Tim Nagle believes everyone loves change.

The general manager of the recently opened Blue Shamrock Golf Club in Palmerton showed his faith in that philosophy by installing a 6,000-square-foot shamrock-shaped tee box on the course's 10th hole.A full driving range, remodeled upstairs bar and dining area, expanded outdoor seating area and a lower-level Irish pub are among the other additions Nagle and the rest of the Blue Ridge LLC ownership team have brought to the 2230 Fireline Road property since taking over in February. A short-range sand trap practice area is also under construction.Formerly the site of Blue Ridge Country Club, the course has transitioned from private to public with three days of grand opening events scheduled beginning Thursday."It is an intensive project," Nagle said."We've been working sun up to sun down to get things where we want them to be. As far as the course, it's challenging, but fun. That is what golf should be all about. It shouldn't be a struggle."Blue Ridge Country Club's executive committee announced in October that a "deed in lieu" had been signed and the property was transitioned to First Northern Bank and Trust Co. in Palmerton.According to Carbon County property records, Blue Ridge LLC purchased the property for $2.055 million."One of the challenges is getting the word out that we are a public course now," Nagle said."We're in a remote area and a little off the beaten path, but once we get people in here, we feel confident they will come back. Ninety percent of the people who have been here once already have come back," he said.The golf course configuration has transitioned back to days of old."The first hole is back to the original way it was when the course went to 18 holes in 1989," Nagle said."The finishing hole is back to a par three, also the way it was originally. The one thing we did is took the 10th hole and made it a signature par three instead of a par four."Greens fees range from $15 to $54 with yearly packages also available.Pace of play is important to Nagle."Two Sundays ago we had 200 golfers and our slowest round was 4 hours and 25 minutes," he said."Any other public course would be around 5 hours with those kinds of numbers."Business has been "fairly good" so far, according to Nagle.The course had snow on it on April 15, setting back the start of the golfing season."I knew it would be a challenge going from private to public getting people in the community to realize what we're about," Nagle said."People are receptive and open minded about the changes."Sunset Ridge Restaurant and Bar, located on the second level of the 19,000-square-foot clubhouse built in 2003, now accommodates 200 people. Nagle calls it "upscale, but casual."It is open seven days a week starting at 11 a.m. The kitchen closes around 8:30 p.m. or later, depending on the crowd.Signature dishes include Smithwicks battered chicken strips, burgers and fish and chips.The downstairs Gallagher's Irish Pub will be open several nights a week, Nagle said, with occasional live music.Grand opening events include a putting and closest to the pin contest today at 5:30 p.m. with a ribbon cutting and silent auction at 7 p.m.A shotgun golf tournament will be held at 1 p.m. Friday with a clambake from 5 to 8 p.m.A shotgun golf tournament begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, with a pig roast at 1 p.m.Half of the proceeds from Friday's silent auction will benefit the Aquashicola Fire Company."We're huge on community interaction," Nagle said."We have a deal with Palmerton High School for them to play their varsity golf matches here. We'd like to donate to the hospital and do some things with them and other organizations like the Women's Auxiliary and the Palmerton Concourse Club."Blue Shamrock is the first golf venture for Blue Ridge LLC, comprising Nagle, wife Lisa, his father-in-law Bruce Ebert, and his sister-in-law Tari Ebert.The equal partners also own Pipeline Petroleum Inc., of Macungie, which has been in operation for 65 years, as well as Pocono Oil & Propane of Stroudsburg, which has been in business for 40 years.