Bob Johnson, the Country Club's general manager since 2000, has been removed from the job, the club announced Tuesday.  In an interview, Johnson described the parting as friendly and said he may be finished with the country club field after 40 years.

An announcement by Vince Lepera, the club's president, said simply that the board had decided to move in a different direction and had already begun a search for a new general manager.

The announcement also credited Johnson with directing the remodeling of the club's interior and beginning the upgrade of bunkers on the courses.

Bob Johnson had been general manager since 2000.

Until a replacement is named, Lepera said Ward Walters will handle courses and maintenance, reporting directly to the board, and Lepera will fill in as general manager.

"It is our intent to immediately make some positive changes," Lepera's announcement said.  "We ask the membership for your patience and understanding during this period of transition."

In a telephone interview Tuesday, Lepera said the board met Sunday and voted unanimously to make the move.  He spoke with Johnson earlier in the day.

"Talking to him today, it was cordial and professional as it could possibly be," Lepera said.

"I think his contributions really need to be known.  He was very instrumental in the (cease and desist order) process. ... He was instrumental in getting the (pedestrian) bridge accomplished.  He contributed to the overall quality of the club."

Eight years as a club general manager is a long run, Lepera said.

"I think Vince and I have been kinda tap-dancing around this," Johnson said by telephone later.  "I have philosophies and he has philosophies. ... I can support what he's trying to do 100 percent.  But he knows what I stand for and what direction I might want to see taken.  He's making a decision, and the board's making a decision, that they think is best for the club.  And I support that 100 percent.

"I had a great meeting with him today.  I feel like we're still friends.  I feel like it was a meeting between friends.  I think we parted as friends.  I support everything they're trying to do. ...

"I'm very proud of where we are.  I'm very proud of where the club has come.  I just think it's got a great future.  I'm outrageously fond of the board, especially Vince.  I'll miss Vince."

Johnson said he didn't have a contract with the Country Club, a situation that he said served him and the club well.

After 40 years working at eight clubs, Johnson said he isn't sure he'll seek another general manager's job. 

"It's a unique business, and I would be wrong in saying it's not changing," he said.  "There's far more pressure, far more pressure on the governing bodies in all clubs. 

"You've got a real rift.  You've seen it at our club.  You've got the people who want blue jeans and more informality, and the people who don't want blue jeans and (want) more formality.  And no matter how much you please the one, you'll only displease the other more. ...

"The community should be proud of where the club is.  The club should be proud of where the club is.  We have been able to maintain the club in a fashion that a lot of other clubs in the area have not been able to do.  Number 1 and number 2, we have done so without any capital assessment.  We're the only club that can probably say they have not had a capital assessment in the last 10 years.  They should be very, very proud of that."