Body Spring 09 - 3 Lakes Golf Course

Body Spring 2010:Body Spring 09
2/22/10
Pennsylvania
Golf Course Owners
Association
3:23 PM
Page 13
This is the next in our series in Golfer’s Lifestyle
Magazine where we introduce you to one of the owners
or managers of one of our featured courses. Find out
how they got their start in the golf industry, special
interests and general fun facts. Western PA is the home
of some incredible golf courses. Nowhere else will you
find the friendly ownership groups that you’ll find in
our region. For a full listing of PGO member courses
visit www.golfinpa.com.
a great management staff in place to achieve our
number one goal of having the best public golf course
in Western PA that can be enjoyed for generations to
come.
In the Bag:
Art Hawk – 3 Lakes Golf Course
How I got Started in the Golf Industry:
I was a member of what is now 3 Lakes Golf Course,
formerly Alcoma Golf Club. Alcoma was in financial
trouble and I didn’t want to see it become something
other than a golf course. I put together a group of other
members, after the membership voted to put the club
up for sale, to see if we could buy it. But during the
meeting to see what our offer would be, I soon saw
that I was just creating another Board of Directors, just
like the club had. I knew if this was going to be a
successful business, it couldn’t be run by a Board of
Directors. It would have to be run like a business with a
goal and one direction.
After asking my wife and 3 children what they thought
about owning and operating a golf course, they
unanimously said to“go for it.” We took over in Dec‘06.
Even after many trials and tribulations, such as not
having a fairway mower running in the Spring of ‘07,
to 15 inches of rain in 24 hours paired with 70 mph
winds in ‘08, and 20 plus inches of snow in ’09, most
people say the course is in better condition now than it
has ever been. The building is in tip top shape. We have
Driver: Cobra Speed 10.5
Woods: Callaway
Irons: Taylor Made RAC
Putter: Scotty Cameron Knockoff
Handicap: 9-12
Golf Superstitions: I always use a white ball. I drive
the cart 99% of the time and I always keep score. I let
my partner tee off first, then switch if we are losing.
Kids: Megan, Art III, Steven and 3 grandchildren.
Hobbies: I have, had or done most all hobbies from
horses, boating, hunting, golf, fishing, biking, RVing,
bowling, playing cards, etc. The only thing I haven’t
tried yet is flying.
Favorite Foods: I like everything, especially Italian.
Favorite Movie: Apocalypse Now
Favorite PGA Player: Phil Mickelson
Fantasy Foursome: Any of the old guys – Palmer,
Nicklaus, Hogan
Support Your Local
Pennsylvania Golf
Course Owner
www.golfinpa.com
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