ARE YOU READY TO TRAVEL-BECAUSE IF YOUR ARE, it’s time to visit Eagle Ridge. Golf season is not over, and new state-of-the-art Spa is almost open. EagleRidge.com

THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy. Connect on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Steve Giesz at his new desk in the offices of the Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa.

STEVE GIESZ IS HOME.

Because Illinois is where his world wide journey in life started.

But in between the start, the stops and now the landing, Giesz has logged a lot of miles.

Giesz is an 8-year US-Army veteran, whose duties included Operation Desert Storm back in the early 1990’s. Giesz calls himself lucky, that he is one of the 2% of Army veterans who did not come back with PTSD. But he remains close with army friends that have suffered with PTSD. Giesz helps out where he can with others who weren’t so fortunate.

During his time in the Middle East, Giesz started doing demolition work. So his background in this specialty, later landed him a job with the Miami Marlins in 2001 helping put on fireworks shows. But fireworks shows were eliminated after 9-11. So after the Marlins rallied to stun the Chicago Cubs in 2003 NLCS and advance to the World Series. Giesz was called back by the Marlins, to run a fireworks display, during the World Series win over the New York Yankees.

The new spa, was the first major project Giesz has a settled into upon starting as GM at Eagle Ridge.

But after earning a college degree in hospitality, Giesz started working at various properties that included the ski slopes in the mountains of North Carolina. From there he spent years at the Doral Resort in Miami, which gave him a front row seat for golf, when the PGA Tour visited each March.

But as Giesz looked to return to his roots in the Midwest, a recruiter called asking him to interview for a job in Galena.

So when Giesz learned the job was at Eagle Ridge. He jumped at the opportunity to interview with owner Mark Klausner. Giesz was familiar with the resort after growing up playing football against Galena high school. So after listening to a sales pitch from Klausner, Giesz couldn’t wait to roll up his sleeves and start taking Eagle Ridge to a new level.

CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with Eagle Ridge and Spa General Manager Steve Giesz.

Giesz knows getting the spa open, is step one of the major projects ahead. But the army veteran is not one to back down from the challenge of getting the eagle flying high again. So for more information visit Eagleridge.com.