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Robert McNeil, Golf course owner and director of golf
Robert McNeil is the President and Principal Architect of The Northeast Golf Company, the McNeil Design Collaborative and MDC Global Golf.
Robert has committed his life to the game of golf since swinging his mother’s old wooden-shafted 9 iron in Massachusetts at 8 years old. At 14 he become a member of the highly regarded Whitinsville Golf Club in Whitinsville, Massachusetts, considered by many aficionados as one of the top 9 hole layouts in the world. At WGC he honed his game, his affinity for 9 hole layouts and laid the foundation for a career in golf course design.
Since then, Robert has followed a path of achievement combining quality education and invaluable hands-on experience. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Bryant College (now University) and a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from Ohio State University. At Ohio State he created his own academic program specializing in golf course design working within the Agronomy, Engineering, Urban Planning and Landscape Architecture Departments. Both degree programs were essential in establishing the proper knowledge base for practicing effective business management and creative golf course design principles.
Realizing the importance of understanding successful construction and maintenance practices and techniques, Robert spent three years at New Albany Country Club, a 27-hole Jack Nicklaus signature course in New Albany, Ohio. During this time, Robert assisted in the execution of a number of construction and maintenance projects, from the course’s inception through grand opening.
Robert then joined Keith Foster Golf Course Design assisting in the development and preparation of design documentation, construction specifications and client communications on numerous award winning projects throughout the United States, including Haymaker, in Steamboat Springs, Colorado and Texas Star in the Dallas-metro area.
Recognizing that it lies within the spirited history and traditions of design that new creations can be found, Robert has made a devoted commitment to returning to the classic courses of the United States and British Isles to research and study the features and forms that define the classic style.
For over 20 years as Principal and President of The McNeil Design Collaborative, The Northeast Golf Company and MDC Global Golf, Robert has worked on over 150 golf projects ranging from new course design, municipal layouts, private club renovations, historic restorations and resort designs.
His work includes award winning designs at the private- Club at River Oaks in Sherman, CT, Rockleigh Golf Course for Bergen County, NJ, the Casino Resort Course- Mohegan Sun Golf Club in Connecticut and Sun Garden Golf Club in Cluj, Romania. His newest design…The Preserve at Boulder Hills in Wyoming, RI, a one of a kind 18 hole executive layout set within a sprawling 1000 acre sporting retreat, received the Design Excellence Award from the ASGCA.
Robert is a Member of the prestigious American Society of Golf Course Architects.
The Preserve at Boulder Hills
The Club at River Oaks
Mohegan Sun Golf Club
Mohegan Sun Golf Club
Billy mcneil, Director of operations
Billy McNeil is the son of golf course owner Robert. A part of Kings Crossing since its inception in 2014, Billy has taken on a diverse role at Kings Crossing and across the Northeast Golf Company and its affiliate golfing properties, injecting visionary prowess and deliberate strategy into the fold for years to come.
Graduate of local North Kingstown High School in 2016, Billy attended Ohio University where he studied Sport Management, Business Analytics, and Finance. During his time at school Billy gathered an array of experience, working as a Ticketing Data Analyst for Valhalla Tickets, Director of Sponsorship for the Southern Ohio Copperheads summer collegiate baseball team, and event associate at the Indianapolis 500 and MLB Play Ball Park All Star Week Festivities.
Billy graduated from OU in 2020 amidst the height of the covid-19 pandemic and was thrust back home where he spent 8 months at Kings Crossing before heading to Dallas for an internship with the Northern Texas PGA as part of the tournament operations team. This was followed by stints as an Assistant Pro at Heritage Oaks Golf Club in Chicago and a brief dabble in the finance world with Northwestern Mutual.
Deciding finance wasn't for him, Billy made the decision to move back home with his partner, Erin, to rejoin the family business. While his career may be just be off and running, Billy brings a unique perspective and several years of valuable experience to the table to better Kings Crossing Golf Club and affiliating golf courses.
Drew Brown, Operations coordinator
Drew is a fresh face for Kings Crossing and the Northeast Golf Company entering the role as Operations Coordinator in 2024. Drew has been surrounded by golf growing up, caddying at Dedham Country and Polo Club, and decided to pursue a career in golf for his future.
After graduating from Walpole High School in 2020, Drew attended the University of South Carolina, majoring in Sport and Entertainment Management. Drew dove head first into the golf industry in all facets, working in merchandising operations at the Masters from 2022-2024, interning with the USGA as a short-term operations intern for the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, MA, and working as a server in the Green Mile Club at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, NC for the 2022 President’s Cup.
Drew has the opportunity to grow and develop his career at Kings Crossing and offers a fresh perspective on the golf industry as a new college graduate.
Lucas laperriere, golf course superintendent
Raised locally on Yawgoo Valley, Lucas graduated from Exeter-West Greenwich High School in 2012 and Johnson & Wales University in 2017. He started his turfgrass management career at Kings Crossing before going on to receive a Master’s Degree in Sport Management from West Virginia University in 2018. There he was part of an operations team that assisted in running events at Heinz Field such as Pittsburgh University football games, Pittsburgh Steelers games, and eventually Super Bowl LII.
Transitioning back into golf course maintenance, he has been a member of grounds crews at three exceptional 36-hole properties between North Carolina and Vermont. Additionally, completing an internship at a top 100 course in Cape Cod, Eastward Ho! Finally, he made his most recent move joining the Northeast Golf Company accepting the role of Superintendent at Kings Crossing Golf Club and Bristol Golf Park. Lucas resides in Middletown RI where you can find him relaxing on the beach.
