| MGT: What made
you get into the golf industry? TM: I started my golf
career when I was 15 working at Baker National in Medina. I worked
there all through high school and college. After I completed college I
did a management internship there and then moved on to Deer Run. I got
in the golf business, of course because I was addicted to golf when I was
younger and needed a way to get a fix. From there it just sort of
blossomed into a career. I love working with the public and love the
fact it's a social game that people of any skill level can play.
Playing golf is just a fun way to spend some time with friends.
MGT: How did you come to be so versatile at Deer
Run?
I was hired to do the books, accounts payable, payroll, month
end, etc. The organizational structure was changing and Tom thought I
would be a good fit. However, the position grew into n assistant pro
position and then I started to handle more of the day to day operations,
still doing the book and giving a few lessons. Assisting with the
leagues, working the front desk, scheduling pro shop staff... Then it
blossomed into an assistant GM role... I was fortunate Tom let me
become as involved as he did. I sometimes think that supervisors are
scared to let subordinates get involved, its job security to them. So
instead of training for the next step, they reach a plateau, get bored , and
wind up leaving for another opportunity. I wore a lot of hates here.
we have a small staff and get a lot out of it.
MGT: When do you assume your position as
Director of Golf of Pebble Creek Golf Club?
TM: November 12, 2007
MGT: How did you come to hear of the position?
TM: Tom revealed the position to me, I also received an e-mail
from the PGA links web page. They have a spot where you can fill out
your preferences and they will e-mail you when postings that match your
criteria are posted.
MGT: Education plays a big part I have found,
what do you have to have to apply for a job like this?
TM: I have a bachelors degree form the University of North Dakota, GO
Sioux!! Majored in management and marketing. I have also
completed the PGA's Professional Golf Management Program and received
certification as a class A Golf Professional.
MGT: How did you prepare for the interviews?
The interview process wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I
was a little nervous in the first round, a few of my first responses were a
little shaky. But they were great people and (they) tried to make (me)
feel comfortable throughout the whole process. I felt comfortable in
the second round.
MGT: What were the interviews like?
Did they make you sweat?
TM: They interviewed six candidates in the first round and then
cut to three for the second round. The first round is a panel of four
people, and the second round was 3 panels of four people spending about a half
an hour with each panel. The one question I keep thinking about is
"how will you be an ambassador for Pebble Creek?" I told them I would
always be selling the facility, it's not enough that you just open the doors
and expect people to show up. You have to be selling yourself and your
facility if you expect people to come out and play.
MGT: What will you miss most about Deer
Run?
TM: The people. The staff, the players, all the way down to
everybody.
MGT: What was the best piece of advice Tom
Apts have given you?
TM: You have to always selling, yourself and your facility.
MGT: Ok the fun questions: Who makes
up your dream foursome?
TM: The other three would be Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, and
Retief Goosen.
MGT: If you could build your own golf
course where would it be? Who would your design most emulate?
TM: I would build something near a metro (because you need the people)
up-north, it's beautiful up there and I am a outdoors type guy, love to be
on the lakes. I would like to have my design resemble a Tillinghast design. I think his designs just make sense.
They are straight forward and very playable. The bunkers are placed to
frame the holes not to penalize the player. The greens have enough
undulation to make it challenging but you don't feel you're at a mini putt.
The holes are fun to play and seem to flow well together, making you hit a
variety of shots.
MGT: What is your lowest score ever? Where?
TM: The lowest score I ever shot was a 64 at Deer Run.
Some days you just have it going.
MGT: If you had forgone the golf industry is
there a dream job?
TM: My dream job would be a professional fisherman on the
walleye tour. You get to spend a lot of time on the lakes and it would
be doing something I really enjoy. Its just relaxing to be on the
lake. Obviously if you didn't catch many many fish you wouldn't be
around long, but I would certainly love being paid to do something that
doesn't seem like work. I'm sure the really good tour fisherman spend
a lot of time trying new techniques and scouting lakes, but on the surface
it seems like a pretty good gig.
MGT: Troy, we'll miss you at Deer Run, but you
can bet we'll be up to Pebble Creek to see you and play your course!
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