Kevin Ashley
After an extensive, several month nationwide search, the owners of Valleybrook Golf and Country Club have hired a head golf professional to run the golf side of the historic social club undergoing redevelopment. Kevin Ashley, PGA, will run the golf operations at Valleybrook, overseeing membership, merchandising and the pro shop, tournaments, special events, golf instruction and golf staff.
Hiring a head pro was at the top of the list for the new owners who acquired Valleybrook back in May.
Following the closing, Jimmy White, owner of Valleybrook, recruited local golf operations icon Hunt Gilliland, PGA, out of retirement to serve as a consultant and lead the national search for a head golf professional. Mr. White said he knew bringing in a full-time pro would be a noticeable step in enhancing the Valleybrook golf experience; the club has not had professional leadership in over a decade and was once known as a top golf club in the Southeast.
“The right person. Kevin was just a natural fit for Valleybrook given his personality, servant leadership, growth mindset, and track record. Not only do we see him as the one who is really going to help us put Valleybrook golf back on the map, we also see this as a mutually beneficial opportunity where we support his career and provide him with a one-of-a-kind opportunity to use his creative ideas and strong skillset to help us refresh and strengthen the social experience here,” said Mr. White, owner of Valleybrook and Urban Story Ventures, the commercial real estate company leading the redevelopment of Valleybrook.
Mr. Ashley, a PGA Class A member who has been established in the local market since 2016, was selected for his "exceptional experience running operations for both semi-private and private clubs, his unmatched knowledge of and connections within the golf community and his shared vision for revamping the golf and membership experience."
“It’s exciting to be here at such a turning point for Valleybrook, which is already so beloved by the members and surrounding community. I’m ready to dive in and really connect with our existing membership base and figure out how we can better serve them now and also how we make plans to benefit the next generation of members,” said Mr. Ashley. “I appreciate Jimmy and the Valleybrook ownership for giving me the opportunity to be a part of such a meaningful development in our golf community.”
Mr. Ashley, a 2022 and 2023 nominee for PGA Chapter and Section Pro of the Year, previously served as head golf professional at Creeks Bend Golf Club and Moccasin Bend Golf Club, as well as assistant golf professional at The Lookout Mountain Club. He holds an associate degree in business and golf complex operations management from the Golf Academy of America and is a certified club fitter for Ping and Titleist. Mr. Ashley is also PGA Coach Certified and has built a track record of success with junior golf programming.
Valleybrook owners and Mr. Ashley will immediately begin working on their short and long-term plans for growing the membership base, creating additional membership benefits, better serving women and junior golfers, and redeveloping the pro shop, they said.