Matt Ward
BACKGROUNDER –
Before joining Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa as Director of Golf Operations, Cody served as the private director of golf at PGA WEST in La Quinta, CA and was responsible for the overall member experience, club marketing, membership events and golf operations, and assisted the marketing team with revenue management for the nine courses that make up the LA Quinta Resort and PGA WEST. Prior to that, Cody spent nine successful years at the Revere Golf Club in Las Vegas, NV, and helped open Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson, AZ at the Casino Del Sol Resort.
THE CODY STORY —
Originally from Ontario, Oregon and raised in the Reno/Tahoe area, Cody was an avid baseball player as a child. As a freshman, before baseball season started, he tried out for his varsity high school golf team and to his surprise; he made the team as a natural golfer. Cody’s father, a three-sport All-American collegiate athlete hoped his son would follow in his footsteps and play baseball, but he made the tough decision to stay in golf and he’s never looked back.
After high school, Cody studied Architecture and Computer Sciences at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC) in Reno and University of Nevada (UNLV) in Las Vegas. During this time, Spencer decided to pursue a career in the golf industry and entered into the PGA Program. Along with working full-time at the Revere Golf Club and taking courses at UNLV, Cody completed the PGA Program in a near record time of two years and was elected to PGA Membership in September of 2011.
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You wake up in the morning — what’s the driving passion?
Deliver an unparalleled golf experience for our members and guests, making Barton Creek the #1 golf destination resort in Texas!
You’ve been in high profile positions at different key golf facilities in America. What made you decide to take the position at Omni Barton Creek?
Two things: History and reputation of the property and being part of the incredible excitement surrounding the recent renovations and future of the resort.
What distinguishes Omni Barton Creek when held against your competition?
We have four world class golf courses designed by true titans of the game. Tom Fazio, Ben Crenshaw and Arnold Palmer, truly worked with the existing landscape to create picturesque golf courses.
Professionally, what is your biggest work pet peeve?
My biggest pet peeve is not utilizing available technology as efficiency is paramount in today’s workplace.
Throughout the golf industry there’s a clear emphasis on “customer service.” Define the term and the approach followed at the resort?
Anticipating our golfers needs and delivering unique and special experiences, creating fond and lasting memories of our property.
How much on a daily basis do you intersect with those playing golf at Omni Barton Creek and what have you learned from those interactions?
It is a priority for me to get real-time, unfiltered feedback from our golfers. I walk the property once a day chatting with members and guests and I have learned that our golfers are here to play and love the unique challenge of our courses.
You can change one thing in golf unilaterally — what would it be and why?
Slow play! When you get in a zone playing really great golf on an amazing course, slow play can really impact your mental game.
The major golf organizations — USGA, PGA of America, R&A, PGA Tour, LPGA — are all seeking ways to attract new players to the game. This is especially so for Millennials, women and minorities. If you were counseling them what would you advise they be doing to accomplish that goal? –
Don’t be afraid to utilize technology to make golf more social, easily share highlights or low lights of a round and allow friends and family to engage with the content. Also, the PGA Junior League is a wonderful way to expose juniors to the game. At Barton Creek, we have over 100 players in our junior league.
The biggest short and long term challenges facing the facility is what?
Our biggest short term challenge is finding more unique ways to elevate our golf experience. Our challenge long term is balancing golf inventory demands from resort guests and groups with a very large country club membership.
Best advice you ever received — what was it and who from?
“Leadership is not about a title or a designation. It’s about impact, influence and inspiration” – Robin Sharma. This quote was shared with me by a mentor and it really stuck with me. I have it printed and framed on the wall in my office.
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For more info go to:
https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/austin-barton-creek
Photos Courtesy: Barton Creek Resort & Spa
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