Golf House Tennessee Announces Staff Changes

Franklin, Tenn.—Tennessee Golf Foundation president Dick Horton has announced the completion of a reorganization of the executive staff at Golf House Tennessee. To better address golf's urgent need to increase rounds played and bringing new people into the game statewide, Horton will now focus his job on establishing four new regional director positions and golf offices in the Tri-Cities, Memphis, Chattanooga and Knoxville. The Foundation's endowment fund will need to be increased by five million dollars by 2011 to endow these new jobs, offices and the activities they will create and Horton will have the direct responsibility to raise those funds. He will conclude his 35-year tenure as Executive Director of the Tennessee PGA on October 31, 2007 and Tennessee Golf Association on January 1 and serve exclusively as the TGF President past that point.

Accepting Horton's former role as Executive Director of the Tennessee Section PGA will be Jeff Abbot. Abbot is currently the controller of the NHL's Columbus Blue Jackets, overseeing $65 million dollars of revenue for the professional hockey franchise. Prior to becoming controller he heading up a $4 million marketing and sales efforts for the Blue Jackets. Abbot's prior experience also includes four years as the Director of Operations of the Middle Atlantic PGA Section, one the largest and most successful Sections in the PGA of America. " I am excited to return to professional golf and look forward to building on the wonderful reputation of the Tennessee PGA. Golf House Tennessee and its cooperative culture is the model sought by every state and I look forward to serving Tennessee's 500 PGA professionals."

Matt Vanderpool has been promoted from Assistant Executive Director of the Tennessee Golf Association to its Executive Director. Vanderpool has been on staff at Golf House for 9 years and is recognized as a rules expert and superb championship director. The TGA will celebrate its centennial year in 2014 and now consists of both men's and women's amateur golf. Vanderpool will focus on delivering and creating more golf activity for our 37,000 golfers who have association golf handicaps at nearly 200 clubs and courses. "Accepting the leadership reigns of the TGA is something I always hoped might happen and I am ready to continue our wonderful tradition of service to our amateur golfers."

Steve Merrill has been promoted from Development Director of the Tennessee Golf Foundation to Senior Vice President of the Foundation. The eight-year Foundation veteran, who came to the Foundation after a senior marketing position with the National Basketball Association, will support Horton in all phases of the Foundation, including strategic planning and cooperative culture, fund raising, operations and personnel, junior golf, regional director implementation and direct supervision of The First Tee program in Nashville and its affiliates. "We have a very aggressive strategic plan to increase the number of golfers and rounds of golf across the State while giving youth an opportunity to learn from the games core values. I welcome the challenge and know that we will continue to be leaders and trend setters in the game."

Joe Taggert, 64, has been named Tournament Director of the Vinny, Vince Gill's Pro-Celebrity-Junior Amateur tournament that has raised over $4 million for Tennessee junior golf over the past 15 years. Joe replaces his wife, Bonnie, who is retiring on January 1. Taggert, the former COO of the Golf House Tennessee operation, will also assist Horton as a special projects advisor.