ADVISORY Council
Renee Powell
Owner and operator of Clearview Golf Club in East Canton, Ohio which was built by her father William, who remains the only African-American to design, build, own and operate his own golf course. The course was added to the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of Interior in 2001.
Second African-American woman to compete on the LPGA Tour,
First African-American woman to earn a Class-A PGA of America membership.
Mike Keiser
Founder of Dream Golf
Owner/Developer of Bandon Dunes Resort, Sand Valley
Co-Owner/Developer Cabot Resort in Nova Scotia
Trustee of the Western Golf Association/Evans Scholar Foundation
Michelle Freeman
Owner and CEO of the Carl M. Freeman Companies under which Bayside Resort Golf Club, Bear Trap Dunes and Signatures at Bayside are operated.
President and Chairman of the Carl M. Freeman Foundation and Founding Chair of the Joshua M. Freeman Foundation
Minority Partner in Monumental Sports and Entertainment
Recognized as one of the 10 Most Influential Women in Washington, D.C.
Harold Varner III
Professional Golfer
Learned game at Gastonia Municipal Golf Course in NC
Leader on issues of affordability and accessibility in the game of golf
Board member First Tee of Greater Charlotte
Tim Finchem
Commissioner of the PGA Tour from 1994-2017
Oversaw the formation of the First Tee
Will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2021
Derek Douglas
Senior Fellow at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy
University of Chicago’s Vice President for Civic Engagement
Senior adviser on urban policy from 2009 to 2011 to President Barak Obama
Tim Schantz
President & CEO of Troon
Received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado (Boulder) and his J.D. from the University of Kansas.
Has been a part of Troon for nearly 25 years
Currently serves on the Board of the National Golf Foundation (NGF)
Bob Ford
General Manager at Seminole Golf Club
Head Professional position at Oakmont Country Club for 39 years until 2016.
Outstanding teaching and playing career
Mentored, trained and placed more than 50 Assistant Professionals into Head Professional positions