About Us

Who We Are and How We Operate

Bloom Golf Management is a talented group of professionals dedicated to providing spectacular golf-related experiences. Bloom Golf Management is headquartered in Pass Christian, MS on the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast. Our current projects are located in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama. We offer full-service golf course management, pursue opportunities for course acquisition, and provide consulting in golf course management, acquisition, agronomy, and sales/marketing.

Our company began in 2014, when Russ Bloom, our President/COO, had the opportunity to purchase The Oaks Golf Club, in Pass Christian, MS. Through the experience of developing the ownership structure, raising capital to pay cash for the club and starting operations without the support of The Oaks’ longtime management company, OB Sports, Bloom Golf Management was created. Since that time, Bloom Golf Management has grown to six courses. Four of the courses are a combination of ownership, using a similar ownership structure to The Oaks Golf Club, and Professional Golf Course Management contracts. The fifth and sixth course are third party Professional Golf Course Management contracts. This unique portfolio gives Bloom Golf Management a connection to owners looking for support. We have personally invested in each ownership projects, we have family and friends who have invested in our projects, and we are fully dedicated to proving everyone a return on their investment. It’s the only way we know how to operate. We will focus on People, Products, and Profit in that order. We learned from the best management company in the business, OB Sports, for 10 years. Combining many of their successful business practices with our own has created a versatile and unique company. Our courses are all success stories, and we plan to keep it this way.

Russ Bloom

President/COO

Russ Bloom is the Owner and President/COO of Bloom Golf Management. Bloom Golf Management was created in 2014.

Russ Bloom, who is from San Diego, CA, graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in Economics. Russ was a scholarship golfer at San Diego State. After playing professionally for a couple years, Russ moved to Mississippi and started his career as a golf professional. Well, he actually started picking range balls up out of the woods for playing privileges, which led to working in the cart barn, which led to making the decision to start a career as a golf professional. Russ has been a PGA Member since 2004.

Russ started working in the cart barn at The Oaks Golf Club in 2002. In 2014, as the General Manager, Russ had the opportunity to purchase The Oaks. As part of the acquisition, Russ formed Bloom Golf Management. The Oaks has provided investors over a 20% return during the 8 full years of ownership. The Oaks has valuation 5 times over the purchase price in 2014. The Oaks is currently ranked the 9th best public golf course in Mississippi in the prestigious Golfweek rankings.

The reputation and success of The Oaks Golf Club combined with the experience buying The Oaks with cash has given Russ several opportunities to grow. Russ is an investor and the managing member of The Oaks Golf Club, Hattiesburg Country Club, Heron Lakes Country Club, and Oak Knoll Country Club. Each of these are managed by Bloom Golf Management. Bloom Golf Management also has third party management contracts at Sunkist Country Club and Copper Mill Golf Club. These management contracts give Bloom Golf Management full operational control of all day-to-day activities.

Bloom Golf Management has been successful raising capital, overseeing large capital projects, managing day to day operations, marketing, building exceptional staff, providing a high level of service in all departments and, most important, being profitable.

Russ has managed all aspects of these operations including strategic planning, budgeting, hiring and firing, revenue management, customer service training, creating sales programs, cart fleet management, merchandising, F&B management, tournament operations, marketing, supervising large projects, managing hurricane recovery, contracting numerous renovations, purchasing and managing capital items, overseeing golf course maintenance and much more.

Russ took over management and purchased Heron Lakes Country Club in the summer of 2017. Within 6 months, Heron Lakes Country Club went from being a bankrupt private club to a stabilized semi-private club. Bloom Golf Management created the ownership structure, the investment offering and managed the transition from private to semi-private and then quickly raised $1.5M through the offering. By November, Bloom Golf Management was contracting all major renovations to the clubhouse and golf course. On January 6, 2018, Heron Lakes Country Club opened to public golf and public banquets/meetings for the first time in its 64-year history. After the first full year of operating Heron Lakes, the club increased revenue by $460,000, added 8000 rounds of golf, 800 Heron Cards and added 50 new members.

Russ began managing Oak Knoll Country Club in February of 2019. During the initial phase of management, the club was transitioned from a failing and nearly bankrupt club to a financially stable semi-private facility. By changing the culture of staff, improving playing conditions, completely replacing all systems (payroll, Point of Sale, Accounting System, Employee Handbook, staff training etc.), marketing programs, website, programming and rate structure, the club has been transformed. Oak Knoll was taken advantage of by Golf Now and the third-party barter model. They were giving away over 3000 rounds a year as a trade for point of sale and tee time system. This brought their total average rate down below $20/round. Since taking over the club, all trade times have been eliminated, the average green fee/round rate is up to $38.50 including all non-member green fee categories. These financial improvements have been combined with substantial improvements to the golf course with a greens renovation, new bridges, cart path repair, new irrigation system, improve maintenance practices and new equipment. The early success after the purchase allowed the club to renovate the clubhouse with major renovations to the men’s and women’s locker rooms, new gym and replacing the bar in the main dining area. OKCC is now profitable for the first time in 10+ years. Oak Knoll’s total revenue has more than doubled since bringing in Bloom Golf Management.

Bloom Golf Management started managing Hattiesburg Country Club in January of 2021. In the summer of 2022, Russ created the investment structure and purchased HCC with three primary investors. During the purchase, Russ raised an additional $1.5M for additional capital improvement. HCC is strong financially and set up for long term success. Hattiesburg Country Club was recently ranked #1 Best Private Golf Course in Mississippi in the prestigious Golfweek rankings. Hattiesburg Country Clubs revenue has gone from $2.1M before Bloom Golf Management took over in 2021 to over $4m in 2023 and continued growth in 2024. Membership has gone from 325 to over 600 during management/ownership.

Russ is excited to grow Bloom Golf Management after building the experience and team necessary to provide the highest level of service. Russ is married to Leah and has a 20-year-old daughter (Gracie), 13-year-old daughter (Katie Rae) and 3-year-old-daughter (Annie).

Don Groft

Vice President of Operations & Business Development

With over 25 years of experience in The Golf Industry Don brings a results-driven approach to his role as Vice President of Operations and Business Development at Bloom Golf Management.

Don is a PGA Member since 1999 with extensive “green grass” golf management experience, business development, client relationship management, and strategic sales expertise. He has demonstrated success in expanding market share, managing large territories, and negotiating high-value contracts. Before joining Bloom Golf Management, Don served as Senior Managing Director at Hilco Real Estate, where he identified and capitalized on new business opportunities within the golf resort and hospitality sectors. He played a pivotal role in acquisition, disposition, capital investment, and valuation processes, leveraging his expertise in golf and resort finance to drive successful client proposals and secure new business.

Prior to his tenure at Hilco, Don was the Business Development Manager for Down To Earth Golf, focusing on the Southeastern U.S. He excelled in cultivating relationships with golf facility owners and management companies, driving revenue growth and providing creative maintenance solutions. His strategic sales efforts led to significant achievements in market expansion and client satisfaction.

At Yamaha Golf Car Company, Don achieved an impressive 90% increase in territory unit sales within his first year and consistently exceeded sales quotas. He managed Northern New England and then the GA / SC territory overseeing over 300 accounts. Earlier in his career, Don served as a golf professional at prestigious clubs in Massachusetts, including Hyannisport Club and Wollaston Country Club. During this time, he also earned his real estate and general contractor’s licenses. Don formed Groft Development and focused on land development, road construction, built and sold multiple homes, and managed his own rental properties.

Born and raised in Attleboro Massachusetts, Don holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a major in Marketing from Coastal Carolina University. He resides in Pawleys Island SC with his wife Samantha, daughters Maisie (age 7) and daughter Tess (age 5).

Al Osteen

Director of Agronomy, Class A GCSAA

Al is a graduate of Mississippi State University’s Agronomy and Turfgrass Management program – one of the most respected programs in the country. Al has extensive experience as a 30+ year Golf Course Superintendent at some of the top golf courses in the United States, in these positions, overseeing agronomy during many PGA Tour events. He provides expertise and support to each of our Golf Course Superintendents.

Al is a Class A GCSAA member and has served as the President of the Louisiana and Mississippi Chapters of the GCSAA. He is dedicated to helping others grow in their professional agronomy education and frequently speaks at seminars conducted by the GCSAA and other golf course agronomy organizations.

Vicki Gaston – HR Manager

Jaime Pope – Accounting Manager

Randa Craig, CPA – BGM Accountant

We will operate professionally:

• Operational efficiency is critical to the success of the club. Every dollar of payroll, services, utilities, cost of goods, and supplies will be spent in the most efficient way. Unnecessary staffing and waste will be eliminated.

• Qualified and talented people will be hired in key positions. They will be incentivized to produce the product and revenue the club needs to make the transition and flourish into the future.

• The operation will be financially sound with an operating budget and simple, clear financial reporting. P&L, Balance Sheet, Budget vs Actual, Actual vs Previous Year, Total Sales by Department or any other financial report can be produced at any time within 15 days of the end of each month. Cost of Goods Sold percentage expectations will be critical in F&B and Merchandise. We will manage the long term success of each project by developing a capital improvement plan and focusing on always being better.

• The staff will be well trained and professional at every level. Job Descriptions and Position Expectations will make employees accountable to deliver exceptional service and quality products in each department.

• Creative and effective programming will be customized to fit each project. Membership structure and pricing are critical to grow, Loyalty Card Programs for public and semi-private clubs are critical to increasing rounds and average rate.

• The sales and marketing effort will help drive additional revenue through new memberships, rounds of golf and weddings/events.

We will support our staff:

• Leadership – Bloom Golf Management will work with a team spirit to make sure each of the key employees are more effective and more confident in their job and performance. Our style is very hands-on, and we will provide whatever attention is necessary based upon the individual skills and experiences of team members. In addition to on-site attention, we will also invite staff members to attend group training sessions on-line or at other regional properties to become updated on industry trends, idea sharing and extended networking.

• Training – Employees are only efficient and effective if they are given the proper tools and resources to do their job at a very high level. Training is at the center of this philosophy. Bloom Golf Management will work directly with the key employees to ensure that they have everything they need to be successful. The need is determined by the individual and their skills and experience. Each department will have clear processes in training new employees. Bloom Golf Management uses the Net Promoter model to train and motivate staff. The model uses surveys with 1-10 ratings to get a clear picture of customer satisfaction in all areas from overall golf experience to the quality and taste of the hamburger. It is proven that unless someone rates you at a 9 or a 10, they will not leave and promote your business. We will regularly monitor customer feedback and surveys to ensure that any ratings less than 9 will be quickly addressed and changes will be made to improve that part of the business. Once the staff sees how powerful this program is, they will all work hard to deliver at a very high level.

• Recruitment / Operational Backstop – If and when changes to the on-site team need to be made, Bloom Golf Management will provide comprehensive leadership to the process including job postings, resume gathering, interviews, hiring, and proper on-boarding training. Please also know that Bloom Golf Management’s staff can serve as operational backstops if there is ever a transition period between on-site managers leaving and a new manager coming on board.

• Player Development / Community Involvement – Bloom Golf Management will implement its Charity All-Stars program at each club, which recruits golf event planners of all kinds to the facility and educates them on all aspects of event planning, preparation, and execution. We will also explore innovative uses of the golf course and clubhouse, and endeavor for the community to use each club as the community gathering place. Lastly, our player development programs will introduce the game to juniors, adults, and seniors alike, and bring enthusiasm to the members, residents, and surrounding community.