The River's Edge Bar & Restaurant

As planning for the 2016 summer season began to take shape, Mike Fortino, General Manage, wanted to do something to differentiate the club's restaurant from the golf course.  His efforts in the previous year showed with little doubt that there is significant growth potential in providing clubhouse facilities to people who think of golf as a spectator sport.  In recent years the Grayling Country Club has become the premier local venue for golf outings, special events like wedding receptions; all with or without golf involved.  Why?  Largely because of the great view from the dining room, deck, and fire pit patio and simple fact that kitchen puts out great food, cooked on site, from fresh ingredients and at very reasonable prices.   A new name seemed to be a good idea.

Club members submitted a plethora of possible names.  The clubhouse location along the historic AuSable river made the choice easy.  Now the effort to communicate the new restaurant's name and location within the Grayling Country Club Clubhouse and that the facility welcomes everybody, golfers, non-golfers, members, and non-members is beginning to take shape.   Local radio advertising, monthly news releases, e-blasts and social media programs set the tone.  Management and staff are gearing up for another busy summer season with projections of increased lunch business as well as Friday night fine-dining under the new name.  As to special events, the summer calendar is almost full and the clubhouse has only been open for three weeks.  

For those who like to know the more legal details.  The restaurant has been is classified a "DBA" within the corporation and has been filed appropriately with State of Michigan.  The DBA has no effect on the  not-for- profit status of Grayling Country Club, Inc. or its liquor license.