Originally from Cincinnati, Michael Gruber grew up caddying at a local country club. He learned the game by watching others and by playing on Mondays when the course was closed to members. After earning his law degree, he moved to the Canton area for work. There he met his wife, who is from Cleveland, and joined a firm specializing in real estate, construction and development.

Several of Mike’s clients expressed interest in purchasing land on the former Brunnerdale Seminary property. Ultimately Bart Wolstein’s development company acquired the land with plans to create a country club and neighborhood. Mike worked with Bart Wolstein’s attorney to draft the condominium documents, and one of Mike’s clients went on to develop the Hamlets. Already deeply familiar with Glenmoor, Mike convinced his firm that a corporate membership would be a smart investment. When the golf course opened, the firm secured that membership, and Mike has been a member ever since. Upon leaving that firm, Mike made sure he kept a membership at Glenmoor. Mike even had the privilege of walking the course during the inaugural round with Jack Nicklaus and Bart Wolstein.

Mike has competed in the Member-Guest tournament every year since it began in 1993. He looks forward to reconnecting with old friends, has won his flight many times, and has reached the final group of three on three occasions. Among his favorite memories are the 20th-anniversary event, when two stars from the movie Caddyshack visited and Mike received an autographed Baby Ruth from Michael O’Keefe (“Danny”), and the year a bagpipe band performed the National Anthem before the start of the Member/Guest tournament. He also enjoys seeing how successive chairmen refresh the tournament, bringing new ideas and evolving throughout the years. 

Mike has served 3 terms on the Glenmoor Board for a total of nine years, including one year as President, and has sat on both the former greens committee and the golf committee. He also chaired the Member-Guest one year, which was an especially memorable experience because it coincided with the start of the Covid pandemic. After finalizing plans, the tournament had to be postponed and completely redesigned to meet health regulations. That same year the flight winners received engraved bottles of Woodford Reserve. Two bottles were left on display throughout the event until a small group of members decided to drink them. They learned that this much bourbon doesn’t help you play well the next day, and Mike learned to never leave bottles of bourbon unattended!

What Mike values most about Glenmoor is its open and diverse membership- anyone who wishes to join is welcome. He appreciates the wide variety of golf events and especially enjoys match-play tournaments for the competitive spirit they bring out. Above all, he credits the friendly staff and members, along with an outstanding golf staff, for making the club’s tournaments and daily play so successful.