Golf Inc - April 2008 - (Page 25)

Who are the best around the globe at running a golf course? Here are 20 top performers from around the world — men and women who have proven their ability and dedication through day-to-day high-quality management. By Keith Carter & Jim Dunlap PHOTO COURTESY FIRST TEE MARIE JACKSON General Manager, Sugar Creek Golf & Tennis Club, Atlanta, Ga. Six years ago, Jackson worked as a financial analyst for IBM in the Atlanta area. She had been around and played golf since she was 12, enjoying a selfdescribed passion for the game. But as a woman and an African-American, she had never imagined getting involved in the business side of golf. That all changed in 2002 when a friend told her that DeKalb County was putting the management contract for the countyowned Sugar Creek out for bid. “It was a property that no one wanted,” she said. “It had been neglected. It was a cow pasture, though it did have good greens.” But Jackson saw it as an opportunity to share her dream of promoting the game, especially to women and young people. With encouragement from friends and even county officials, she submitted a bid and won the contract. Today, the course has been transformed into a center of activity for the community. It did nearly 40,000 rounds in 2007, a dramatic increase from the 16,000 it recorded in 2001. The number of women enrolled in its programs has more than doubled. So has the membership in its men’s club. But it’s Jackson’s emphasis on programs for young people, especially for young girls, that have provided Sugar Creek’s greatest success. She worked with DeKalb County officials and with nearby East Lake Country Club to stage youth clinics. She cooperated with local schools to help create awareness among youths and their parents about what’s available to them at the course. “We provide a safe haven for children to come to after school,” she said. “We teach our juniors to take pride and ownership in the course.” A number of the youngsters involved in the Sugar Creek programs have won college scholarships. And the course is solid financially. “The future looks good,” she said. “We have set realistic goals and we expect to meet or exceed them.” The number of events hosted has more than tripled since April 2008 www.GolfIncMagazine.com 25 she took over at Sugar Creek. Jackson, who has formed her own company called SydMar Golf Management, is keeping an eye open for other management opportunities. As one of the few African-American wom e n i nvol ve d i n gol f c ou r s e management, she admittedly has faced challenges from doubters, both inside and outside the industry. “I have to prove myself,” she said. “But once they see I know what I’m doing, I do get their respect.” http://www.GolfIncMagazine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Golf Inc - April 2008

Golf Inc - April 2008 Contents Editors Column Birney Takes NGCOA Helm Construction Costs on the Rise KemperSports Adds 14 Courses Americas: Fazio Designs St. Kitts Layout Europe/Africa: Seaside Resort Planned in Egypt Asia/Australis: Faldo Opens New Chinese Course High-Tech Tools: New Technologies that can Help Operators There's No Economic Slump at Still-Popular Reynolds Plantation Tim Moraghan Wants to Make Golf Fun Again Why a $1.5 Billion Resort has Made Environmental Protection a Top Priority Most Admired Operators Marketing Experts Make Their Pitch for Golf Courses From Korea, with Cash Last Word

Golf Inc - April 2008

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