Jackson ready for new challenge at Whitefish

BY CONRAD ENGSTROM Brainerd Dispatch

PEQUOT LAKES — There is a changing of the guard at Whitefish Golf Club.

After 28 years of running the business at Whitefish, Steve Bengston retired at the end of March.

“After 34 years in the golf business, I’m moving into a different phase of my life,” Bengston said. “Whitefish is such a great place, so it was tough. I have built a relationship in this area and it wasn’t something I thought of overnight. It’s been a plan for a while and it just came to a point where it’s time.”

It’s the relationships with the Whitefish members and shareholders Bengston will miss the most.

“This is a unique area,” he said. “It still has that energy of a resort destination market and there are still a lot of visitors and people that come here to recreate. There’s an energy here at all the golf courses up here that is optimistic and positive no matter where you go. That’s why all the other pros and people around here have been here a long time.”

His replacement is 27-year-old Logan Jackson, who will serve as both general manager and head pro at Whitefish moving forward.

Stones Throw Golf Course is nestled along the scenic Rum River in Central Minnesota, and the pride of the Milaca golf community.

Located one hour north of the Twin Cities and one hour south of the Brainerd Lakes Area.

Logan Jackson

“This is a position that really fits someone like me,” Jackson said. “I’m local and I don’t really plan on going anywhere. I want to stay in the Brainerd area, so that was really my biggest trigger to look here.”

Jackson is no stranger to the lakes area golf scene having previously worked at Cragun’s Legacy Courses and Grand View Lodge.

“I didn’t think I was headed anywhere else,” Jackson said. “Of course you are always looking and Steve’s been here for 28 years, so it was very intriguing to see what that career looks like. I’m going to rely a lot on my team at Cragun’s. I saw a lot of changes there over the years that were good and bad. I learned about golf course renovation and how you can reroute your course and keep the place alive.”

Moving to Whitefish, Jackson won’t have a resort tied to his golf course like his other employers.

“I loved every minute being at Cragun’s and Grand View, but with Whitefish being shareholder-owned the member relationship is really a big piece here,” Jackson said. “It’s just a golf course and I get to be a golf pro and I don’t have to do anything with a resort. It’s nothing against the resorts, but they are just very big. I think we can be more intimate and more customer focused. We’ve got a rich history built by the shareholders who still own this golf course and we want to continue that same friendly, welcoming, playable golf course that is designed for everyone.”

Jackson’s knowledge and experience of the Brainerd market was one of the main reasons Bengston picked him to be his successor.

“He’s a good local guy with knowledge of the market,” Bengston said. “Having been at Grand View and Cragun’s, there’s a strong sense of what happens in the area with him.”

Having the title as a general manager is a huge leap for Jackson. He also hopes to get back into giving lessons as a head professional.

“That’s a huge new role for me,” Jackson said. “I oversee everyone, which I’ve definitely had staff report to me in the past, but never a superintendent and never food and beverage managers. I also oversee a lot more on the financials and those little decisions that have a big impact on our club. There’s also a board of directors here, which I’m not used to reporting to a board and understanding their vision and how to implement that because our board is very hands-on. It’s really exciting, but also a little scary.

“I plan to restart my golf school and I will be bringing back junior golf through Pequot Community Ed. I really would like to start to teach and club fit again and utilize my head pro role here.”

Jackson relied on Bengston’s advice heavily during the process of giving him control.

“I don’t think I’ve learned enough from him,” Jackson said. “I need to know 28 years’ worth and that’s a lifetime for me. I’ve taken everything I can from him while he’s still here. We’ve worked side by side and Steve has been nothing but kind and super inviting. He really made it about me when really part of this should be about him. A lot of people know and love him here. He’s done a ton of great things for the golf course and the area. It really shows what Steve has built here.”

CONRAD ENGSTROM may be reached at 218-855-5861 or conrad.engstrom@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/the_rad34.