Golf Inc. magazine has announced the honorees it its inaugural Operator of the Year competition. The competition, designed to recognize onsite operators who substantially improved their facilities in the prior year, recognized 15 operators in four categories — private club, daily fee, municipal and resorts.
“We were very pleased with the number and quality of the nominations,” said Jack Crittenden, Editor In Chief of Golf Inc. “The honorees represent the very best performers this past year and a good cross section of the golf industry.”
The competition was open to operators across the globe. However, only one honoree is from outside the United States — Scott Atkinson, who runs Blue Devil Golf Course in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
The magazine will profile the honorees in the November/December issue of Golf Inc., and announce first place, second, third and honorable mentions. The honorees are listed below by category and then alphabetically by last name.
Private
Derrick Barnett
BallenIsles Country Club
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
Robert Blackburn
Stone Eagle Golf Club
Palm Desert, Calif.
Kevin Collins
The Club at Ravenna
Littleton, Colo.
Tim Halpine
The Players Club at Deer Creek
Omaha, Neb.
Lee Smith
TPC Summerlin
Las Vegas, Nev.
Daily Fee
Scott Atkinson
Blue Devil Golf Course
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Marty Hoeffken
Whirlwind Golf Club
Chandler, Ariz.
Gary Huebner
1757 Golf Club
Dulles, Va.
Mike James
SentryWorld
Stevens Point, Wis.
Municipal
Jim Hajek
Fossil Trace Golf Club
Golden, Colo.
David Peru
Devou Park Golf Club
Covington, Ky.
Chris Strand
Dauphin Highlands Golf Course
Harrisburg, Pa.
Resort
Nancy Dickens
Kierland Golf Club at Westin Kierland Resort & Spa
Scottsdale, Ariz.
Alex Nakajima
Princeville Makai Golf Club
Princeville, Hawaii
Brad Williams
TPC Scottsdale
Scottsdale, Ariz.