Our People
Billy Casper Golf recognizes that our most valuable assets are our employees.
Their intelligence, expertise, dedication and positive attitudes all contribute to our success.
As testament to their accomplishments, we feature just a sampling of success stories below.
Jimmy Hall, Superintendent
Green Tree (CA)
One might say that Jimmy Hall’s blood runs green, as he’s a fourth-generation golf course superintendent, following in the footsteps of his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.
Growing up on and around Southern California golf courses, Hall began playing the game as soon as he could walk, and helped his dad around the course starting at age eight. By the time he was 18, he was already assistant superintendent at a course near his hometown.
Hall worked in golf course maintenance in Texas before returning to his California roots, starting on the grounds crew at Ashwood several years ago. Almost immediately, he was promoted to Assistant Superintendent, and did such a great job that he was named Assistant Superintendent of the Year in his first year in that position.
Soon, Hall was promoted to Superintendent of the 27-hole high desert course, overseeing a substantial year-round agronomic operation. In the short time he’s been at Ashwood, Hall and his team have shaped the facility into a truly great course, including earning the facility Audubon Sanctuary status.
Today, Hall oversees two courses - 18-hole Green Tree and 9-hole Westwinds - and was recently awarded "Team Player of the Year" by BCG.
“Jimmy has exceeded our expectations in every area,” says Bryan Bielecki, Vice President of Agronomy. “Through dedication and hard work, he’s improved Ashwood to the point where it’s recognized as one of the best conditioned golf courses in the high desert.”
“What I like best is the people I work with and for at BCG,” says Hall. “I have learned so much in my short career with the company, and know I’ll learn and grow so much more over the next thirty.”
Tracy Lynch, Director of Sales
Lyman Orchards (CT)
A few years ago, Director of Sales Tracy Lynch brought her nearly 20 years of hospitality experience at private clubs to Lyman Orchards. As a former food and beverage manager, her focus had been on event planning, food and wine training and providing a high-level of customer service. Immediately, she was a natural fit with BCG.
“Lyman Orchards is a unique property, with 1,100 acres of land that is home to not only golf, but also pick-your-own-fruit with strawberries, blueberries, peaces, pears, pumpkins and, of course, apples.” says Lynch. “We are the only golf club around that offers our outing participants a six-inch version of our famous hi-top apple pie.”
Lynch worked with the golf professionals at Lyman Orchards to rejuvenate its women’s golf program, hosting wildly popular “Ladies Nine and Wine Tee Parties” and other indoor and outdoor clinics targeted at women.
Lynch counts promoting the name of the course within the community as one of the most important parts of her job. She serves on the Board of Directors of Hartford’s My Sister’s Place – a safe-haven for women and children in transition.
“Being involved with My Sister’s Place has really changed my life for the better by letting me give back to those who are not as fortunate as I am,” says Lynch.
Eric Nelson, Superintendent
1757 Golf Club (VA)
Eric Nelson has been with Billy Casper Golf for about five years and he’s been handed one of the most challenging and high profile jobs in the company – Superintendent of the new 1757 Golf Club outside Washington, D.C.
Not only was he responsible for rounding out a course that hadn’t had any maintenance performed in more than a year, he also helped oversee the construction of five new holes to complete the full-18.
“The property had the foundation in place to be really excellent once it became fully operational,” says Nelson. “We had a steep hill to climb and, with a great crew, we got it done.”
Nelson received a degree in turf grass management from Arizona State. He came to work at BCG as an irrigation technician at nearby Stoneleigh. He was soon promoted to Superintendent at Reston National, before moving over to 1757.
Though he’s putting in long hours at 1757, Nelson maintains that kind words from senior management keep him going. “Peter Hill and Bob Morris always seem to show up at the right time with an encouraging word, when I need a pick-me-up. They clearly have employees' best interests in mind.”
He's too busy right now to enjoy all the great outdoors – fishing, backpacking, hiking – but he still finds time to watch football and root for his favorite NFL teams. He and his wife also raise seeing-eye dogs to help the disabled.
Chris Jones, General Manager
Shadow Hills Golf Club (CA)
Chris Jones first picked-up golf after high school, being introduced to the game by a friend. From his first swing, he knew he wanted to work in the industry.
He intended to become a Superintendent, so Jones majored in Golf Course Management at Mundus Institute in Phoenix. He just couldn't fit in a maintenance job with his school hours, so he took a position in a local club’s bag room where the head pro took him under his wing.
After graduating, Jones worked at a private club as a Golf Professional, playing with and entertaining members. BCG came calling two years ago, hiring Jones as General Manager of BCG-managed Ashwood. Not long after, he was tabbed to oversee Shadow Hills.
“Chris has worked incredibly hard with his team to give golfers at Shadow Hills a better golf experience, and has motivated the staff to go above and beyond with ACE”, says Tom Barrett, BCG’s West Regional Vice President. “He’s done a tremendous job growing rounds. He’s one of BCG’s brightest stars and has a great future with the company.”
For his part, Jones is enjoys the autonomy BCG allows him to employ ideas he’s developed over more than 15 years in the business.
“I’ve been able to make important decisions and take advantage of the considerable resources we have available to use,” says Jones. “Shadow Hills is part of a rapidly growing community, and it’s a great challenge to accommodate the increase in golfers and still provide the excellent conditions and customer service they’ve come to expect.
