In an industry of “how big can you go,” municipal nine-hole facilities serve an increasingly important role. As is the case at larger facilities, the relationship between the general manager and the golf course superintendent is vital at these classic courses.
We recently caught up with Jeffrey Dunovant, the PGA of America General Manager at the John A. White Golf Course in Atlanta, Georgia. This nine-hole public gem is the type of facility that golf needs more of, and the same can be said of the man who manages all aspects of it. In chatting for this piece, Dunovant discussed his background, the facility and the important relationship he maintains with his superintendent Nathaniel Arndt.
The John A. White Golf Course features a regulation par-35 course that's quick, fun, fair and challenging. This slice of city golf has been around since 1929, and thanks to Billy Fuller and Bob Cupp's renovations in 1999 and more recent upgrades to the bunkers and greens in 2022, John A. White is now an enhanced must-play for golfers visiting the Atlanta area.
Conveniently located about seven miles from downtown, many diehards and newbies sneak in a quick round after work or head to the full practice facility to work on their games. It's a fantastic spot for golfers of all levels, and a round can be completed in just about two hours. The state-of-the-art practice facilities at John A. White include a driving range, a short game area and putting greens.
“Our facility is owned by the City of Atlanta, Fulton County Recreation Authority. We will begin building a new 22,000-square-foot clubhouse and many new upgrades to our current practice facility in the next couple of weeks. We are all very excited about what’s to come,” shared Dunovant.
Jeffrey Dunovant was born in High Point, North Carolina, spent most of his early childhood in the Bronx, New York and graduated from West Carrollton High School, a suburb of Dayton, Ohio. He played football and basketball in high school, but his true passion was golf. His father, Harold, was an African-American pioneer in golf and one of the first Black men to earn his PGA of America membership.
In 1983, Jeff Dunovant accepted a scholarship offer from Fayetteville State University. During his tenure as a Bronco, the team won two consecutive CIAA championships. He earned First Team All-CIAA honors for four consecutive years and was named team captain in 1987, also receiving MVP honors.
In 1987, the National Minority Collegiate Championship, now known as the PGA Works Championship, was created for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). That same year, Dunovant was recognized as a National Minority Collegiate Championship All-American.
He earned his PGA of America membership in 1993, making him and his father the first Black father and son to hold PGA membership. They also distinguish themselves as the first and only Black father and son "Quarter Century Members" of the PGA.
“My PGA journey started at a very young age because my father was a PGA of America Golf Professional,” Dunovant boasts. “So, I watched him be a proud PGA member. That was the start of my journey, and I became a PGA associate working under my father's guidance.”
In addition to his GM duties at John A. White Golf Course, he is also the Chairman and President of the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, which his late father established in 1986. He has served on the Boards of Directors for the Southwest and Georgia PGA Sections, is a National PGA Jr. League Golf Committee member and is a First Tee National Trainer.
Dunovant has earned numerous honors and accolades as a PGA member, including multiple Section and Chapter Youth Player Development Awards, a Section Merchandiser of the Year Award for Public Facilities and in 2021, the Georgia PGA President's Award.
He’s been coaching the Drew Charter High School golf team since its inception in 2015 and led the team to victory in the 2019 Georgia High School State Golf Championship, making history as the first school in the country to win a state golf championship with all Black players and coaches.
The relationship between a golf course's GM and its superintendent is crucial to its success. While the general manager oversees the overall operation, financial health of the course, member satisfaction and revenue generation, the golf course superintendent is responsible for the maintenance and aesthetic quality of the course itself. A successful overall operation requires both aspects to be in tune.
"My Superintendent, Nathaniel Arndt, is critical to our success at John A. White Golf Course. Nathaniel and I work closely together, and he is instrumental in our having a quality product for all who play and practice at our course," Dunovant explained.
Effective communication between these two vital positions is one of the most important at any facility. The superintendent must articulate the needs and challenges of maintaining the course, such as budgetary constraints and seasonal issues. At the same time, the general manager should advocate for the necessary resources to keep the course in top condition. Together, they work to create a seamless experience for golfers, ensuring the course remains competitive and appealing. This partnership fosters a shared commitment to excellence, allowing them to address challenges collaboratively and maintain the highest standards for both the course and its players.
"Nathaniel and I speak multiple times every day. Obviously, for any golf facility, the course must be in the best shape it can be, and a significant part of my job as the general manager is to make sure he has the tools to do just that."