Michael named GM of Newport golf club

BY MARY HENKEL JUDSON SOUTH JETTY EDITOR

Kevin Michael has been named general manager of Newport Dunes and Golf Club, an Arnold Palmer Signature links-style golf course. Michael was selected for the position by KemperSports, the firm that is managing the golf club.

Michael said a "soft" opening of the course, on the south end of Port Aransas between Beach Access Road 1A and 1, is scheduled for early September. An invitation-only grand opening celebration with golf legend Arnold Palmer will be held in October. Golf has been a part of Michael's life since birth, since his father was in the golf business.

Michael played golf for Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, which is where he earned his MBA in accounting. He spent seven years in Little Rock, Ark., as an accountant for KPG, then went into private accounting as comptroller for a golf club. A member of the PGA (Professional Golfers' Association of America) since 1995, he moved to

Texas where he has been involved in the opening of three courses, with Newport his fourth. The other courses are in the Dallas market. They are Buffalo Creek Golf Course in Rockwall, Castle Hills Golf Club in Lewisville where Michael was general manager, and Cowboys Golf Club in Grapevine, which was ranked in the Top 10 in Customer Service in America by Zagat, a national hospitality industry ranking enterprise.

Michael and a partner started Four-Star Service, a company that provides online customer service training for golf club/course staff. He wrote the training software.

Married to Debbie, an accountant, Michael has two sons, Ellis, 15, and Jonas, 12, who spend summers and holidays with him.

KemperSports, which Michael considers the top golf course management company in the country, "has the opportunities and resources second to none," he said.

Michael made an onsite visit to the course in June, "and that did it. It is a unique course, and I fell in love with the team," Michael said.

Newport will staff the course with two assistant golf pros, shop staff and food and beverage service staff. Six to seven employees will staff the golf and marketing areas, seven to 11 will be employed in the food and beverage area, and eight to 15 employees will handle the outside service that includes golf carts, driving range, etc.

Michael said he hopes to be fully staffed by Aug. 20. Noting the generous fairways that average 75 yards in width, Michael said, "It's a playable course. You don't have to be a 'scratch' golfer to play it."

In addition to amenities such as mango-iced towels, the course will offer beginner clinics. Five sets of tees will accommodate any skill and age level, Michael said.

Green fees are categorized and include standard, senior, junior, military and twilight rates that experts say range from a high of $90 for holidays to a low of $50 for juniors (under 18) Monday through Thursday.

Weekend (Saturday and Sunday) green fees range from a high of $85 to a low of $70 for seniors and juniors, and $60 for the twilight rate. Rates will be adjusted after the first of the new year.

For more information on the course, go to www.newportdunesgolf.com.