Interview With Bill Verbrick Co-Owner The Creeks at Ivy Acres

Below is an interview with Bill Verbrick, the Co-Owner at The Creeks at Ivy Acres. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

Can you provide our readers a brief biography?
I probably played less than 10 rounds of golf before my sophomore year in high school. I grew up playing baseball and basketball. I was fortunate enough to play college baseball at UW-Stevens Point. My love for golf took off while in college. I was a starting pitcher on the baseball team the other pitchers and I would take advantage of the student rates at SentryWorld after baseball practice. That is where I got hooked.

I spent roughly 15 years in the golf business as grounds crew, bag room attendant, Assistant Pro, Head Pro, General Manager and now I am fortune enough to be a co-owner of a great golf course.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game?
I probably played my first round of golf at the age of 9 but I didn't really start playing until my junior year in high school. I really started playing a lot of golf at the age of 21 when I got a job as Assistant Golf Pro at Stevens Point Country Club. Greg Pezl, then Head Pro at SPCC, was my inspiration to start a career in the golf business. I rememeber racing around the course every morning at the crack of dawn to play as many holes as I could before my shift started. I remember I didn't use a driver my first year as an Assistant until Greg taught me how to hit it much better.

What is your current home course?
My home course now is The Creeks at Ivy Acres (formerly Eagle Creek Golf Club).

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
My proudest accomplishment was winning the 2010 Northeast Wisconsin Golf Association (NEWGA) Open in a playoff. I was the GM/Head Pro at Ridgeway Country Club at the time and I was hosting the event so I didn't have very high hopes for my performance given the extra distraction of hosting the event. Our new superintendent, Steve Blake, had the greens running at 13+ on the stimp meter for that event. Needless to say, it was a defensive test on the course that week and three putts were commonplace for the field. I know to keep the ball below the hole and I was able to earn my first individual stroke play victory.

I have also been happy to qualify for and compete in three Wisconsin State Opens.

Now co-owning a golf course is right up there as one of my proudest accomplishments.

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
I enjoy a fast round of golf as much as the next golfer, but my biggest pet peeve is hearing singles and twosomes complain about slow play. Many people golf to enjoy relaxation and the outdoors. In my opinion, it's not a race and a foursome golfing and having a good time should be allowed to enjoy a 4 hour round. Singles and twosomes are welcome to play through or find openings in the course to sneak around without waiting but they shouldn't expect to play an uninterrupted round in under 3 hours. If they are experiencing that on a regular basis, either they are paying an exclusive high-end membership fee or they are playing at a course that is being underutilized and struggling to make it. That is not good for golf. Invite some friends, fill up a foursome and enjoy 4 hours of relaxation.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
My favorite club is my driver because, unfortunately it is my best club. I would like my wedges and putter to become my favorite clubs. Then I might enjoy some lower scores.

What is your favorite golf destination?
I have a feeling that Sand Valley Golf Resort will become my favorite golf destination but time will tell. The Creeks at Ivy Acres is quickly becoming my favorite and my home away from home. Mike Nuzzo's exclusive creation, Wolf Point Golf Club in Port Lavaca, Texas is among the best and most unique courses I have ever played.

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
Sand Valley Golf Resort, Augusta National, Pine Valley, Royal County Downs, Bandon Dunes are high on a long list.

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
Wolf Point Golf Club, Port Lavaca, Texas. It is really a shame that Mike Nuzzo hasn't been given an opportunity to design more golf courses. He is as talented as Doak, Core/Crenshaw, Kidd, and Hanse.

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
Stroke and distance penalties wouldn't exist. Namely lost balls and out-of-bounds. Both would be played similar to lateral hazards. The current penalty doesn't fit the crime and can ruin a good round of golf with an unlucky bounce or small mishit.

Dream foursome (living)?
Bill Verbrick, Andy Verbrick, Tiger Woods, Fred Couples

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
Bill Verbrick, Andy Verbrick, Tiger Woods, Bobby Jones

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Sinking Long Putt

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Round of Life

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Twilight

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power fade

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house? beverage cart

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Bushes

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Hot dog

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Sand

9) Walking OR riding?
Walking w/ caddie

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
3-iron

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Long par 3. My favorite holes are short par 4s and risk-reward par 5s.

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Shorts

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Palmer

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Beatles, I guess.

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Both

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Bump and run. Firm and fast turf condition is how the game was meant to be played!

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Gamble. After all, I bought a golf course.

18) 18 holes OR 36?
36