First it was Kevin Thistle leaving for Coppinwood. Then it was former Bond Head top dog Nigel Hollidge joining. Then #2 JC Cunningham departed. Lots of change over a couple of months at the normally very stable Angus Glen GC. Then today the latest casualty was Dennis Firth, who was with the course for more than a decade and is one of the bright young minds in the business. Firth departs for places unknown as of today.
It’ll be interesting to see what the feel of the “new” Angus Glen is. Hollidge is a sharp cookie and helped turn around Bond Head before ClubLink came in and gave him the boot.
Here’s Firth’s note to the industry that ended up in my in-box tonight:
It is with mixed emotion I formally announce today is my final day as Director of Golf at Angus Glen Golf Club. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to each of you for allowing me the privilege to meet, interact, consult, partner, socialize, teach, and sometimes even play with you over the past 13 years. The wealth of friendships and lasting relationships I have developed over my stay will never be taken for granted.
The Stollery family provided a young man with a world-class environment to develop as a golf professional, treating me better than one could ever ask for¦.I will be forever grateful.
Angus Glen will always have a special place in my heart. I loved every minute of my time and feel like the luckiest guy in the world to have worked in a job I truly adored.
I am currently transitioning positions within the industry and look forward to crossing paths in the very near future.
A bestselling author and award-winning columnist, Robert Thompson has been writing about business and sports, and particularly golf, for almost two decades. His reporting and commentary on golf has appeared in 
This is very sad to hear, but I wish Dennis all the best.
Hmmmmm….
How long before Mr. Firth is announced as the next HP @ Coppinwood?
Steve Wilson is not returning and no CW staffer is satisfactorily suited or one of Thistle’s guys.
It is true, he is heading to Coppinwood, along with Angus Glen’s director of hospitality.
Hey Rosco, where did you hear that?
Rosco is correct. The D.O.H, Jason Briganza, is leaving Angus Glen as well. I’m told he resigned at the beginning of the month and would stay on until the new year. No word on where he is going.
I do know he plays a very large roll in Angus Glen’s operation. Tough loss I’m sure.
timing is everthing and Angus Glen is over. Once Thistle left in the middle of the season it was over….the staff is loyal to him not Angus Glen – look for another 4 to 5 key people to walk before spring time. The problem is they have customer lists and pricing and KT can offer free golf and add-ons to drive clients to Coppinwood. He will cherry pick the best events and offer better pricing (since he knows everything about Angus).
Stollery should just clean house and start over with a new crew / it would make the club fresh and vibrant instead of people talking about how great the “old days” where and old staff looking beaten and tired…..
the only advantage Angus has is location – everthing else is below “par” now. Thistle is now passively / aggressively stealing staff and clients….. But Stollery should blame himself for giving him so much control – it would make for a good reality show….Nigel does not have the customer service ability to pull off the level of service Kevin Thistle provided – and Kevin is very competitive ! He will succeed – and at the expense of his old club Angus Glen….