Speakers

Todd Buchholz - How to Compete in a Chaotic Economy
NGCOA Keynote Speaker

A former director of economic policy at the White House, a managing director of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund, and an award-winning economics teacher at Harvard, Buchholz targets his entertaining remarks to the cutting edge of economics, finance, and business strategy. He has advised President Bush, and is a frequent commentator on ABC News, PBS, and CBS, and recently hosted his own special on CNBC. Buchholz has debated such luminaries as Lester Thurow and Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz. He is Co-Founder and Managing Director of Two Oceans Management, LLC and will be a fellow at Cambridge University in 2009.

Market Shock: 9 Economic and Social Upheavals that Will Shake Our Financial Future, was released to rave reviews and dubbed “outstanding” by the Wall Street Journal. Buchholz is also author of the best-selling New Ideas from Dead Economists and From Here To Economy, which were lavishly praised by The New York Times and Financial Times. His newest books are New Ideas From Dead CEOs, and a novel, The Castro Gene.

Buchholz is a contributing editor at Worth magazine, where he writes the “Global Markets” column, and he has penned articles for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Reader’s Digest. He delivered a lecture at the White House entitled “Clarity, Honesty and Modesty in Economics,” and has been a keynote speaker before such groups as Microsoft, IBM, Goldman Sachs and the US Chamber of Commerce.

From 1989 to 1992 he served at the White House as a Director for Economic Policy. Buchholz won the Allyn Young Teaching Prize at Harvard and holds advanced degrees in economics and law from Cambridge and Harvard. He also holds several engineering and design patents and is a co-producer of the Broadway smash "Jersey Boys."

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Dr. Brian Little – Multiple Personalities in the World of Golf: Strange Creatures and True Characters
Golf Industry Show General Session 1 Speaker

Dr. Brian R. Little received his early education in British Columbia and his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. He has taught with distinction at Oxford, McGill, and Harvard Universities and is currently Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus at Carleton.

Dr. Little has received many awards for his outstanding teaching. He was the first recipient of the Royal Bank Faculty Fellowship in University Teaching at McGill University and was awarded the 3M Fellowship, Canada’s highest award for university teaching.

For three consecutive years Brian was elected by the graduating classes of Harvard as one of their favorite professors. They described him as a cross between Robin Williams and Einstein. He claims the only similarity between the three is their height.

Dr. Little is internationally known for developing Personal Projects Analysis, a perspective that has transformed the study of personality, projects and organizations. His groundbreaking book, Personal Project Pursuit, was published in 2007.

He still aspires to play for the Toronto Raptors and has a personal project of growing a foot and a half in the next two years.

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Chris Gardner - Start Where You Are
Golf Industry Show General Session 2 Speaker

Christopher Gardner is the owner and CEO of Gardner Rich LLC with offices in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. Conquering grave challenges to become a successful entrepreneur, Gardner is an avid motivational and aspirational speaker, addressing the keys to overcoming obstacles and breaking cycles.

The amazing story of Gardner’s life was published as an autobiography, The Pursuit of Happyness, in May 2006, and became a New York Times and Washington Post #1 bestseller. Gardner was also the inspiration for the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness,” released by Columbia Pictures in December 2006. Gardner’s second book, Start Where You Are: Life Lessons in Getting From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be will be published on May 12, 2009.

Born February 9, 1954 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Christopher Paul Gardner’s childhood was marked by poverty, domestic violence, alcoholism, sexual abuse and family illiteracy.

In 1981, as a new father, he was determined to find a career that would be both lucrative and fulfilling. Fascinated by finance, but without connections, an MBA or even a college degree, Gardner applied for training programs at brokerages, earning a spot in the Dean Witter Reynolds training program - but became homeless when he could not make ends meet on his meager trainee salary. Gardner worked at Bear Stearns & Co from 1983-1987 where he became a top earner. In 1987 he founded the brokerage firm Gardner Rich in Chicago from his home with just $10,000. Chris Gardner’s aim, through his speaking engagements and media projects, is to help others achieve their full potential.

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Henry B. DeLozier - What you want to know...what you need to know...what you ought to know...and what your competitors know
Principal, Global Golf Advisors

Henry B. DeLozier is a Principal in Global Golf Advisors, an international consultancy of service to the investment banking, real estate development and golf asset ownership and operations business segments. Mr. DeLozier joined Global Golf Advisors after nine years as the Vice President – Golf of Pulte Homes, the largest developer of golf course communities in the United States. For Pulte Homes, he developed 27 new golf courses within 10 states. During his tenure at Pulte Homes the company became the largest developer of golf communities and of golf courses in the USA having invested more than $500 million in the development of golf assets. In addition, Mr. DeLozier was responsible for the operation of more than 20 Pulte golf courses. He is recognized by GolfInc magazine as one of the “Most Influential People in Golf” for the ninth consecutive year. He is the immediate Past President of the Board of Directors for the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA). He also serves on the Employers Advisory Council for the Professional Golfers Association of America (PGA). Mr. DeLozier is recognized within the golf industry for his uncommon understanding of golf and residential properties. He is known as a no-nonsense profit producer, as an innovative marketer, and as an advocate of exceptional customer service. He serves as an expert source for Business Week, CNBC-Squawk Box, the Financial Times of London, GOLF magazine, Golf Digest, Golf Business, GolfInc magazine, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post. Mr. DeLozier is a graduate of Oklahoma State University (B.A. – English) where he was an All-American golfer.

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Jon Last - Coming out of the Rough--What your Customers want in a "post recession market"
President, Sports and Leisure Research Group

Jon’s previous experience includes more than seven years as Vice President of Corporate Marketing, Research and Brand Development for Conde Nast’s Golf Digest Publications division. At the PGA of America, Jon developed and managed all marketing research, as well as oversaw marketing and retailing activities surrounding the PGA Championship, Ryder Cup Matches and PGA Golf Expositions.

Jon Last currently serves as the national president of the Marketing Research Association and is also on the Board of Marketing Research Institute International and Council for Marketing and Opinion Research (CMOR).
Last holds an M.B.A. from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is a magna cum laude graduate of Tufts University.

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Brendan Sullivan - Why Didn’t We Think of That? Creating an Organizational Culture of Innovation
Corporate Creativity Coach

Brendan Sullivan is a corporate creativity coach. He helps organizational teams and leaders to create more innovative ideas, more creative solutions, and more productive work environments where talented people can thrive. His clients include Kellogg’s, Harley-Davidson, PepsiCo, GE, Deloitte, Nestle Purina, Aetna and other Fortune 500 companies, as well as many small companies, nonprofits, associations and government agencies. You’ll find more about Brendan’s programs, clients and credentials at www.creativitycoach.net.

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Scott Anderson - What Every Owner/Operator Should Know about Technology and How It Can Come to Bite You: Useful Tech Weapons for Economic Battles
President of the Hospitality & Real Estate Group

Scott Anderson joined Kohler Co. as President of the Hospitality & Real Estate Group in late June, 2008 and is responsible for the profitable growth and award-winning status of the Group in all of its global operations as well as ensuring service levels and physical properties reflect iconic leadership in the world’s luxury resort markets.

Scott Anderson most recently served as Vice chairman of Quintess, headquartered in Boulder, Colorado where he was responsible for coordinating the merger with Quintess of the Dream Catcher destination club he founded in 2004 and then developing the real estate of one of the largest destination clubs in the industry. Concurrently, he was the President and CEO of High Country Hospitality - a hospitality management and technology company. Prior to joining Quintess, Anderson held senior executive positions with the Cendant Corporation in New Jersey.

From 1994 to 1996, he was Managing Director of Games Services for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. From 1990 to 1994, he was President and CEO of Callaway Gardens and the Callaway Foundation in Pine Mountain, Georgia, a complex that included 770 rooms, 17 tennis courts, 63 holes of golf, 7 dining outlets, 9 lakes and 1200 acres of hunting preserve. The Foundation included a 2500 acre horticultural theme park. From 1979 to 1990, he was President of the world-class Hotel del Coronado near San Diego, California.

Scott Anderson earned his Bachelor of Arts in Hotel and Restaurant Administration in 1972 from Washington State University.

Scott Anderson has been referred to as “a recognized developer, entrepreneur, large scale manager, and luxury hotelier into the Kohler family of businesses.”

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Michelle Kapuscinski – Town Hall Meeting
Owner/ President, Fiesta Village Family Fun Park

Michelle Kapuscinski has been involved in the Family Entertainment Industry for 10 years. She is the owner and President of Fiesta Village Family Fun Park in Colton, CA.

Fiesta Village is a 10 acre park that has been a fixture of the Inland Empire since the early 70’s. With its Two Miniature Golf Courses, Race Cars, Waterpark and the largest Batting Cage facility in Southern California, Fiesta had a successful run for many years, but was in need of some new “life”.

Since the purchase of Fiesta Village in March of 2002, the park has made many improvements including the addition of the following: Carnival Rides, Party Rooms, a Pizza Restaurant, a 10,000 square foot building that houses a new Lazer Tag Arena, larger Arcade and corporate offices. Most recently, adding a Skating Rink and Dairy Queen.

Fiesta Village has been the recipient of many awards, including being voted “Best Place for Kids to have Fun” and “Best Customer Service” several years in a row by readers of the San Bernardino County Sun Telegram. The park is a strong supporter of local non-profit organizations such as Toys for Tots, LightHouse for the Blind, Trinity, the Ronald McDonald House and Parkview Community Hospital, among many others.

Michelle currently serves on the several Boards of Directors including IALEI, California Small Business Association, and the Colton Chamber of Commerce and is actively involved in the community of Colton as well as surrounding cities. In her spare time she enjoys snowboarding, golfing and traveling.

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Michael Berry – Town Hall Meeting
President, National ski Areas Association

Michael Berry has served as the president of the National Ski Areas Association in Lakewood, Colo., since January 1993. NSAA is the trade association for ski area owners and operators. It represents 325 alpine resorts that account for more than 90 percent of the skier/snowboard visits nationwide. Additionally, it has 500 supplier members who provide equipment, goods and services to the mountain resort industry. As president, Berry provides leadership and oversees the association’s operations, including issues related to industry trends, issues, regulation, educational and marketing programs. He has worked in the ski resort industry for more than 30 years.

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Cindy Estis Green - Top Ten Ways to Drive Revenue: Cyber-Charge Your Efforts with Online Marketing
Managing Partner, The Estis Group

Cindy Estis Green’s career spans thirty years in travel; with an MBA in Marketing and a BS from Cornell University, Ms. Green spent seven years with Hilton International as head of corporate marketing information systems and research and as a general manager for the Vista hotel brand.

After starting up the marketing consultancy, Driving Revenue, and selling it to Pegasus Solutions, Ms. Green is now managing partner of The Estis Group providing strategic marketing consulting to travel organizations in the area of sales and marketing best practices. Her latest venture launched in 2009 is a website showcasing sales and marketing innovation (www.drivingrevenue.travel).
A frequent speaker at national conferences, Estis Green authored Demystifying Distribution 2.0, The Online Metrics Handbook for Travel Marketers and The Travel Marketers Guide to Social Media and Social Networks, among others. She was named one of the top 25 greatest minds by HSMAI’s Marketing Review magazine, Marketing Innovator of the Year and featured in Leaders and Visionaries by Lodging magazine. In 2009, she was inducted into the Hospitality Technology Hall of Fame in recognition of her many contributions to sales and marketing technology.

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Robyn Stowell - Are You Ready? Prior Planning & Organizing Gives You Options When Opportunity or Necessity Arise
Partner, Holme Roberts & Owen

Ms. Stowell is a nationally recognized attorney who leads Holme Roberts & Owen’s golf course and resort & community development team. She represents buyers, sellers, lenders, clubs and member groups in the acquisition, disposition and financing of golf and private club assets, with an emphasis on transition from developer to member owned clubs. She counsels clients on a wide variety of issues including membership issues, operational concerns and equity conversion. A frequent speaker at industry-related events, as well as a regular contributor for private club publications, Ms. Stowell is a knowledgeable and experienced attorney in the golf and private club industries.

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Dutch Cragun - Solving the Marketing Puzzle: Course Owners Go Through the Process
Owner, The Legacy at Cragun’s

Over four decades, Dutch and his wife, Irma, have built Minnesota’s largest four-season golf resort and
conference center. In 2009, the Legacy course was rated as one of the “Best Places to Play” by Golf
Digest. Dutch and his wife, Irma, oversaw the development throughout the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s that
included adding outdoor and indoor pool complexes, winterizing the resort and acquiring two adjacent
properties. Today, in addition to the 61 cabins, Cragun’s offers a 185-room hotel and complete
conference and meeting facilities.

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Jay Ehret - Solving the Marketing Puzzle: Course Owners Go Through the Process
CEO, The Marketing Spot

Jay Ehret is Chief Officer of Awesomeness for The Marketing Spot in Woodway, Texas. A small business marketing coaching and consulting firm he founded eight years ago. He is a coach, consultant, blog author and speaker. Jay authors The Marketing Spot small business marketing blog and hosts and produces the Power to the Small Business podcast. Jay was also a featured speaker at the premier Korean Golf Association Marketing Conference in Seoul in November 2009.

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John L. Gehman - Solving the Marketing Puzzle: Course Owners Go Through the Process
Owner, Butter Valley Golf Port

This 18 hole public golf course and airport was born in 1969 on a dairy farm owned by the Gehman family since 1788. After Pop's retirement in 1986, John, with his wife Joan, became Owner, Superintendent, General Manager and business manager. John L. Gehman, eighth generation owner of the property and 2nd as a golf course, is now looking to make the handoff to yet another generation. The challenge for John is to regain the profitability the course once had in order to create a succession plan that is equitable to both father and son.

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Bill Schwartz - What’s the Percentage in Percentages? Improving F&B Sales and Profitability Through Value Engineering
President, FOOD-TRAK® / System Concepts, Inc

Bill Schwartz is widely known as one of the industry’s leading consultants and most dynamic speakers on the topic of food and beverage control. Through his seminars and articles, Bill has helped revolutionize the process by which food and beverage costs are controlled. One of the first to downplay the traditional use of food and beverage cost percentages to control inventory, Bill focuses on a concept he developed and named “Bulletproofing F&B Operations”. His first book on the subject, “Bulletproofing Food and Beverage Operations” is expected to be released in late 2009.

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Michelle Wittig - NGCOA University: Integrated Marketing Communications and Technology
General Manager, Juday Creek Golf Course

As General Manager, Michelle oversees the daily operations and management of the nearly 100 employees of the busy semi-private course with extensive food and beverage services. Juday Creek, which was built and is owned by Michelle’s parents Mike and Linda Rogers celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2008. Along with numerous Learn to Play, Women’s and Junior Programs, Michelle also conducts free clinics at Juday Creek for college students introducing them to the game of golf as a tool to use in their professional career. Michelle received her MBA from Loyola University Chicago. She has served as a Professor of Marketing at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana and continues to lecture at various colleges and universities. Michelle has been a long time member of the Board of Directors of the Potawatomi Zoological Society serving as Vice President in 2007; she is also an active member of the Indiana Golf Course Owners Association. Michelle was named to the regions “40 under forty” list in 2008 for outstanding contribution in the workplace and service to the community.

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Tom Vlach - Playability or Aesthetics - What Really Matters?
Director of Golf Course Maintenance Operations, TPC Sawgrass

Tom Vlach started his career working for the PGA TOUR as an assistant superintendent at TPC Sawgrass. Tom was one of the youngest Superintendents in the United States when he took that position at Ekana Golf and Country Club in Orlando, FL. His career has taken him to Pine Tree Golf Club and Greystone Golf and Country Club. The success of preparing Greystone for tournament golf opened the door for Tom to return to TPC Sawgrass as Director of Golf Course Maintenance.

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Bill Hughes - Playability or Aesthetics - What Really Matters?
General Manager, TPC Sawgrass

Throughout his career in the club industry, Bill has held the position of Head Professional at Shawnee Country Club in Lima, Ohio and General Manager/Owner of Country Acres Golf Club in Ottawa, Ohio. In 1996, Bill was hired by the PGA TOUR as General Manager/Director of Golf at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Tennessee. In 1999, Bill relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio as General Manager/Director of Golf to open the TPC River’s Bend in his home state. In 2003, Bill was promoted to Regional Director of TPC Operations. In 2006, Bill was asked to oversee the final stages of construction and global repositioning of the TPC Sawgrass.

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Collier Miller - Playability or Aesthetics - What Really Matters?
Director, TPC Agronomy

Collier Miller began his employment with PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, Inc. in 1994 as Golf Course Superintendent at the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin where he earned two Operation of the Year Awards and a Landscape Award. In 1996, he served dual duty as the Golf Course Superintendent at the TPC at Summerlin and the TPC at The Canyons. In 1998, Collier was promoted to Regional Director, Agronomy/Golf Course Maintenance Operations. In March 2006, Collier was promoted to Director, TPC Agronomy.

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Joe Petrash - 20 Unconventional Ideas to Maximize Revenue
CCM, CHA, Principal, Borders Golf Group

Prior to forming Borders Golf Group, Joe Petrash was President of the Cordillera Group, which owned and operated golf communities throughout the United States. In this position, Joe was responsible for the operation of four high-end golf developments, located in Colorado and California. Since April of 2000, Petrash has been directly responsible for pre-opening operations, system and policy implementation, revenue management, member relations, membership marketing and sales, food and beverage, golf operations and organizational development.

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Kris Schoonover - NGCOA University: How to Maximize Internships to Benefit You, the Course Owner
Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin Stout

Kris is the Program Director serving over 250 students in the Bachelor of Science Degree in Golf Enterprise Management at the University of Wisconsin Stout. Kris teaches courses in principle of golf course management, software and technologies for the golf course, customer service and event management. She also works at Erin Hills Golf Course, assistant to Director of Operations and Coordinated Players Services for the USGA 2008 Women’s Amateur Public Links.

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Laurence A. Hirsh, CRE, MAI, SGA, FRICS - The Impact of the Great Recession on the Value of Your Golf Course
President, Golf Property Analysts

Larry is the president of Golf Property Analysts, a leading golf and club property consulting, appraisal and brokerage firm based in Harrisburg, PA. He has performed consulting and appraisal assignments on more than 2,500 golf & club properties in 45 US states, Canada and the Caribbean, and has previously written 2 articles on golf & club property valuation in The Appraisal Journal, and co-authored The Urban Land Institute’s Residential Golf Community Development. A founder and first president of the Society of Golf Appraisers (SGA), Hirsh has also developed a golf course and brokered more than $100 million in golf course & club properties. He is a graduate of The Pennsylvania State University.

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Doug Main, ASA, CCIM, CRE, MRICS, MAI, SGA - The Impact of the Great Recession on the Value of Your Golf Course
Director, Deloitte FAS

Doug is a Director with Deloitte FAS, leads the national golf & lifestyle advisory practice. The Deloitte team provides operation reviews, business/forensic consultation, valuation, bankruptcy, and expert witness services. Mr. Main is frequent speaker and has quoted in: Time Magazine, Washington Post, and The Boardroom.

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Ron Carciere - The Impact of the Great Recession on the Value of Your Golf Course
President, Golf Course Appraisal

Ron is the President of Golf Course Appraisal, a golf real estate valuation firm and one of the founding partners of Golf Market Advisors, a golf property and facility operations consulting firm. Over the past 25 years, Ron has performed appraisals and consulted on hundreds of golf facilities throughout the country. Ron’s experience also includes six years of working in golf operations and management, with two years as an assistant professional.

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Ralph Brekan - The Impact of the Great Recession on the Value of Your Golf Course
President, Brekan-Nava Group

Ralph has been engaged in the appraisal of real property since 1973. The scope of his work includes the appraisal of commercial, industrial, special purpose, vacant land, residential, and recreational use properties, including numerous country clubs and golf clubs, cash flow and investment analysis, and market and feasibility studies. His golf course experience includes appraisals, market studies, feasibility studies, consultations and brokerage assignments dating back to the late 1970s, covering 21 states. He has served as an instructor in real estate and continues to appear as guest lecturer or faculty member at various real estate conferences, and special interest real estate functions.

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Terrell R. Oetzel, MAI, CRE, SGA - The Impact of the Great Recession on the Value of Your Golf Course
Vice President, The Oetzel-Hartman Group

Terrell has been completing real estate appraisals and counseling since receiving his Masters Degree from Michigan State University (College of Agricultural Economics), majoring in real estate appraising. He initially started working for Donald V. Whipp, Jr., MAI, CRE, during the summer of 1963. Following graduation in June of 1964 he continued to work for Mr. Whipp. His primary responsibilities were the collection of data and the analysis of data collected for appraisals and counseling. Mr. Oetzel received his MAI designation in November of 1971. Since that time he has continued to complete real estate appraisal and counseling assignments. Mr. Oetzel received his CRE designation in May of 1987 and his SGA designation in June of 2000. Mr. Oetzel has appraised and counseled on many types of real estate including fee simple interests, leased fee interests, and leasehold interests.

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Claye Atcheson - Customer Loyalty Drivers: Customer Experience Management Practices and Tools to Maximize your Revenues
Vice President, Marriott Golf

Claye Atcheson is Vice President Marriott Golf, the golf management organization of Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) and one of the world's largest golf resort management companies. In his role as Vice President, Atcheson's responsibilities include building and reinforcing awareness and customer loyalty for all golf operations under the Marriott International umbrella of brands. Since joining Marriott Golf in 1977, and in addition to his current title, Vice President, Atcheson has served as the Director of Golf at various Marriott properties, including Griffin Gate Golf Resort in Lexington, Kentucky, Fossil Creek Golf Club in Fort Worth, Texas and Camelback Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona.

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Steven J. Plummer, CGCS - Customer Loyalty Drivers: Customer Experience Management Practices and Tools to Maximize your Revenues
General Manager, Tustin Ranch; President, Championship Golf Services, Inc.

Steven has been involved in the Orange County golf industry as part of the Tustin Ranch Golf Club management team for nearly 20 years. He has literally learned the golf industry from the ground up, serving as a Certified Golf Course Superintendent for over 20 years. He is a 1981 graduate of Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture specializing in Turfgrass Management. Steven has been the General Manager at Tustin Ranch for 8 years, and is the President of Championship Golf Services, Inc. (CGSI), the on-site golf management firm.

As General Manager, Steven oversees 7 Department Heads as direct reports who in turn oversee up to 140 staff members year-round throughout all departments.

Steven has served as President of Orange County: California’s Golf Coast marketing consortium for the 3 years ‘06 to ‘08; and is currently serving on the Board of Directors of the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, and the Executive Committee of the Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau.

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Don Holmstrom - Behind the Numbers: Leveraging Market Performance Data into Actionable Growth Plans
Principal and Lead Business Advisor, Value Drivers Inc.

Don is the former President/CEO/COO of Eaglequest Golf. During his time as President, Eaglequest grew its operating cash flows by over 40% by developing and focusing on key performance indicators and using those to drive incremental revenues and cash flow. Don is a CPA by trade and former National and Provincial Board member of NGCOA Canada.

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Rock Lucas – Budget Cutting
President/Operating Partner, Charwood Country Club

Rock is the current President/Operating Partner of the 27 hole semi-private Charwood Country Club. He is a Partner of Lucas-Alexander Development, a commercial and residential development company. Rock also serves as chairman of the Lexington County Planning Commission and president of the South Carolina Golf Course Owners Association. Rock graduated from the University of South Carolina with a BS in Business Administration/ Mgt Science. In 2009, Rock was appointed to the Golf Business Editorial Advisory Board.

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Ron Whitten - Golf Digest Green Star Awards
Senior Editor, Architecture for Golf Digest

In 1978, Ron collaborated on the first history of golf architecture ever written, The Golf Course, with golf architect Geoffrey Cornish. In 1993, a revamped edition entitled The Architects of Golf was released.

Whitten, who practiced law for 12 years, left the practice in early 1990 to work full-time for Golf Digest as Architecture Editor. He subsequently authored over 350 articles on golf architecture and received top prize in a golf writing competition conducted by the GCSAA in 1995. In 1996, he ghost-authored and illustrated the book, Golf Has Never Failed Me. In 2002, he published another book, Gentleman Joe Lee, for the Joe Lee Foundation.

In 1999, Whitten collaborated on select course design projects, The Architects Golf Club in Phillipsburg, N.J. and Erin Hills Golf Course near Milwaukee, Wis. Whitten is presently involved in a design near Fredericksburg, Va., and has recently assisted in improvements to Cypress Ridge Golf Course in Topeka. From 2003-2006, Whitten was also co-owner and part-time operator of an 18-hole public course, Chisholm Trail Golf Links, in Abilene, Kansas.

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