BOSTON, Mass – Escalante Golf, a Texas-based company that paid $10 million in early February for The International Golf Club (Bolton), has hired Steve Brennan as General Manager and Paul Celano as the club’s Director of Golf.
Brennan is an accomplished hospitality leader whose career spans 25 years operating multiple golf clubs and resorts across the United States. Celano, a Class A PGA Golf Professional for 40 years, has led golf operations at several elite private clubs and is an accomplished golf instructor.
With a 20-year career in the private club industry working for organizations including ClubCorp, KSL, and Carl Icahn Enterprises, Brennan has a track record of expanding and growing member and community relationships at the clubs and properties he has led. A native of the Boston area, Brennan has roots in the region and spent over 14 years leading a turnaround and repositioning effort at Club of New Seabury, an award-winning golf resort community on Cape Cod. As VP of Resort Operations at Icahn Enterprises, he also drove growth and change at Grand Harbor and Oak Harbor in Vero Beach, Fla., both premier oceanfront resort-style golf communities.
“Becoming General Manager at a club with the history and pedigree of The International is a dream come true for me,” Brennan said. “The International is well known as one of the best golf clubs in New England, my home, and I am honored to take the helm. Escalante Golf’s vision for reimagining The International is invigorating, and I could not be more honored to have been selected to help make that vision a reality. I am thrilled to start building and leading my team, and begin delivering the most sought-after private golf club experience in New England.”
Currently splitting his time as Director of Instruction at both The International and at Bay Colony Golf Club in Naples, Fla., Paul Celano’s promotion to Director of Golf at The International brings him home to the Northeast. Celano graduated with a business degree from Murray State University where he lettered four years on the golf team; captained the team his junior and senior years; and played in two NCAA Championships. Prior to his time at The International, Celano served as Director of Golf at Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Sherwood Country Club in California, Doral Resort and CC in Miami, Governors Club in North Carolina and TwinEagles Golf Club in Florida. He has given over 20,000 lessons or clinics to golfers of all ages and skill levels.
“To say that The International is a special place would be an understatement,” Celano said. “I’ve had the privilege to lead golf operations at some very established, prestigious clubs across the country, reporting to smart, dynamic membership boards or owners. Escalante Golf’s vision for The International is the boldest I have encountered for any golf club or resort with which I have been associated. Being selected to partner with an operational leader of Steve’s caliber is an honor. Coming alongside him, with the support of the Escalante Golf team, I am confident in our ability to provide a best-in-class,golf-first and golf-focused membership experience at The International that will be the pride of New England.”
“We are excited to have Steve and Paul on board to begin building and leading a world-class team at The International,” added David McDonald, President of Escalante Golf. “They both bring a level of professionalism and commitment to excellence that our members will notice immediately. We are beyond excited to work closely with them as they use their combined 60 years of industry experience to elevate the pedigree of the golf and membership offering at TheInternational. Some might consider the task of developing something truly unique at The International, with a culture of deep respect for the game and the community, too great to take on, but we are grateful to have talented operators and leaders like Steve and Paul who have the gifts that match the task.”
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