Gronke named manager at Countryside GC

Jessica Gronke was named the new Countryside Golf Club manager at a meeting of the board of directors on Thursday night.
Gronke, an administrative assistant at Lincoln Elementary in Ivanhoe, was officially named the Minneota golf club's manager on Thursday, March 9.
"Jessica interviewed well," said Countryside board president Tim Gossen. "She has experience in food service and we feel she will fit in well."
When the course needed a manager, Tony Esping accepted the role in May of 2019 on the assumption he would hand it over to someone else in a couple of years. He has been in place ever since, however, but notified the board recently that he would like to step down in order to concentrate on his full-time job as a parole officer for southern Minnesota and to spend more time with his family.
Esping will stay on and train Gronke before he officially steps down.
Gronke and her husband, Barry, live south of Minneota with their four children, Trey, 20; Tyler, 19; Tiffany, 16; and Trevor, 10.
Gronke was asked why she decided to apply for the golf manager's position.
"I've always wanted to get into the restaurant business and I want to get more involved with Minneota," she said. "I enjoy cooking and baking and I wanted the opportunity to see what I could do with that. I also love to party plan.."
Countryside also has openings for waitresses, cooks and/or bartenders. If interested, call Jess at 507-828-8682.
Countryside Golf Course unofficially opens on April 1.