by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Thirteen years ago, long-time City League softball player Jack Garnett told his teammates that the upcoming season was his last.
They laughed.
Then, he told them he was retiring from softball to take up golf.
They laughed harder.
Today, Garnett gets the last laugh. Not only is he an 11-handicap golfer, he is the 2002 Players Championship chairman.
Garnett was elected by the ”red coats” — the tournament’s former chairmen — at a breakfast during the tournament.
When he decided to take up golf, Garnett received guidance from an expert.
“I started with Boots Farley at Jacksonville Beach,” said Garnett, a member at Queen’s Harbour. “After I retired from softball, the next week I spent $500 on everything — clubs, balls, bag, shoes. I paid for six lessons from Boots and never looked back.”
Garnett is the first to admit he doesn’t get on the course as often as he’d like anymore. Having a wife, kids and a business to run can cut into anyone’s tee times.
While Garnett the softball player is no more, Garnett the good athlete lives on. Growing up playing a variety of sports is one of the reasons Garnett thinks he picked up the game relatively quickly. Now, if he could just sneak out more often, his handicap may dip back into single digits.
Having the ability and time to spend a week at The Players is a direct result of a career decision Garnett made a couple of years ago. In becoming his own boss, Garnett walked away from what most folks would consider the opportunity of a lifetime.
“I was at Regency Realty for 10 years,” said Garnett. “They wanted to promote me to vice president and put me on salary. I told them, I’m just a salesman. I’m used to making a commission.”
With that said, Garnett took his 15 years of real estate experience and left behind job security and guaranteed income for the chances that come with being self-employed.
“I realized it was time to start my own firm. So, I took my chances two years ago,” said Garnett. “So far, it’s going extremely well.”
Consider the leap of faith worth it. Today, Garnett has a Regency Square-area based office with properties all over Jacksonville.
Being self-employed makes running The Players a little easier for Garnett. In addition to being a pretty good golfer, Garnett’s interest in the game extends beyond tee times and divots.
His devotion to the game helps explain why he has spent the past 15 years volunteering at The Players Championship along with 1,500 others. Garnett, who owns Garnett Commercial Real Estate, Inc., was first exposed to The Players in 1987 by then-chairman and boss Bob Olsen.
Like every other chairman before him, and the ones to come, Garnett has paid his dues.
“I’ve done all the jobs,” he said. “I’ve picked up trash, parked cars, worked the practice area, worked in transportation with all the Buicks [the official car of the PGA Tour], even first aid.
“I’ve made it my goal to learn about the tournament and do different things. And, I’ve enjoyed it all. But, I enjoy the people more than anything.”
Garnett has learned many things over his 15-year association. He’s also learned that being a volunteer for golf’s “Fifth Major” is a lot of work and makes the real world look simple in comparison.
“I get to the tournament a little before six every morning and leave about 8:30 at night,” said Garnett. “But, it’s a labor of love. Thursday and Friday are very long because we have a full field. There is play from dawn to dusk.”
With the field cut in half for the final two days, it would stand to reason Garnett could sleep in a little, especially since play doesn’t start until about 9:30 a.m. to accommodate network television.
Think again.
“I got here about the same time. There’s always something to set up,” said Garnett.