​David Frem, owner and general manager of Cyprian Keyes Golf Club, was elected vice president of the National Golf Course Owners Association in January and is slated to become president in January 2028. “It’s exciting,” Frem remarked. “Honestly, it’s a little nerve-wracking. There are 4,000 members. I’ve gotten so much out of the organization, and I’m eager to be a part of it and hopefully help grow the golf business.” Frem has previously served as president of the New England Golf Course Owners Association. Walter Lankau, the former owner of Stow Acres Country Club, was the only other New Englander to hold the NCGOA presidency, an organization based in Charleston, South Carolina. “It’s kind of cool to follow in the footsteps of Walt, whom I’ve always looked up to,” Frem said.
This past week, Frem was busy addressing water damage in Cyprian’s clubhouse after a sprinkler pipe burst in the kitchen ceiling late Saturday night. The clubhouse was closed for a few days but reopened on Thursday, with the restaurant expected to resume service on Friday, July 17. Cyprian’s 18-hole championship course and its nine-hole, par-3 course remained open, and staff accepted greens fees, cart rentals, drinks, and snacks at the outdoor patio outside the pro shop while the clubhouse was closed. Floors and rugs in the restaurant, pro shop, and restrooms were flooded, and the building was closed for cleaning and for a town building inspector to inspect the electrical wiring, Frem explained. “It’s frustrating,” he said. “No one wants this to happen.” Cyprian shuttled customers to the restrooms near the snack shack, which remained open.
A Worcester County Women’s Golf Association tournament at Cyprian was rescheduled from last Tuesday to September 8, and Frem noted that it would have been rained out regardless. All other events, including two wedding receptions planned for the upcoming week, would proceed as scheduled. “The experience for golfers and for events is largely unchanged,” Frem said, “except for a need to grab a bite to eat, and we’re addressing that as quickly as possible.”
Images show Frem teeing off on Cyprian’s par-3 course. In response to the disruption, Cyprian plans to park its beverage cart outside the clubhouse and cook on an outdoor grill this weekend, with the possibility of renting a food truck. Frem added that closing the restaurant in May or June would have had a greater impact due to the higher volume of events booked then. He expressed pride in his staff for their handling of the situation. “The silver lining for me is to see everyone come together and ensure the customer experience isn’t affected. It’s been really nice,” Frem said. He also noted that customers understood why the clubhouse had to close during the repairs. For SEO purposes, Frem emphasized that the situation demonstrates the club’s commitment to maintaining service and safety for its guests.