Love on the Links

If it were not for golf, my dad would have never met my mom and our family would have never been started. Now we live where it began. It’s me, my mom, my dad, my younger brother named Colby, our two dogs named Birdie and Tippy and our cat named OJ. I am going to ask my parents a few questions to see how it all got started. Question: Dad, how did you get into golf? Answer: When I was 11 years old my friend and I joined a summer program at Roger’s Park Golf Course in Tampa, Florida. I immediately fell in love with the game of golf. There was a field near my house where I cut a green and a tee with my dad’s lawn mower. I hit balls there all the time. As I got better and a little older, my mom would drop me off at Baba Zaharias Golf Course. I would practice there and play on the weekends and during the summer.

Question: Dad, how did you end up working at Miami Shores Country Club? Answer: After high school I worked at Temple Terrace Golf Course, working for Doug Hughes. This is where my love for golf course maintenance began. After a couple of years at Temple, I took a break from golf and studied to become an electrician. I worked for IBEW for a few months, but never loved it like I love golf. I quit working as an electrician and got a job at U.S.F. Golf Course where I worked for Jim Torba. After a few years at U.S.F. I went to work for Chip Lewision at Plant City Golf Course. While I was working in Plant City, I stayed in touch with Torba. In 2001, Torba was working for Miami Shores Country Club. One day I called Torba out of the blue, during the conversation he mentioned he was going to Miami Beach Golf Course to do a grow-in and asked if I would be interested in coming to Miami Shores. I think he was shocked when I said “I was interested.” After a visit to Miami Shores Country Club and an interview with Alberto Pozzi (General Manager of Miami Shores Country Club) in May of 2002, I started working at Miami Shores Country Club. Question: Dad, Tell me about your GCSAA National Championships. Answer: I have played in the championship almost every year in my 18 year career at MSCC. I have won three times (2005, 2008, and 2009) and I have had 4 second place finishes. I have been honored to meet Jack Nicklaus, Paul Azinger and Greg Norman, who presented me with the trophies at the National Conference. Other than my Golf Central • Volume 21, Issue 5

family and Miami Shores Country Club there are not many other things more important to me than the GCSAA Championship. Question: Dad, Tell me what it has been like raising a family, while working at MSCC? Answer: Our family is incredibly blessed to have lived on property over the years. Being able to put in the hours as a superintendent and spend time with my family has been made much easier because of our situation. I get to pop into the clubhouse to see my wife or stop by the house to see my kids. I get to pick up my kids from school, walk my daughter to gymnastics, drop my son off at golf, take my family on rides on the course, and the list goes on and on. I have to say Resa has been an amazing wife and mother. She stuck by my side through some tough times and put up with my golf over the years. She is the hardest working woman I have ever met and I couldn’t imagine life without her.

Question: Mom, What led you to work at MSCC? Answer: I was working at Michael ann Russell J.C.C for 10 years, running

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the afterschool program and decided to leave so I could put my degree in hospitality to use. I always wanted to become a party planner and found out there was a job available at Miami Shores Country Club, but as an office assistant. When I interviewed with Alberto Pozzi, I asked him that if the Director of catering position ever became available I would be interested in that position. So I began working at MSCC in October of 2002. In 2004, the Director of Catering left MSCC and I officially moved into that position as the Director of Catering. Question: Mom, how did you meet dad? Answer: I was working upstairs in the front office and dad would have to come upstairs to drop off paperwork and he started coming up more frequently. In July of 2004, we started to date and in May of 2006, we got married and the rest is history. Question: Mom, What does MSCC mean to you? Answer: MSCC means a lot to me because I met my husband and we had two beautiful children. Being able to learn about my family history is important because now I know how special golf is.