Green with Envy

Behind the scenes of “High School Musical 2” with Rob Demore, GM, Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club, St. George, Utah

by Laura Watilo Blake (editor@clubandresortbusiness.com)
September 2007
 

Rob Demore, GM, Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club

The Disney Channel’s premiere of “High School Musical 2” —filmed on location at Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club in St. George, Utah—became the most-watched basic cable program ever, according to Nielsen Media Research, when it aired in late August.

With the club and its beautifully manicured—and very green—golf course as a backdrop for the film, Entrada at Snow Canyon CC, a Troon Golf property, achieved enviable visibility. Approximately 17.2 million viewers tuned in to watch—nearly three million more than those who watched the final round of the Masters this year.

And as the club’s General Manager Rob Demore explains, getting the already gorgeous property ready for its small screen debut required just as much planning and preparation as any major golf event might. “The grass [as seen in the film] was real,” Demore says proudly. “We have a great agronomy team at Entrada and Troon, and our senior agronomist, Ross Laubscher, and his crew work endlessly to keep up with our turf year-round. So they were well prepared to respond to the additional requests that came from the very talented Kenny Ortega [the Director for HSM2].”

The cast of High School Musical 2, filmed on location at Entrada at Snow Canyon Country Club in St. George, Utah. Photo © 2007 Disney Channel

Demore also gave C&RB these other insights about what it was like to have his club involved with the film, while still trying to handle “normal” operations at a high-profile property.

C&RB: Who’s more demanding: your members, or the cast and crew of the production?

Demore: Both have expectations that we try to meet whenever possible—and sometimes that requires us to go “Apollo 13” (you know the scene, where they basically have a roll of tape, socks and some gum, and have to figure out how to get the astronauts back to Earth). During the pre-production meetings in February, our trees had not yet popped (meaning the leaves had not come back from winter), so we tried to wrap as many trees as we could in plastic, to accelerate the growth of leaves before filming began in March. No one is asking us to cure cancer in our business, so challenges like that to us, from either a film crew or our members, is not a big deal, given the right perspective.

C&RB: How did you juggle the production schedule with the needs of playing members and guests?

Demore: As we negotiated the contract between the production company, we laid out the schedule of member events that were already planned out one year in advance. Then between the producer, Don Schain, and Carole Fontana, the locations manager for the movie, we laid out a basic plan for approximately 20 working shoot days. When golfers were interfered with, on a couple of occasions, the producers bought rounds of drinks and snacks for those who had been interrupted. I think we only closed the restaurant one day. The pool was tied up for nearly a week. However, the production company was great. The folks at Disney and Salty Pictures included nearly any member that wanted to participate as an extra. Pay was $72.50 and two meals per day with the cast and crew.

C&RB: In the song “Fabulous,” which was performed poolside, one of the main characters sings about the amenities at the club: “…Iced tea imported from England, lifeguards imported from Spain. Towels imported from Turkey, turkey imported from Maine…” Is your club’s iced tea imported from England?

Demore: No way. We buy American. Stars and stripes, forever.

C&RB: Do you have any other interesting tidbits or insights about how HSM2 portrayed a country club’s management style, its staff or its members?

Demore: 1) The weather, at times, was brutal, especially in the middle of the night when it was windy. Having said that, the low was probably around 45 degrees. Not exactly Antarctica, but it felt like that at times. I have a whole new respect for actors willing to run in sprinklers at 3 a.m. When they shot that scene, it was so cold, it felt like you could freeze time.

Photo © 2007 Disney Channel

2) The portrayal of the staff was interesting. We actually do have a talent show here at the club, and the staff does participate. Our executive chef sang Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing.” Not exactly Disney stuff, but really entertaining. Honestly, our staff works harder. Very few of us dance, but we have a better softball team.

3) The management style portrayed in the movie was really funny. The actor that played Mr. Fulton, the general manager, was a really nice guy. He had a good sense of humor, both on- and off-screen. I am only sad they did not portray the glory of meeting-filled days in the life of a club manager—especially at an equity club.

4) The members at this club are terrific. They were extremely patient and supportive during the shoot. Many of them are in the movie.

5) There was one NFL player (his father-in-law is the master developer here at Entrada) who was an extra for two nights. His name is Ryan Denney (defensive end for the Buffalo Bills). I am surprised no outlet has picked up on that, as big as the movie has been.