It’s 987 miles from Clay Myers’ hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, to West Palm Beach, Florida, where he works as the PGA of America Head Golf Professional at The Park. However, it took him what has seemed like millions of miles, almost two decades and multiple plot turns reminiscent of only the most gripping novels.
Myers grew up wanting to become a professional golfer. But based on the odds, he knew it wouldn’t be easy.
His first career path detour to a possible playing career came at the 2011 PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, where the Jackson State University golf team member had a chance meeting with the club’s General Manager, Bill Cioffoletti, PGA. The GM’s message was simple: “He talked to me about becoming a PGA Member. I gave it some serious consideration,” recalls Myers.
Just not right away.
Myers wanted to chase a career that involved chasing the little white ball, spending the next six years trying to make a living at it. He earned quick success by qualifying for the 2012 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club in Colorado. Myers spent the next five years playing professionally on tours most golf fans didn’t know existed. His passport was more full than his bank account.
He received a sponsor exemption into the PGA TOUR’s FedEx St. Jude Championship in 2015, but shot rounds of 81-84 to miss the cut in front of his hometown fans.
“It was embarrassing, and it took a toll on me,” Myers says.
By 2018, he knew it was time for a career mulligan. Through his Memphis First Tee connections to Chuck Walker, a founder at First Tee Dallas, Myers started working at the Dallas chapter and gained valuable experience while still playing in mini-tour events.
He registered for the PGA’s Playing Ability Test and shot 5-under at Dallas’ Cedar Crest Country Club. Soon after, Myers was hired at the course that hosted the 1927 PGA Championship.
He then took another job at nearby Irving Golf Course to continue earning his PGA chops, followed by two years at The Clubs of Prestonwood, where he was elected to PGA of America Membership.
Fate played a role when Myers met Cody Sinkler, PGA, at the 2021 PGA Show in Orlando. Both were involved with PGA LEAD to further their careers. Sinkler was working at the time at The Club at Quail Ridge in Boynton Beach, Florida.
“Clay seemed very motivated to continue pushing his career forward,” Sinkler says.
In July 2022, Sinkler was named Director of Golf at The Park, where former PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh helped raise more than $40 million from community leaders to revive West Palm Beach Country Club after it had been closed three years prior.
Waugh convinced architect Gil Hanse and partner Jim Wagner to build an 18-hole championship course, as well as a nine-hole lighted facility and an 18-hole putting green.
Sinkler’s hiring as Director of Golf proved to be wonderful news for Myers. “I think I was the first call he made,” says Myers, who last visited the area while appearing in Season 23 of Golf Channel’s “Big Break: The Palm Beaches.”
“I wanted to hire the best person for the role,” says Sinkler. “I wasn’t just going to give it to someone I liked. He resonated with everything we were trying to do here at The Park.”
It took Myers about two seconds to accept the job at the end of 2022.
“As soon as I started doing research and found out it was going to be a non-profit to give back to the community … this is where I wanted to be,” points out Myers.
My wife Kristen was incredible in allowing me to move to West Palm when we both had great jobs in Dallas.”
Now 36, Myers enjoyed his full-circle moment when The Park hosted the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship in early May. This was the event 15 years ago where he first thought about becoming a PGA of America Golf Professional. No doubt he saw younger versions of himself when he served as a starter for the three-day championship.
“It was really cool to be the Head Professional at the golf course that hosted the PGA WORKS,” Myers says. “A lot of kids asked me about opportunities. I was glad I was there to show them what you can do to be in golf besides playing golf.”
Adds Sinkler, “This year’s PGA WORKS looked like a very proud moment for Clay.”
With more to come. —Craig Dolch
