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James Simmons, CGCS
A World Class Superintendent for a World Class Course By Melanie Bonds, ATA Executive Director
Al ab ama Tu rf Tim e s > >> Wi nter 201 9
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all Thompson’s dream was to create a world-class golf course in Alabama. The dream was realized when he enlisted Jack Nicklaus to design Shoal Creek Golf Club in 1975 and, just as importantly, hired Jim Simmons, CGCS, as his superintendent. Jim held the position as superintendent at Shoal Creek from November of 1975 until he retired in June of 2018. “What really sets Shoal Creek apart from others is its uniqueness,” according to Jim. “Not only is every hole set off by itself, each one plays differently. And that came as much from Mr. Thompson as Nicklaus. Mr. Thompson was very hands-on during the development of the course. Hall Thompson wanted a championship course, but at the end of the day he also wanted to be sure the course was fun for its members. Nicklaus achieved both goals.”
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And if a world-class course is measured by the quality of tournaments it collects, then Mr. Thompson achieved his goal. Seven years after its opening in 1977, Shoal Creek hosted the PGA Championship. That was just the beginning. It has since hosted two PGA Championships (1984 and 1990), the 1986 U.S. Amateur, the 2008 U.S. Junior Amateur and the Southern Amateur in 2010. Following the Southern Amateur, Shoal Creek began hosting the Regions Tradition on the Champions Tour in 2011. Considered one of the five majors on the Champions tour and drawing top players, The Regions Tradition is a landmark in the Alabama golf world. This rigorous schedule is not for the faint hearted, and when it comes to heart and the commitment to hard work, Shoal Creek scored a hole in one with the Simmons hire. Jim says his
James Simmons, CGCS