Meet Our Staff

•    Kale Crawford Executive Chef

Chef Kale has 22 years of experience in the food industry, which started as a dishwasher and pizza delivery driver for the 4th Street Station in Waterloo, Iowa before being manager for 3 years.  He was interested in expanding his culinary skills and took a job in the kitchen at the Rio Grande Mexican American Cantitna where he found his love for cooking.  

Prior to coming to Fox Ridge, Kale gained experience in fine dining while working at Abe's Downing Steakhouse, Sunny Side Country Club and Centennial Oaks Golf Club.  In 2006 he became the Executive Chef at the Ramada Hotel and Convention Center in Waterloo, Iowa.  Kale has been at Fox Ridge since the spring of 2010.
 
“I feel like Fox Ridge Golf Course is my last stop, it feels like home” Kale Crawford.  





•    Chad Jones Head Golf Course Superintendent

Chad started his career in the golf business at Fort Dodge Country Club in 1996.  At FDCC Chad worked on the course maintenance team building new tee boxes, mowing and spraying chemicals and received his pesticide licenses in 1997.  Chad attended UNI and received a Horticulture Science Degree from Hawkeye Community College in 2001.  In 2001 Chad also began his career at Fox Ridge Golf Course were he has applied the education he learned from working under several superintendents until he was given the head job in 2009.    Chad has not looked back since getting the opportunity to manage the course grounds and has overseen many course improvements:     
•        Seeded and planted over 15,000 square feet of flowers and shrubs.
•        Complete overhall/renovation of the bunkers consisting of re-tiling, removal of old sand, placing matting at the base of the traps and adding new USGA approved unique to the Cedar Valley. Thanks to Chad and staff we were able to do the whole project “in house” along with maintaining the golf course.
•        Constructed a tent that is attached to the clubhouse, which is used for an outdoor bar area.
•        Built a new elevated championship tee on hole #18 making it an excellent risk/reward finishing hole.
•        Increased the difficulty of hole #9 by strategically moving trees.
•        Made a new hazard on hole #5 that consists of rock and ornamental grass.
•        Started to incorporate pampas grass on hole #18 and plans to introduce more to the golf course in upcoming years.

Chad has been married to his wife Sarah since 2005.  Sarah and Chad have two children, a 2 year old son Isaac and 8 month old daughter Abigail.   


•    Dean Wiese Project Specialist

Dean has worked at Fox Ridge since the spring of 2009.  In 2009 Fox Ridge started major renovations to the course.  He worked and supervised the completion of all the recent course renovations .  Dean’s skills has allowed us to complete many projects without hiring outside help and he still finds time to maintains all the equipment at Fox Ridge.  Dean is originally from Rowley, Iowa and enjoys working and spending time outdoors.  







•    Michael Menke General Manager

Originally form Ottumwa, Iowa Michael began picking the driving range at Ottumwa Country Club at the age of 12 for Iowa Golf Hall of Fame Member Bob Moreland.  Michael had an excellent individual High School golf career at Ottumwa, finishing 5th in class 4A at State as a Junior and 3rd place as a Senior.  He was also instrumental in helping Ottumwa win the 1996 Class 4A Team State Golf Title!

Impressed with his steller play, Michael was offered and accepted a golf scholarship to become a Warhawk at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.  While in college he worked at Bayou Desird Country Club and Calvert Crossing Golf Club before graduating with a degree in Business Management in 2003.  

Since moving back to Iowa and joining Fox Ridge in 2003, Michael has implemented many course and clubhouse changes.  Recently, Michael can be seen running, biking and swimming as he has been training and participating in triathalons. Michael enjoys working closely with his family to make Fox Ridge the best public golf experience in Northeast Iowa.

Recently, he can be seen swimming, biking and running as he has been training and participating in triathalons.