Like Father… Like Son…

Tom McKone, Sr. – and his son Thomas McKone, Jr.

What Golf Course are you at? East Lake Woodlands a 36 Hole Private Course

What was the progression to get to where you are with this job today? I started working at golf courses when I was 12 years old. I have done everything from caddie, cart attendant, driving range attendant, Assistant Golf Professional, Head Golf Professional, General Manager and Director of Golf Who inspired you the most in learning about this job? I have had a lot of mentors along the way. Mike Glenn, Rich Unger, Marc Carter and Rich Crowe are just a few that have mentored me along the way and we still talk on a regular basis.

How long have you been doing this job? I have been in my current position for a year now. Although I have been a

PGA Member since 2005.

Do you have a favorite Quote from someone that inspires you or motivates you? When I was in college I was in a fraternity and the motto for the organization Phi Kappa Theta National Fraternity was “Give expecting nothing thereof.” I have continued to lead my life by this.

What is one thing that you wish every golfer understood about your job? Being a PGA Member… we all love to play golf, but we are Golf Professionals not Professional Golfers. Our dayto-day functions are running tournaments, giving lessons, merchandising, and most of all, providing a memorable experience for our members and their guests.

If there was one thing that you could tell every golfer… what would it be? To play fast and have fun.

Were you excited about your son’s future when he showed the largest interest in what you do and decided to follow in your footsteps?

I was honored that my son chose to get into the golf business. He chose the Golf Course Superintendent side of the operation which maintaining of the golf course. He is very strong in continuing his college requirements at Penn State to achieve that certification. Truly makes a dad proud.

How did that make you feel? I was happy for him. If my son is happy and enjoys going to work every day is all that really matters. It is rewarding seeing him be successful at such a young age. We talk daily about what he does and what he continues to learn.

Thomas… what is your job title? 2nd Assistant Golf Course Superintendent

Who is your employer?

Old Memorial Golf Club

What was your first experience with this job? I first started off working in the cart barn at in high school at Lansbrook Golf Course. When Covid hit it changed a lot of things. I was transferred inside as an assistant in the pro shop. Although I love the golf business… I learned that being constrained inside was not the best for me. That is truly when I decided to pursue a job in agronomy and working on the golf course to help create those incredible views.

Who inspired you the most in learning about this job? My father

How long have you been doing this job? I have been in the golf industry as my only job, but on the agronomy side, I have been doing it for two years.

What was the progression to get to where you are with this job today? Started off as a normal worker on the agronomy side. Old Memorial saw my passion for agronomy and was promoted to AIT (Assistant in Training). I then took over the spray tech position, and now have been promoted to Second Assistant Superintendent.

Do you have a favorite Quote from someone that inspires you or motivates you? There are so many good quotes out there that all inspire me to succeed… I would really have to think about my favorite.

What is one thing that you wish every golfer understood about your job? It’s not just growing grass. It is a science. Yes, you may be able to maintain your lawn to perfection but expand that to over 100 acres. Then add in that you are cutting grass lower than .100th’s of an inch, while making sure you don’t have any insect pressure or fungal outbreaks that can affect the look of the turf or even kill it. Now all of a sudden it isn’t just a routine job.

If there was one thing that you could tell every golfer… what would it be? To leave the course in better condition than when you first walked on it. For example, filling divots, fixing your ball mark “plus one” that someone else may have missed, and raking your footsteps out of the bunker. It’s not that we aren’t going to maintain the course, it is more of the respect for who is playing behind you on the course.

Hailed as “The Nicest Man in Stand-Up,” by The Atlantic Magazine and a “Rising Star,” by CBS Morning, 2021 Grammy nominated comedian and podcaster Nate Bargatze is selling out shows around the world.

An Old Hickory, Tennessee native, Bargatze followed in the showbiz footsteps of his father, a former clown turned world class magician, who’s influence is seen on his’s 2015 debut Comedy Central special, Full Time Magic and his debut album, Yelled at By a Clown, which reached #1 on the iTunes Comedy Charts and remained on Billboard’s Top Ten Comedy Charts for weeks.

Bargatze’s half-hour Netflix Special The Standups, premiered in 2017 and his first solo one-hour Netflix special, The Tennessee Kid, premiered globally with rave reviews in 2019. In 2021, he released his critically acclaimed second Netflix special, The Greatest Average American, which received a Grammy nomination for Best Comedy Album. On January 31st, Nate released his latest and third 1-hour special, Nate Bargatze: Hello World, on Amazon Prime which now holds the record as Amazon’s most-streamed original comedy special in its first 28 days of viewership.

In 2020, the comedian launched his weekly podcast, Nateland. The podcast tackles the meaningless issues that we face day to day to give listeners a much-needed mental break from fighting the good fight. New episodes release Wednesdays, with video available on Nate’s YouTube