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GOLF STAFF
Kurt Thompson
Director of Golf
[email protected]
Originally from Ohio, Kurt Thompson brings more than a decade of golf experience and a wealth of knowledge to his team. Before joining Linville Ridge in 2005, Kurt broke into the golf industry when invited to join the golf staff at Bighorn Country Club (Palm Desert, CA). There, he worked under Bill Harmon—son of Masters Champion Claude Harmon— who was consistently ranked as a Top 100 Instructor by Golf Digest. During the summer, Steve worked at Grandfather Golf and Country Club in the North Carolina Mountains, under two of the most respected names in the golf industry, John McNeely and John Buczek. Later, he was invited to rejoin John McNeely at the Floridian, one of the country’s most prestigious golf clubs, where he had the privilege of working with recent winners on both the PGA and Senior PGA Tours.
Jake Gainey
Director of Outside Operations
[email protected]
Jake Gainey, originally from Boone, North Carolina, now resides in Foscoe, North Carolina. After high school Jake worked at a driving range which led to his interest in the golf business. Currently, Jake is pursuing a degree at Caldwell Community College. Jake has been at Linville Ridge since August 2012 and is now the new Director of Outside Golf Operations. In his spare time, he enjoys softball, basketball, golf, coaching baseball, hunting and fishing. During the off season, you can find Jake working in the Christmas tree fields and doing construction.
Tommy Clark
Course Superintendent
[email protected]
Tommy Clark is a native of the country club industry, having worked in various clubs over the last 29 years. Since 1996, he has played an integral role in keeping the Linville Ridge golf course in pristine condition during the summer, and in healthy shape during the winter. A native of Morgantown, N.C., he holds an associates degree in turf management from Catawba Valley Technical Institute. He was awarded the Bayer Superintendents Awards, and is also a member of the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America. Fluent in Spanish, he also enjoys weight lifting, golf, snowboarding, motorcycle riding and spending time with his family.
Brent Allen
Head Golf Professional
BrentA@linvilleridge.com
Originally from Conyers, Georgia, Brent Allen attended Heritage High School, where he lettered in varsity for four years in football and baseball. After high school, Brent attended Darton College on a baseball scholarship. He then transferred to Appalachian State University his junior year, but tore his rotator cuff before the season started. Even though this injury ended his baseball career, it introduced Brent to the game of golf. During his career, Brent has held the position of 1st Assistant Golf Professional at Balsam Mountain Preserve in Sylva, North Carolina, Assistant Golf Professional at Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach, Florida, Assistant Golf Professional at Country Club of Asheville in Asheville, North Carolina and Assistant Golf Professional at Colleton River Club in Bluffton, South Carolina.
Brent currently spends his winter months at the Floridian, where he has been able to rub elbows with the best players on the PGA Tour and work alongside golf’s greatest instructor, Butch Harmon.
When Brent is not performing his duties as a golf professional, he enjoys exercising, fishing and working on his golf game.
Sarah Dant
Visiting Teaching Professional
[email protected]
Sarah Dant attended Mississippi State in 1997 in the PGA PGM program. After graduation she took an assistant professional position at Belle Meade Country Club in Nashville, TN.In 2006 Dant was offered a teaching position at The Golf Club of Tennessee by Toby Wilt. When he hired her, she felt it was a huge honor and a major boost to her teaching career. During the winter months Dant teaches in Naples at Royal Poinciana Golf Club and spends her summers at The Golf Club of Tennessee.
Dant’s philosophy has progressed over the last 15 years due to a few individuals who have helped her shape who she is today. In 2014, she attended three coaching workshops with performance consultant and sports psychologist, Dr. Rick Jensen and Top 100 Instructor, Henry Brunton. The experience was life changing. Her teaching philosophy was introduced to a whole new world of skill acquisition and motor learning concepts. She has also had the privilege of coaching with Vision54 coaches, Pia Nilsson and Lynn Marriott after attending their golf schools as a student and a coach.
Sarah visits Linville Ridge often and conducts small group coaching sessions and works with individuals on their personalized programs.
Sarah Dant is a member of Proponent Group, a community of accomplished teaching professionals from around the globe. The member network includes more than half of the GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teachers, more than 150 PGA section Teachers of the Year, more than a dozen PGA National Teachers of the Year and the owners and operators of over 50 golf academies.
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