses," Travelstead said. "It will just be a unique situation. People like to mix it up."
The banquet hall will include a dining room and bar and will be open for lunch and dinner seven days per week. It also is available for parties, weddings, anniversaries, showers and receptions.
"There's a lot of people that leave town on Friday, Saturday night," Greg Pflibsen said. "We want to make it a place for them to go and to draw people here from other towns."
"I think people are going to be blown away by the changes here, the decor and ambiance," Zavada said. "I think people will be very excited to come back."
www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/all-in-the-family-pflibsens-continuing-golf-tradition-at-former/article_4370b5ef-21d6-5bc1-8d4d-2f80a167adec.html
