WELCOME TO THE HIDEAWAY
Your New Club, Your New Community
It is with great excitement and pride that I welcome you to the very first edition of our membership newsletter at The Hideaway, Lake Oconee. As your Director of Membership and Marketing, I bring with me years of high-performing membership sales experience and, more importantly, a deep passion for building vibrant, fulfilling membership cultures. I’ve seen firsthand how a strong community can transform a club into something truly extraordinary, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to begin that journey with all of you here at The Hideaway.
This newsletter is the first of many meaningful ways we’ll connect, grow, and engage as a club. Each edition will be crafted with you in mind—filled with informative updates, upcoming events, and engaging features to keep you inspired and in-the-know.
I’m also proud to introduce two invaluable members of our team who will help bring our vision to life:
• Cara Brown, our Digital and Communications Coordinator, who will ensure our messages are clear, timely, and beautifully delivered.
• Maddie Mize, our Executive Administration Assistant, who will be an essential support to our membership operations and your go-to for anything you need.
Please know that my (virtual) door is always open. Whether you have questions, ideas, or just want to say hello, we’re here for you. It is a true honor to serve as your Director of Membership and Marketing, and I look forward to all we’ll build together at The Hideaway.
Warmly,
Director of Membership & Marketing kelly@thehideawaylakeoconee.com 570-269-8382
INTRODUCING THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Hideaway Lake Oconee
MARK KIMSEY
mkimsey@live.com
Mark has over 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, founding Family Hospice in 2021 and Mission Healthcare in 2009. Family Hospice provides end-of-life care across the Southeastern U.S., growing to 12 markets, with a 99% staff retention rate and top clinical outcomes. In addition, Mission Healthcare became one of the largest West Coast providers of hospice and home health services, earning multiple “Top Workplace” recognitions. Raised in Macon, GA, Mark’s passion for the field began in a local emergency room as a teenager. He is married to Jennifer and has a son, Ashton. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and supporting the Georgia Bulldogs.
KEN BROWN kenbrown@havensteel.com
Ken Brown began his career in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he and his brother grew their family business, Modern, into a diversified operation, including sheet metal fabrication and the MSuite software platform, acquired by DeWalt in 2022. In 2019, Ken and his wife, Alison, purchased Haven Steel Products, which manufacture spring steel components for agricultural equipment. Ken is also a co-founder of LifeCyte Innovations and involved in PermCap GHG Solutions. Ken and Alison live in Georgia with their three sons, Chris, Zack, and Brady.
STEWART C. VERNON stewartvernon@asppoolco.com
Stewart is the founder of America’s Swimming Pool Company (ASP), the largest pool cleaning, repair, and renovation franchise in the U.S. After ASP’s acquisition by Authority Brands in 2019, Stewart became Executive Vice President, leading the Emerging Brands division. Stewart has co-founded ventures such as Classic Overland, KUDU Outdoor Grills, and Central Piedmont Investment Group, and actively invests in various projects. Stewart is also involved in community service and mentorship, serving on multiple boards and delivering keynotes at various events. He is married to Shannon and has two children, Stewart Jr. and Sloan.
JIM RUHL
jim@dreambuilt.com
Jim Ruhl is a founding partner of DreamBuilt, LLC, a premier custom home design and build firm at Lake Oconee, which he and his wife, Paige, founded in 1999. They have grown it into one of the area’s most respected builders. Jim and Paige are full-time residents of Lake Oconee and have two children: Ethan, and Haley, who is stepping into a leadership role at DreamBuilt. Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Emory University.
JAROD CHENEY
cheneyj@massanaconstruction.com
Jarod is the President and CEO of Massana Construction, a leading heavy civil and highway construction company with operations in Georgia, Texas, and Washington. A civil engineering graduate of North Carolina State University, he has over 20 years of experience in the industry. Since 2004, Jarod has led Massana with a focus on infrastructure excellence. Originally from Wyoming, Jarod and his wife, Lindsey, live at Lake Oconee with their 7-year-old son, Ryan, and their golden retriever, Dolly. They are active members of Lakeside Church and enjoy lake life. Jarod has been a property owner at Reynolds since 2012 and became a full-time resident in 2020. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, boating, wake surfing, and skiing.
MEET THE BUILDER
Wayne Massey Founder, Medalist Golf Inc.
Born in Cleveland, Texas, Wayne began shaping golf courses in 1983 and has spent over four decades leaving his mark on some of the most renowned courses across the country. As the founder and owner of Medalist Golf Inc., established in 1996, Wayne has managed construction for elite golf courses and has built long-standing working relationships with many of the industry’s most respected architects, including Tom Fazio, Tiger Woods, Ron Prichard, Davis Love III, Bob Cupp, Beau Welling and Tom Watson.
Known for his hands-on expertise and commitment to excellence, Wayne continues to lead Medalist Golf with the same passion that sparked his career as a teenager. Today, he is happily married to Chris Massey and is a proud father of five children and two grandchildren.
INSIDE THE BUILD
THE HIDEAWAY LAKE OCONEE PROJECT TIMELINE
April 2025
Timber Removal
January-February 2025
Initial Dredging for Seawall & Dock Construction
Spring 2025
Golf Course Construction Begins
May 2025
Course Layout & Grading Plan, Seawall & Dock Construction Begins
Mid-Year 2025
Golf Course Growing Phase
Fall 2025
Clubhouse Construction Begins & Final Cove Dredging
Fall 2026
Course Opens
MEET THE VISIONARY
Renowned golf course designer Beau Welling, known for his innovative blend of strategy, beauty, and playability, is the creative force behind The Hideaway Lake Oconee. He is the founder and visionary of Beau Welling Design (BWD), a diverse team based in Greenville, South Carolina focused on intellectually-driven design. Fueled by a passion for golf course design, Beau studied landscape architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design, spent time as a visiting scholar at Trinity College in Dublin where he first experienced links golf, and later earned a master’s in International Business from the University of South Carolina.
Beau began his career in investment banking before being drawn into the golf world by Tom Fazio. Over more than a decade with Fazio, he helped design and complete over 90 new and renovated courses, led firm growth and management, and supported major charitable efforts.
Under Beau’s leadership, BWD delivers authentic solutions in golf design, master planning, and renovation around the world. Responsive and creative, the team connects the history and spirit of place with modern golfer needs, blending technical, creative, and innovative expertise to ensure the game is a fun and memorable experience for players of all skill levels, with a focus on strategic, option-oriented golf that remains highly playable.
Today, BWD is a global enterprise with active projects worldwide, including long-standing consulting collaborations with Tiger Woods and TGR Design. Recently, Beau led BWD’s work at PGA Frisco, hailed as the “Modern Home of American Golf,” where the team not only designed one of the championship courses but also master planned the entire development, including major “golf entertainment” and “grow the game” initiatives.
WHERE PERFORMANCE TAKES ROOT
Tahoma 31: A Signature Surface
As we thoughtfully design every aspect of The Hideaway, selecting the right turfgrass is essential to both playability and long-term sustainability. For our fairways and rough, we chose Tahoma 31 Bermudagrass, a premier variety developed by the turfgrass experts at Oklahoma State University. The Hideaway is the first golf club in the Lake Oconee area to feature this type of grass, and we are proud to be part of an exclusive collective of clubs in the Southeast. This turf choice reflects our commitment to building a course that is beautiful, resilient, and a pleasure to play year-round.
COLD WEATHER RESILIENCE
Tahoma 31 stands out as one of the most cold-hardy bermudagrasses, thriving as far north as Indiana and Colorado, making it perfectly suited for a wide range of seasonal climates.
EXTENDED PLAYING SEASON
With early spring green-up and a long lasting green color into the fall, Tahoma 31 enhances both the look and function of the course across more months of the year.
OUTSTANDING DROUGHT RESISTANCE
Requiring far less water than other varities like TifTuf, Tahoma 31 helps recude irrigation needs while keeping the turf healthy and vibrant.
EXCEPTIONAL PLAYABILITY
Its fine texture and dense growth allow for close mowing, creating a firm, clean surface that supports excellent ball roll and shot control.
DURABILITY & QUICK RECOVERY
Built for strength, Tahoma 31 handles heavy use and recovers quickly from divots and wear, keeping playing surfaces smooth and consistent.
VERSATILITY ON THE COURSE
Trusted on tees, fairways, collars, bunker surrounds, and even greens at select courses, Tahoma 31 performs exceptionally across elite golf facilities and professional sports fields.
THE HIDEAWAY x GREYSON
We’re proud to unveil our exclusive partnership with Greyson Clothiers, bringing members a new way to experience The Hideaway style from anywhere. Explore a hand-selected collection of Greyson’s latest and upcoming golf styles for men, women, and youth. Please note that all items ordered will be decorated and drop-shipped after the site closes on Friday, May 23rd. Shipping will take approximately 7–10 business days.
For more information or to place an order, click the link below.
Inspired by the concept of functionality, innovation, and creativity “ ”
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Masters Week 2025
THINGS TO KNOW
Exciting momentum continues at The Hideaway! Here are a few key updates to keep you in the loop as we build toward something truly special.
• Core 2 Membership Sales in Progress
• Digital Marketing Campaign Launched in April 2025
• Greyson Microsite Launched in April 2025
• New Website Launch: Click here to view our website
YOUR HIDEAWAY, YOUR VOICE
As we continue building The Hideaway, your input is invaluable. We’ve created a short survey specifically for our members to help us better understand which amenities you’re most excited about and how we can best serve you leading up to opening day. Your feedback will directly shape
