About Us - Crestview Golf Club and Bar

Under new ownership and management!

Meet the Owners of Crestview Golf Club in Kalamazoo

Jon & Steve Ridderman & Family

A New Vision for Crestview

The newest chapter in Crestview’s history began in November 2025 with the acquisition of the club by the Ridderman family. Jon Ridderman is committed to honoring the club’s long-standing heritage while investing heavily in the future. His vision is focused on creating a premier, year-round golf experience in the Kalamazoo area through modern amenities and enhanced member value. The Riddermans are proud to launch the 60th Anniversary Pricing as a pledge of their commitment to the community.

Jon Ridderman is the strategic owner of Crestview Golf Club, bringing decades of experience as a successful local business leader and entrepreneur in Southwest Michigan. As the owner of the long-established Ridderman Oil and its associated R-Store retail locations, Jon possesses extensive expertise in comprehensive business logistics, financial oversight, and managing multi-faceted consumer operations. His background is rooted in ensuring operational efficiency and long-term financial stability for large, family-owned enterprises.

Jon’s ownership role is focused on strategic investment and execution. This vision is immediately evident through plans for significant capital improvements, including the hiring of a dedicated new PGA Professional to elevate instruction and service standards.

His proven expertise in business management perfectly supports the club’s growth. Jon’s skills in strategic planning, budgeting, and optimizing resource allocation—gained through managing complex supply chains and retail operations—are directly applied to maximizing the club’s profitability and customer experience. He ensures that the administrative side of the business runs flawlessly, allowing the golf staff to focus purely on course quality and member satisfaction.

Ultimately, Jon Ridderman is committed to honoring the club’s 1965 heritage while securing its future. By providing financial stability and the necessary resources for modernization, he is ensuring that Crestview remains a vital community asset and a consistently high-quality 18-hole golf destination for the next generation of golfers.

Meet the PGA Professional

Robert (Bob) Bales

Bob Bales is a highly respected PGA of America Member with a career spanning over 25 years in golf instruction, management, and ownership across Southwest Michigan. He brings significant regional leadership and deep operational experience to Crestview Golf Club.

Bob’s core passion lies in teaching and advancing the game. He has directed comprehensive player development programs at high-volume courses throughout his career. As Owner and PGA Professional at Sauganash Golf Club, he coached both boys’ and girls’ varsity golf teams for Three Rivers High School. He also directed all junior golf programs and established the First Tee Links program for the Kalamazoo Junior Golf Association, demonstrating his commitment to mentoring and training golfers of all ages. Bob holds certifications in teaching and custom club fitting and repair.

Bob’s executive experience includes Owner and PGA Professional at Sauganash Golf Club, and General Manager/Head Professional at Angels Crossing Golf Club and Olde Mill Golf. His industry expertise covers all facets of the golf business, including advanced turf management practices.

A testament to his standing, Bob has held numerous prestigious roles within the Michigan Section PGA, including serving as its President, Vice President, and Secretary. He is also a dedicated adaptive golf expert, having served as Director of PGA HOPE for 13 years and coordinating the Michigan PGA VA Golf Tournament for 25 years.

Bob is committed to providing the highest standard of instruction to help every Crestview golfer achieve a more consistent and lower-score game.

Bob also will be responsible for food and beverage oversight and regulatory compliance (backed by ServSafe and Techniques in Alcohol Management certifications.

Crestview Course History

Our story is one of enduring quality. Established in 1965, Crestview Golf Club stands as a monument to traditional golf design and community dedication. Browse the timeline below to see how the vision of the Ansen family shaped our classic 18-hole layout, and how subsequent investments in practice facilities and year-round technology keep us at the forefront of the Kalamazoo golf scene today.

Founding Vision: The club was founded and opened on May 10, 1965, by the Ansen Family. The initial goal was to establish a high-quality, traditional 18-hole course accessible to the Kalamazoo community.
Original Design: The course design reflects the era, utilizing the natural, rolling terrain and mature tree lines. The focus was likely on classic shot values and challenging green complexes rather than massive earth-moving.
Community Cornerstone: For its first decades, Crestview established itself as a community hub, known for its consistent conditions and hosting local events, leagues, and high school competitions.

The Era of Modernization (Late 1990s – Mid 2010s)

This period marks the transition away from purely traditional golf to a full-service experience, often occurring as ownership shifts or facilities age.

–Infrastructure Upgrades: Key investments were made to modernize the core infrastructure, such as improvements to the irrigation system and updating cart paths.

–Expanding Amenities: This era likely saw the addition of amenities crucial for a competitive public course, such as the establishment of the Driving Range and expanded Practice Facilities.

–Revenue Diversification: The club began capitalizing on non-golf revenue, expanding the Grille and developing its capacity for Weddings and Banquets.

The Technology Chapter (Mid 2010s – October 2025)

This period was characterized by essential upgrades to enhance the customer experience and extend the course’s operational revenue beyond the traditional season.

–Technology Integration (Year-Round Play):

Installation and launch of Indoor Golf Simulators to provide practice and social play during the long Michigan winters. This was crucial for tapping into year-round revenue.

Implementation of an Online Tee Time Booking System (likely a major accomplishment around 2015-2018) to streamline reservations and reduce reliance on manual phone bookings.

–Infrastructure Finalization:

Completion of any necessary irrigation system upgrades or cart path paving projects that started in the previous decades, ensuring superior turf health and golfer convenience.

Renovation or expansion of the Pro Shop and Grille area to better accommodate larger event groups and improve member service.

–Professional Services and Revenue:

Establishment of a formal Lessons and Instruction Program, likely hiring a dedicated PGA Professional to grow the teaching revenue stream.

Significant growth in the Events & Groups division, securing a steady calendar of Corporate and Charity Golf Outings that drive high-margin revenue during the peak season.

–Brand Refinement:

Focus on optimizing the brand’s local search presence and digital marketing, positioning Crestview as the “Best Public Golf Course near Kalamazoo” (as seen in your SEO efforts).

New Ownership and Future Investment (November 2025 – Present)

–The 60th Anniversary: The club is currently celebrating its 60th Anniversary in 2026, honoring its 1965 heritage while positioning itself as the premier, full-service golfing destination in the region.

–New Vision: The newest chapter began in November 2026 with the purchase of Crestview Golf Club by the Jon Ridderman Family. The Ridderman family is committed to honoring the club’s 1965 heritage while investing aggressively in year-round facilities and member value.

–Planned Upgrades: Immediate plans include the installation of state-of-the-art Golf Simulators to provide year-round play and instruction, and the hiring of a new dedicated PGA Professional to lead our instruction and youth on course programs.

–Member Focus: The new ownership launched the special 60th Anniversary pricing (including the $1965 Founder’s Rate) as a foundational gesture to welcome new members and celebrate the club’s long history.

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