Loiodice: Wildcat Golf Club is a 36-hole upscale public golf club located in Houston, Texas, just south of downtown and five minutes from the Texas Medical Center and NRG Stadium, the home of the Houston Texans. Wildcat is one of the top tournament venues in the greater Houston area, with 150 charity, corporate and junior golf events hosted in 2023. We pride ourselves on our exceptional event coordination and operational follow-through.
I started at Wildcat in 2004 as the General Manager/Director of Golf and served in that role until the last day of 2008 when I purchased the club with my former boss and current partner, Elmer Stephens. Elmer had approached me that previous Thanksgiving and asked if I wanted to be his partner in the purchase of the club. I said, “I’d love to, but I don’t have any money.” He said, “I don’t either, but let’s do it.” We took out a couple of loans and closed the deal.
Understandably, my role changed at that point, from managing the golf shop, running golf tournaments and supervising outside services to overseeing income statements, cash flows, capital expenditures, property and health insurance, property taxes, budgeting/forecasting and on and on.
The most important part of a successful golf club is the team. The team runs the club, serves the customers and takes care of the golf course. Without a great team, you are not going to be successful. My role is to set the expectations and the tone for the team to follow and provide them with whatever it takes to meet those expectations.
Loiodice: After graduating from Stephen F. Austin State University in 1991 with a degree in Radio/TV and Journalism, I decided I wanted to get into the golf business. I loved golf, so once I graduated, I obtained an assistant pro position at The Club at Falcon Point in Katy, Texas. Don Willingham was the PGA of America Head Golf Professional, and Karl Ludeke was the PGA of America First Assistant. Both men had a huge impact on me and still do to this day.
In 1993 the journey turned to building and operating a driving range, then another range and then a lighted par three course in Kingwood, Texas. From there in 1999, I secured a position in the Club Corp Manager Training Program with the first stop being at the Golf Advantage School at Kingwood Country Club. All the range scenes at the U.S. Open in the movie “Tin Cup” were filmed there. I worked closely with Jim Phenicie, PGA, and learned so much about the golf swing. Jim is a multiple winner of the Southern Texas PGA (STPGA) Section Teacher of the Year award.
The next stop in 2000 was as general manager at Atascocita (TX) Country Club. While there, I contributed to a clubhouse renovation and the creation of the Clubs of Kingwood. Atascocita Country Club and the Deerwood Club were merged with the four courses at Kingwood Country Club to create the Clubs of Kingwood in 2001. In early 2002, I was promoted to the PGA of America Director of Golf for the Clubs of Kingwood - 117 holes of golf, 4,000 members, four golf shops, four driving ranges (one lighted) and a 3,000 square foot indoor teaching center. It was a big job, and the experience I gained there was instrumental in my personal growth as a Golf Professional/General Manager. I was then off to Wildcat in 2004.
Loiodice: I include the team in setting clearly defined, measurable goals with precise deadlines. Daily, weekly and monthly financial comparisons are utilized to evaluate any deficiencies and opportunities. The staff is constantly evaluated and decisions are made based on performance. Follow-up and accountability are the keys to achieving these goals.
We created a golf course improvement list that is discussed with our superintendent every day. In addition, I will drive the golf courses several days each week to share my feedback with our superintendent. I meet with our general manager multiple times daily to discuss any issues, planning, revenue projections, golf events, etc.
Loiodice: Wow! Covid changed the golf industry like nothing I have ever seen. As a result, our revenue increased 68 percent from 2019 to 2023. We have seen a more youthful and diverse customer base that goes hand in hand with the PGA Tour’s younger demographics. More young people are becoming interested in golf, along with more women. Golf is cool now!
Loiodice: Get involved. Serving on the STPGA Board of Directors from 2001-2006 was an unbelievable experience. Having the opportunity to work with and develop relationships with other like-minded PGA leaders was amazing. When I started, Mike Ray was the Executive Director of the STPGA and Paul Levy was the President - both are exceptional PGA of America Golf Professionals. I enjoyed the diversity of the board, as it was comprised of PGA pros from private, semi-private, daily fee and municipal clubs. What a great learning experience!
My advice is to never stop learning. I joined Pellucid Corp’s Golf Market Research Center (GMRC) a few years ago. It is outstanding for trends and analysis. I stay up-to-date on the PGA’s monthly rounds reports and read almost everything the NGF puts out. It is important for me to stay up-to-date with the industry, to be knowledgeable, to go to PGA meetings and seminars and to constantly improve myself.
Loiodice: I am a 30-year PGA member and have hired hundreds of employees. Our current GM Nick Viscardi was working in our grill part-time while finishing college. I saw something in him - work ethic, personable, genuine and organized - and hired him 12 years ago as our marketing/sales director and then promoted him to general manager six years ago. That is what it takes. You need to have the desire to be great, and you must work at it. Most people do not have that desire and/or work ethic, but you will need it to be a successful PGA of America General Manager.
Tim Loiodice, the 2004 Southern Texas PGA Section Eastern Chapter Youth Player Development Award Winner and 2023 Section Merchandiser of the Year for Public Facilities, is the PGA of America Co-Owner at Wildcat Golf Club in Houston, Texas. He is a Quarter Century PGA of America Member and was a member of the Southern Texas PGA Section Board of Directors from 2001 to 2006.