Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club welcomes new Directors of Agronomy and Membershp

Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club has named Ed Shimkus as the club’s new Director of Agronomy and Mollie Beale as the new Director of Membership. Shimkus will oversee all agronomy operations for the club’s award-winning 18-hole, par-71 course known as Big Wick as well as its 9-hole, par-3 course, Li’l Wick. Beale will continue to grow the club’s membership as Wickenburg Ranch begins to transition to a private club. 

Located in historic Wickenburg, Arizona, approximately one hour northwest of downtown Phoenix near the intersection of Highways 89 and 93, Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club will ultimately become an exclusive private club reserved for members and their guests. For a limited time as the community builds out, the spectacular club will be open to a controlled amount of unaccompanied non-member play.

Shimkus has 23-plus years of agronomy and turf management experience at many high-profile Arizona golf courses. Most recently, Shimkus served as the golf course superintendent at Scottsdale National Golf Club where he oversaw the construction of 27 new holes and maintenance of the club’s existing 18-hole golf course. Prior to Scottsdale National (formerly The Golf Club Scottsdale), Shimkus worked as Troon Golf’s regional director of agronomy from 1998 to 2002 where he oversaw turf management at the company’s Arizona properties. A former avionics technician in the U.S. Marine Corp, Shimkus is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University’s Turfgrass Management Program.  

Beale has 18-plus years of guest and hospitality service experience, having most recently served as the director of food & beverage at Troon North Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona. Prior to being named director of food & beverage, Beale simultaneously served as the director of catering at three facilities, including Troon North, Moon Valley Country Club in Phoenix and Ocotillo Golf Resort in Chandler, AZ. Beale is a graduate of Northern Arizona University with a degree in public relations. 

To learn more about Wickenburg Ranch Golf & Social Club, visit wickenburgranch.com.