Diamonds hoping to sparkle in taking over Gannon food service

When golfers return to Gannon Golf Course this spring, they?ll see a few changes in the daily operations, one of them being in the food service.Diamond?s Catering, owned and run by Thomas “Buzzy” Diamond and Kim Diamond, has taken over the food operation, which had been run by Rolly?s Tavern.Although the focus is on catering these days, Buzzy Diamond started his business back in 1981 with Buzzy?s Pub and Grill on Market Street in Lynn. Kim Diamond came on the scene in 1987, and in 1988, the two were married.The Diamonds ran a restaurant (seasonally) in Hampton Beach for about eight years. It featured entertainment, had a full liquor license and seated 260. The Diamonds decided to focus more on the food end of the business over time and for the past seven years, have done the food seasonally at the Marblehead Yacht Club. Diamond?s also did the food at the Four Winds bar in Lynn for a time and had a cafe that served workers at Shetland Properties in Salem. These days, Diamond?s is a family run and operated full-service caterer on the North Shore.Kim Diamond said they?ve always been interested in doing the food at Gannon, so when the opportunity presented itself, they went for it.?We?re really excited. It?s something we?ve always wanted to do,” Diamond said. “We?ve had an interest in Gannon for years.”Diamond said they have a lot of good ideas, but they want to make sure they give members what they want.?People have been here forever. They know what they want. They?re looking for quality food at a quality price,” she said.Diamond said her husband has always said if you want people to come back, you have to take care of the people right the first time.?That?s what kept us in business 30-odd years,” she said.The Diamonds are a part of the team Golf Facilities Management Inc. put together when owners Chris Carter and Steve Murphy bid on the contract to operate the golf course. Gannon Building Association, a non-profit board comprised of volunteers, had been overseeing the operation of the golf course. Mike Hickey is a member of the GBA board.?This year will be a big change in that the Gannon Building Association will not be overseeing the complete operation of the golf course. Our role has been redefined,” he said.Diamond?s will run the food service, but the GBA will still run the bar. GFMI will run the course.?What we?re doing now is our original mandate,” Hickey said, adding that having met with Carter, Murphy, head pro Dave Sibley and the Diamonds, he thinks it could be exciting.Hickey said he?s known Carter, who went to school with two of his children, for many years and Murphy has been around since 1974.?He?s always done an excellent job with the golf course,” Hickey said, adding that the Diamonds had tried to provide a lot of goodwill over the winter with the members.?They?re certainly starting off on the right foot,” he said. “I hate to see old friends go (referring to longtime pro Mike Foster), but at the same time you have to turn the page, open a new book with new ideas. It?s good for the golf course. Hopefully members enjoy it.”