After an unexpected parting of the ways with Clinton Hill Golf Course, Dan Polites has resurfaced just down the road - and he's busier than ever.
Polites, who was released from his duties at Clinton Hill last fall, is now the operator and teaching pro at DP Golf Center at the Practice Tee, located at 5628 Old Collinsville Road in Fairview Heights.
Polites leased the Practice Tee from the Trover family, its current owners, on Feb. 26, with an option to buy the property. He also took over the management of Yorktown, a par-3 course located on 300 Goalby Drive in Belleville, on April 1.
"Jody Trover, who was the chairman of the board at Landshire (which makes sandwiches), passed away last April, but he really had a love for the game of golf," Polites said. "He developed Far Oaks (Golf Club in Caseyville) and also owned Yorktown and the Practice Tee.
"About 10 years ago, Joseph Trover, his son, went to work for Landshire and he's now the CEO. The family has been wonderful to deal with and they want Yorktown to continue as a golf course.
"When I left Clinton Hill in November, the family called to see if I had an interest in the Practice Tee and also Yorktown. We kept the same staff on board at the Practice Tee and it's a great facility. It was always a major competitor to myself and my business."
Polites had been director of golf at Clinton Hill for eight years and had operated the driving range for nine years under the name of DP Golf Center until being terminated on Nov. 15.
"There was some ownership change involved and I didn't see it coming, but I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Clinton Hill," Polites said. "It was time to move on and these opportunities came about."
The Practice Tee features covered hitting stations with a 150-yard grass tee. There is also a pitching and chipping green as well as a putting green.
"We have lights and we have heated tees, so we're open year-round," Polites said. "We serve beer, soda and food, so it's a full practice facility.
"Business has been good and we have Randy Phillips and Wayne Ockovic available to give lessons, so we're honored to have three PGA teaching professionals here."
Polites' son Danny has started a junior golf program at Yorktown, with an hour of instruction beginning at 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays followed by nine or 18 holes of golf.
"Yorktown is a great place to work on your short game," Polites said.
"It's par-3 and it's lighted, so we're branding that facility as ‘family, fast and fun.' You can take the whole family and play in a short amount of time and it's fun playing under the lights and hitting short shots. We have leagues there Monday through Thursday.
"I grew up at Yorktown and played there as a kid with (future pro golfer) Jerry Haas. It's neat to go back there and provide an opportunity for people to play there."
Danny Polites, 21, is the junior golf director at Yorktown and played golf for his father at Althoff High School. He attends Southwestern Illinois College and plans to transfer for Lindenwood University-Belleville.
"Two years ago, he expressed an interest to me and my wife, Terri, about getting into the golf business and he's done well," Polites said. "He's starting to teach and he's really good with the kids. He's doing outside maintenance and working inside the pro shop, so he's really cutting his teeth, which is a great way to learn."
Polites' daughter Taylor, 18, will be a freshman at the University of Missouri and helps her brother with the junior leagues at Yorktown. His younger son Justin plays football and will be an eighth-grader at St. Clare School in O'Fallon.
In addition to the Practice Tee and Yorktown, Polites is also running tournaments for Walters Golf Management at Stonewolf Golf Course in Fairview Heights.
"We're doing two dozen tournaments out there this year," Polites said. "Chris Nava and Don Hawkins are the golf professionals at Stonewolf and they've been an absolute gem to work with. I bring tournaments in and run them in unison with those guys. If Stonewolf is booked, we go to Far Oaks."
This fall, Polites will be back for his 10th season as head coach of the boys golf team at Althoff. Last year, the Crusaders placed third at the Class 2A state tournament.
"We lost James Leopold and Patrick Orlet to graduation, but Sam Lidisky and Austin Von Alst will be seniors, while Jimmy Murphy is a junior and Michael Johnson is a sophomore," Polites said. "We're pretty excited about our chances this season. Stonewolf will be our new home course."
In mid-May, Polites was hired as the men's and women's golf coach at Lindenwood-Belleville. The teams will play both fall and spring schedules, with Stonewolf as the home course.
"Lindenwood came here (to the old Belleville West campus) and started with 100 students in night classes, but now with part-time and full-time students, we're going to hit 4,000 by this fall," Polites said. "There will be 500 full-time students on campus.
"I inherited nine golfers from the men's team, which finished second at the United States Collegiate Athletic Association nationals. Next year we look to go to the NAIA.
"In addition to the men's team, I inherited one player, Mallory Cummings, who is the team captain for the women. They've given me the directive to build as many as 20 players on both teams, so I've hired Dustin Schilling to help me out with the men's team and Kathy Schaeffer will help out with the women's team."
The Practice Tee is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; call 233-9500 for more information.
For more information on Yorktown, call 233-2000 or go to www.yorktowngolf.net. Polites' Web site is dpgolf.com.
