Our Team is Your Team

A Rice University graduate, Whitney is a PGA and CMAA member who is an entrepreneur at heart. He is also a former member of Merion Golf Club where he joined as one of the youngest members of this historic club where Bobby Jones won the Grand Slam. Whitney began his golf career managing resort properties on Hilton Head Island. For the past twenty years, he has been developing, building, and managing golf properties and is the co-founder of Bobby Jones Links. He has written for Golf Digest, published two golf books, and is a Past President of the Georgia Golf Course Owners Association. He is an avid traveler, reader, cyclist, and golfer and totally relates to the famous Bobby Jones quote that “no putt is too short to be despised.”

A standout athlete in baseball, football, and basketball, Steve chose golf before all others. He is now a PGA member with twenty-five years of experience managing all types of golf clubs in every region of the United States. Before founding Bobby Jones Links, Steve was Director of Operations for Evergreen Alliance Golf Ltd. While at Evergreen, Steve was responsible for the management and operation of sixteen different facilities, including resort, daily fee, semi-private and private clubs while helping the company grow from five to 40 golf courses. Steve is extremely experienced in the day-to-day operations of golf facilities and oversees all of Bobby Jones Link’s operations. He holds the team accountable to uphold Bobby Jones Links’ high standards of service to others and club performance. He is a fanatical sports fan and has a good reason to be: his son was once an NFL quarterback and now plays in the CFL.

Before co-founding Bobby Jones Links, Hud was the former Chief Executive Officer of Troon Golf, overseeing its growth from 25 properties to 150+ clubs in the U.S. and overseas and establishing the Earlier in his career, Hud served as Executive Vice President for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, responsible for Starwood’s managed and franchised hotels. There he played a key role in updating the Sheraton, Westin, and St. Regis brands, overseeing $2 billion in revenues. Earlier in his hospitality career, Hud was General Manager of two of the most prestigious hotels in the world: the acclaimed Plaza Hotel in New York City and the Mobil 5-Star, AAA 5-Diamond Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix. Hud is an avid reader and follower of current events. Like his other founding partners, he is a major sports fan. When not focusing on company strategy and the big picture issues, he is busy trying to beat Steve Willy in picking who is going to win today’s game.

Nicole serves as our Chief Financial Officer, overseeing our company’s accounting, finance, banking, and audit procedures and designing the same systems for each of our client clubs. Prior to joining Bobby Jones Links, she served as the Chief Financial Officer for Leisure Financial Group where she oversaw the accounting, reporting/planning, and operations for the mortgage brokerage firm that specialized in golf course specialty real estate loans. Prior to that, Nicole served as part of the senior management team at Textron Financial Corporation giving her direct experience in golf course and equipment lending as well as leading the finance organization who oversaw the ownership of a significant number of golf courses for a publicly traded company. In Nicole’s spare time, she is an avid sports fan who can’t abandon her New England roots as she cheers on the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. However, since moving to the South (and her son attending The University of Georgia), you can also find her cheering on those Bulldogs.

Mark started his career running professional golf tournaments on the PGA and LPGA Tours, building high level relationships throughout the golf industry. This led to an introduction to the founding team of the Golf Channel. As a Senior-level executive that launched the Golf Channel cable television network in 1995 with Arnold Palmer, Mark was part of the team that help build the Golf Channel brand and take it from 0 to over 100 million households and build total revenues to over $500 million. He managed top level strategic partnerships and rights holder relationships with the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, Nationwide Tour, LPGA Tour, PGA of America, United States Golf Association, European PGA Tour and Canadian PGA Tour. Most recently, Mark has worked with technology-based companies in the golf industry. Calling on national accounts and management companies for Tagmarshal, golf course intelligence and pace of play technology, and Teesnap, a cloud-based point of sale, tee sheet and golf management system. Mark is a graduate of Wake Forest University but is surrounded by family with Auburn University ties. He loves all sports, is an avid sports fan and loves spending time with his family. As with all other members of the Bobby Jones Links team, he deeply believes and is committed to the company purpose to “make a difference. “

Gautam is a very experienced club operator, having managed several high-end private and semi-private clubs prior to joining Bobby Jones Links. A graduate of Rutgers University and inducted to his golf team’s hall of fame, Gautam’s is a master at transforming our clubs from being just a golf and dining venue to something more relevant and enjoyable by adding a multitude of creative and new programming for all ages. He is an outstanding team builder and a favorite with our members and customers. Gautam is also Bobby Jones Links customer service training leader. Gautam makes certain that not one staff meeting goes by at Bobby Jones Links without breaking it up with a laughter.

Mike has a long history of successfully managing and improving club operations. Educated at the University of Texas at El Paso, Mike spent seven years in the Air Force in security and as an Intelligence Analyst, before turning his passion for details to the club and hospitality industry. Prior to joining Bobby Jones Links, Mike’s 25 years of industry experience includes positions of General Manager, Regional Manager, and Vice President for three large management companies, where he earned GM of the Year award at each company. Mike strengths are in having a detailed knowledge of all facets of the operations, while not losing sight that ultimately service is what drives revenues and customer loyalty. Mike has been directly involved with improving operations at over 40 clubs in 18 different states. Mike is an avid golfer and fan of all sports. In addition, he is an avid traveler with a particular love of national parks.

Amy serves as our Senior Vice President of Accounting and Systems, overseeing our company’s accounting, finance, banking, and audit procedures and designing the same systems for each of our client clubs. Prior to joining Bobby Jones Links, she established and then managed the accounting department for two other large golf management companies. Armed with an accounting degree, Amy is extremely knowledgeable in the areas of golf course and country club accounting, point-of-sale systems, government compliance and tax issues, and audit procedures. When Amy is not working, she spends her time as a personal trainer and loves everything about fitness.

Lucretia is a graduate of Georgia State University where she earned a Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting. An avid numbers lover and one of the most popular company members, Lucretia is known as being the last to leave the office daily. She’s an expert in club accounting, banking procedures, compliance and controls, and how information flows between our clubs and Bobby Jones Links’ accounting department. Before joining Bobby Jones Links, she worked in residential construction managing and overseeing all financial aspects of a regional company. Prior to that she was the vice president and controller of an oil analysis company where she established new systems and controls and managed the accounting and human resource departments. When not at work, Lucretia’s passion is high school football. Her son is a coach of a winning team near our office.

Suzanne is a graduate of The University of Alabama where she earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration. Before joining Bobby Jones Links, Suzanne acquired more than a decade of experience in human resources and payroll systems. Suzanne has managed domestic and international human resource programs and services, including comprehensive benefits planning, streamlining payroll processes and implementing ERP systems. She is committed to Bobby Jones Links’ core values and company purpose to make a difference, striving to create a work environment and culture where employees can reach their full potential, have fun, and continuously make a difference as well. Suzanne is a “roll tide” fanatic surrounded by a lot of Georgia Bulldogs, which makes for some interesting conversations in our office.

Gloria is a graduate of Nova Southeastern University where she earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Finance. Prior to joining Bobby Jones Links, Gloria has a decade of experience encompassing all aspects of payroll and benefits administration in the greater Atlanta area. Gloria is also a current member of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management), a professional human resources membership association providing resources to serve the needs of HR professionals and improve human resource management. Gloria is responsible for our HRIS and payroll system, in addition to providing support to all our clubs.

Amy has a long history in Membership Sales and Marketing of private and semi-private clubs. Most recently working with ClubCorp, Amy played an integral role in successfully launching new membership products in over 20 clubs while simultaneously marketing over 20 million dollars in renovation projects for the Atlanta market. Amy is a graduate of Georgia State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and concentration on Marketing, as well as a Master of Business Administration from Reinhardt University. Amy is a huge family person and when not at work she enjoys attending local sporting events and checking out new restaurants with her son and husband.

Greg is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati where he earned a Bachelor of Sports Administration. Prior to joining Bobby Jones Links, Greg worked at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta, GA managing their social media accounts and promoting the club through membership, tee times, outings, and special events. Greg played an integral role in growing Forest Hills’ following on Instagram to more than 1,000 followers in less than 12-months. Prior to his work at Forest Hills, Greg worked on the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour and with the University of Cincinnati Athletic Department, managing social media accounts and providing support for other areas of their marketing departments, including public relations. Greg is a huge sports fan and is always watching his favorite teams. As with all other members of the Bobby Jones Links team, Greg deeply believes and is committed to “Make a Difference.”

Katie comes to the Bobby Jones Links team with more than four years of sports brand management experience working with Fanatics, supporting some of the most recognizable colleges and universities in the country. Her background also includes work with the PGA TOUR, building the PGA TOUR brand through consumer products. Katie is a graduate of Roanoke College with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a concentration in Marketing. Katie enjoys running half marathons, traveling to National Parks, attending football games and golf tournaments, and trying the newest restaurants in town. Katie fully believes in the Bobby Jones Links’ core purpose of making a difference and strives to do just that every day.

Prior to joining Bobby Jones Links, Kyle worked as the superintendent or assistant superintendent at some of the prestigious private clubs including The Waterfall Club, Hawks Ridge Golf Club, St. Ives CC, and Atlanta Athletic Club. Most recently, he oversaw the construction and grown-in of the new golf course at the historic Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta, a $30 million total renovation that was has received worldwide attention and acclaim by all the major golf media, including a feature story on the Golf Channel. A graduate of Auburn University with a degree in agronomy and turf management, Kyle is one of the most popular and highly regarded superintendents in the southeast. His special talent to grow grass, work within our client’s budgets, and renovate golf courses, make him an asset to Bobby Jones Links' customers. Kyle shares best practices with our other company superintendents and works with our procurement team to get the very best pricing for equipment and supplies. Kyle and his wife Jillian live in Atlanta. They have no children yet, but do have Rugby, their English Setter, who is often seen making a nose down turf inspection at a Bobby Jones Links golf course.

Jason is one of the most highly regarded golf instructors in the U.S., proficient in both traditional and technology driven golf instruction. Prior to joining Bobby Jones Links, he worked as the Director of Instruction at the Woodloch Golf Performance and the McCord golf academies. Today, he is the Director of Instruction for Bobby Jones Links’ Grand Slam Golf Academy instruction at our clubs and resorts, designing programs, sharing best practices, while ensuring every Bobby Jones Links’ club offers first class instruction. Named a U.S Kids Golf Top 50 Instructor, Jason is based out of our historic Bobby Jones Golf Course in Atlanta where he oversees one of the largest and most diverse golf instruction programs in the nation. Jason holds a Master of Business Administration from Moravian College and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Millersville University of Pennsylvania. He lives in Atlanta with his wife Lindsay, daughter Nora, and son Reed.

Chef Ray’s passion is working with Bobby Jones Links’ teams to create compelling and sustainable culinary programs tailored to each client and club. His diverse experience includes great restaurants, museums, clubs, and silver screen movie productions, where he developed the skills to please every type of guest. Ray started cooking at an early age and landed his first chef role at the age of 22 working for one of the country’s top restaurateurs Kevin Boehm and noted chef Scott Alderson. Some highlights of Rays career are working for the M Street and Tomkats restaurant groups as well as the Bridgestone arena in Nashville. Ray believes the magic happens when our culinary teams learn our customers and members desires and then use our skills to offer them the all-around culinary experience and service that will make them come back for more. Beyond cooking, he loves to eat at hole-in-the wall ethnic restaurants, gardening, visiting breweries, and most importantly, time with his beautiful wife, Natalie, three sons, and a pug.

Lisa is a principal of Bobby Jones Links and is the founding partner and CEO of Core Benefit Solutions, an employee benefits consulting firm in Atlanta with a thorough knowledge of the golf and country club business. She assists employers in establishing and maintaining superior health benefit programs while also creating HR solutions to ease employer administration burdens. Clients appreciate Core Benefit’s understanding of the bottom line and the importance of employee health benefits in recruitment and retention. Lisa speaks at consumer education events and is a member of various leadership organizations such as EO (Entrepreneur's Org), TRUE Network Advisors and the Atlanta Business Leaders Group, as well as a prior Board Member of NAWBO and Vistage member. She has been nominated for Top 40 and Fabulous by Best Self magazine, featured as one of Atlanta’s Women of Power and Influence of The Atlantan magazine. Her firm also received the #1 Healthiest Employer award in their market size in 2018. She enjoys outdoor activities, including biking and hiking, time with her husband Gabe, daughter Eli, and dog Lucy. She is a supporter of local arts and culture and provides community days for her employees to give back to our community

For twenty years, Michael has served as a principal in Bobby Jones Links as a risk management and insurance specialist. He knows the club industry and its insurance needs better than anyone we know. He is a founding partner of Tanner, Ballew and Maloof, Inc, where he serves as the managing partner of the firm. TBM has been a leader in commercial Insurance for over 25 years and has built a reputation as one of the top Independent commercial insurance agencies in the Southeast. Michael specializes in the technical side of program design and the placement of insurance. He has multiple complex clients from the club, hospitality, and construction industries, and he is well-versed in the development and use of captives and large deductible alternatives. Michael graduated from the University of Georgia with a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance and is a Certified Insurance Counselor and Risk Manager. Michael is a golf and exercise enthusiast and longtime Atlanta sports fan (and sufferer). He and his wife Tracy have two adult children, are active in serving at Buckhead Church, and help mentor newly married couples.

Lori is a well-seasoned graphic designer and illustrator, working with Bobby Jones Links for eight years, producing some of our most spectacular print and digital work for our clients. In addition to Bobby Jones Links, Lori has significant experience working for such notable brands as Atlanta Magazine, Spanx, Inc., FORE Georgia, Ghost Hunters and DirecTV to name a few. She was also a winner of the 2013 Communication Arts Illustration Annual award for her illustrated piece, “Particle Theory.” Her talents and expertise are far reaching within the design and illustration field - creativity for our club clients’ production work is her passion. She is dedicated to everything she does and believes in keeping an open mind and compassionate heart. Beyond designing, Lori loves practicing yoga and qigong, traveling, enjoying the outdoors, visiting antique shops and volunteering with animal rescue groups.

Lori is a visual designer and art director who has worked with Bobby Jones Links and the golf industry for sixteen years. She is responsible for developing much of our stunning graphics for print, newsletter, and digital promotions for both our firm and our clients. She has a love for branding - finding, distilling and maintaining the visuals that tells a brand’s story. And while she understands and regards the traditions of golf, she brings an entrepreneurial spirit in rethinking its archetypal visuals and communications. She is experienced in developing visual systems from concept to logo to promotion. Lori graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees in Fine Art and Mass Communications. As a new mom, there is little free time that isn’t family time but, when possible, she is an amateur silversmith and linguaphile (currently French and beginning American Sign).

A leisure and tourism management graduate (BA Hons) from Sheffield Hallam University, Keith has 25 years’ experience in the golf resort and club development and management business. He began his career at the world-famous Gleneagles Resort in Scotland before joining Braemar in 2003. Since then, he has advised, constructed and managed golf course projects on five continents and in countries such as Cuba, Russia, China, Fiji, Bahrain, Spain, Portugal and the Home of Golf, St Andrews. Keith expertise is in all phases of club development and management including feasibility, concept and design, business planning, construction, pre-opening and ongoing operations. Bremar is Bobby Jones Links' partner in Asia and Europe.