A self-proclaimed “country club brat” at the age of 6, Don Beardsley is the new general manager of the Country Club of Brewton—but getting into the business was something he was warned against doing at first.
“Fortunate to have a doctor as a parent, I was able to be a country club brat starting at 6 years old,” Beardsley said. “I started playing golf with my mother at 8 years old and give her the credit of laying the foundation of my career. I became a competitive junior golfer at the age of 12. My club professional, seeing me develop and noticed my attention to what he was doing over the next few years warned me to not get into the business because of long hours, weekend and holiday work and at times members who were impossible to please.”
Beardsley said he took the advice and after college went into sales of hair care products and then windows. Beardsley then said the opportunity opened for him to get into the golf business without being a golf pro with a company called Fore Golf Management Company.
“I was hired as an assistant manager and quickly moved into management of my own facility within six months,” Beardsley said. “ClubCorp, another management company, purchased the contracts of the Philadelphia courses from Fore Golf and I was promoted to a larger facility. My regional manager strongly suggested I get into the PGA and become a golf professional, which would open more opportunities for me.”
Beardsley completed the program and became a Class A golf professional in 1992. He then was promoted to head professional and manager of John F. Byrne Golf Club. In 1994 he was promoted to a full amenity country club and that is where he said his career in club management truly began.
“My desire to provide customer service and to train my team to provide magic moments for members and guests is what provides the drive to be in the club business,” Beardsley said. “And working at a golf course, there is no better office to have.”
While he says there is no better office to have than a golf course, Beardsley said there is no typical day in his business.
“There are so many hats you need to wear,” he said. “When dealing with members and guests, the schedule you set gets quickly changed in order to provide service. I try to inspect the facility each morning with a walk through, then get to financial review. Developing marketing plans and putting them in motion, meeting with members and potential members, selling golf outings and special events, attending local organizations, creating and performing in-house events, employee training and development, cash management, inventory management, are all part of my day.”
Beardsley said the attraction to Brewton was a few factors.
“First the opportunity came about to join the Billy Casper organization,” Beardsley said. “Second was when I made the trip to the club and saw the great facility the Country Club of Brewton is and lastly the focus of the ownership and the friendly members I came into contact with. The Club has so much to offer. We have the best course in the area, the best food in the area and a great staff to deliver the product and provide magic moments to members and guests. We will be developing programs to increase enjoyment at the club and hope this will help bring new members to the club. We need to attract more members in order for the club to be financially successful. By having the existing members enjoy their club more, they will refer their family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to join. I can only guarantee that me my team will work hard each day to improve the Club and make the member and guest experience the best it can be. As Disney says ‘keep making magic,’… that is what our focus will be.”
The Philadelphia native is one of nine children. Beardsley and his wife have been married for 27 years and have a 26-year-old daughter who is an RN. Beardsley and his wife are anxiously waiting the birth of their first grandbaby.
The Country Club of Brewton is located at 700 Clubhouse Road in Brewton, on U.S. 31 North. For more information or interest in the club, contact Beardsley at  (251) 867-3408.