pro-files
Jimmy and his family at The All State
Sugar Bowl Tommy Moore Memorial
National Junior Championship at
English Turn. Shown with him are
his daughters Jill and Josie, his wife
Carol and son Jared. Not pictured
are his son Jacob and son Joshua
(Joshua is expecting Jimmy’s first
grandchild in April with his wife
Amanada).
Jimmy Headrick
U.S. Kids Golf Local Tour – Southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast &
Diamondhead Country Club
Michael and his family from left, Aubrey, Cody, Michelle and Shelby, at Disney
in 2015.
Michael Howes
Carter Plantation
When did you know you wanted to have a career in the golf industry?
Looking back… 1992. I was always completely hooked. Not just from a
player’s perspective, but learning to pass information along to other golfers in
the most efficient way possible. I love helping others put the pieces together. It
is different process for every session and from player to player.
Who introduced you to the game?
Myself. No one in my family played, but I enjoyed watching golf on TV. One
day I talked my brother and a friend into giving golf a try, and that was it.
Who are your mentors?
Family members would be my parents of course. My golfing mentor is instructor
Rob Noel. I started working with Rob on my own game in 1992, and we
quickly became friends. We always discussed the golf swing as a mind/body
event. Skill mastery, motor learning patterns, etc... it was a very exciting time and
still is.
How old were you when you began playing golf? 21
What is your best golf memory? Really just the day-to-day time spent with
my brother or close friends. All of the times and conversations spent on the golf
course, driving range, or traveling to play different courses. Good stuff.
Best accomplishment in 2015?
Every time I see the “Ah ha Moment” in a player’s eyes. It could be a beginner,
a junior golfer, or an accomplished players. Great moments!
30
Year elected to membership: 1979
When did you know you wanted to have a career in the golf industry?
I knew early on. When I became old enough to clean carts, caddying, shining golf and
street shoes, picking the range from a boat and net (Frank Gumpert’s floating range),
watering the greens at night and working in the golf shop. This was not work to me, I
was having fun just being around golf.
Who introduced you to the game?
I caddied for my father, he would let me play the par 3s
Who are your mentors?
“Current mentor is 82 year old, 47 year PGA Member Hal Yost of Tampa, Fl. Hal
wakes up every day thinking, ‘How can grow junior golf?’ He has shown me that age
is just a number.
Past Mentors, I was fortunate/blessed to have worked for Gulf States PGA Past
Presidents and Hall of Fame Members Frank Mackel, Frank Gumpert and Bill
Caldwell. Each very different, yet exceptional in his own way, Frank Mackel - people
skills, Frank Gumpert - the business side and Bill Caldwell - a combination of both.
They instilled in me the importance of promoting and growing golf.
How old were you when you began playing golf? 9
What is your best golf memory? There are many, yet it is the simple heartwarming
ones that stick with you. We had an autistic child in our junior golf program who came
each week and never talked, very shy, yet he was included in everything we did. The
culture of our program created an atmosphere where he was respected by every junior.
In time, before he would leave each class, he never missed coming over to me and
shaking my hand and saying thank you. When I left Lakewood, his mother sent me the
most endearing letter how golf had changed her son’s life. These are the memories that
stay with you so much more than the awards. Zachary will never be forgotten by not
just me, but the impact he had on the kids on the caring side of life.
What are your professional goals in 2016? In 2016 my professional goals
are numerous. To continue growing the U.S. Kids Golf Tour, my region has been
expanded to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. I will be continuing growing our foundation
in its 22nd year. I am bringing junior golf to golf facilities where they do not have a
program, Grand Ridge is a success story with more in the works. I continue helping
high school golf, Holy Cross of New Orleans and Hahnville High School. I will be
doing junior classes through the region that includes working with Duncan Park Golf
Course in Natchez, MS, Bayou Barriere Golf Club and Grand Ridge Country Club.
I am looking forward to the Second Annual Holiday Junior Golf Classic and serving
as tournament director for the seventh year for The Mackel - The Metropolitan
Amateur Golf Championship of New Orleans at our new home Beau Chene
Country Country Club in Mandeville, hosted by PGA Professional Fred Schroeder.
In closing, doing all I can to assist my new home of Diamondhead Country Club
in being recognized as the leader of junior golf in the South, working with a very
junior friendly club and staff, PGA Members Hoppy Smith Director of Instruction
and Chris Altese, PGA Head Professional, with Jason Gibson serving as Director
Junior Golf. 2016 is going to be a great year, perhaps my best ever.