Rio Verde Country Club recently welcomed Jake Hanson as the club’s new director of golf. Hanson will oversee all golf operations for the 36-hole private club located in Rio Verde, Ariz., just east of Scottsdale and managed by Troon Privé.

Hanson has 10 years of golf industry experience, having most recently served as the head golf professional at Inglewood Golf Club in Kenmore, Wash., a press release explained.

Prior to Inglewood, Hanson was the head golf professional at Mill Creek Country Club in Mill Creek, Wash. His background also includes time at Alderbrook Golf and Yacht Club in Union, Wash. and Sand Point County Club in Seattle.

“The team and I are excited about welcoming Jake to the club,” Anthony Paino, general manager of Rio Verde Country Club, stated in the release. “His background and skill set are an exact match with what we were looking for in this key role. I’m grateful for the members of the Pro Search Committee, all who dedicated a lot of time to the search, interviews and selection; and for Jason Boaz with the PGA’s ExecuSearch program, for taking us through the whole process. I believe we got the very best candidate for the job.”

Hanson graduated from Washington State University in 2005 with a degree in English.

Prior to his college graduation, Hanson enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2004 and was commissioned as an officer in 2006 where he was a platoon commander, executive officer and assistant battalion operations officer for the 3rd battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, the release stated.

After completing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, he separated from the Marine Corp in June 2010 having achieved the rank of captain.

In 2011, Hanson attended the Golf Academy of America in Chandler, where he earned an associate degree in golf complex operations and management and certificates in teaching, club building/repair, general management and tournament operations. In 2014, he became a PGA Certified Professional after earning a certificate in golf operations, an achievement that only 2% of PGA’s 27,000 members have earned, according to the release.

For more information about Rio Verde, visit www.rioverdearizona.com or call 877-746-8373.