by David Chapman
Staff Writer
Consistency, loyalty and longevity.
Those are three characteristics most sports fans admire in their heroes, but business owners often seek those same attributes in the employees who help make their ventures successful.
Ted Hopkins has each of them and the sports background to boot.
Hopkins is celebrating his 30th year at Hidden Hills Country Club as the club’s head PGA professional and has become a fixture at the East Arlington club amid the changes to both the business and the game itself.
“The game has definitely become more business oriented,” said Hopkins. “Thirty years ago, the club heads mostly taught. Now you wear a few more hats.”
Aside from the golf hat, Hopkins and his staff have become more directly involved in the business and administrative sides of the game including accounting and tracking departments.
Hopkins began his golf foray with Hidden Hills even before he was hired as an assistant in 1979. Following graduation from Florida State University on a golf scholarship, he started as a PGA apprentice at the club in 1972 where he learned from several PGA professionals before deciding to try his hand in other ventures. After it all, he returned to the city and course where he got his start.
The enjoyment that comes from being involved in the game he’s loved has come with patience, too. He’s made it through several ownership and business philosophy changes at Hidden Hills during his career and learned from them all.
“That’s been one of the biggest challenges but it’s been satisfying to know they’ve all kept me,” said Hopkins.
To longtime friend and former Jacksonville Area Golf Association President Fred Seely, Hopkins’ tenure and accomplishments are just par for the course of an established career.
“He’s been great for that club, great for the players and great for the game in Northeast Florida,” said Seely. “I wish there were more guys out there like him.”
In an age when club professionals – much like employees of other industries – often leave for apparent greener pastures, Hopkins’ tenure is notable.
“When I first started, being with the same club for a long time was normal,” said Hopkins.
As competitive as it is on the course, it’s the same within the walls of the clubhouses across Northeast Florida courses, he said. More and more golf courses have sprouted up – especially in the south – in the last 30 years, bringing more choices for area golfers along with the greater emphasis on the bottom line, especially in the current economy.
“Things just don’t take care of themselves like they used to,” he said. “There’s more competition for the golfer who now expects more.”
Even so, Hopkins believes the game of today is better than the one he began in many years ago and he’s made many friends and developed great relationships along the way.
How many people has Hopkins seen walk through the doors and on to the course?
“I never really thought about it,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t have a clue, but it’s in the thousands.”
One of his biggest fans might be Russ Libby, Hidden Hills Country Club owner, who knows just how much work Hopkins has put in to the business over his career.
“In his position, you do have to wear a lot of hats and he’s always done that,” said Libby. “As a PGA professional you have to adapt to so many changes and he’s done that, too.”
Hidden Hills members and staff will recognize Hopkins and fellow club tennis professional Danny Cox – who’s celebrating 30 years himself – during a ceremony next Thursday, but Libby doesn’t want people to think the occasion is a farewell ceremony.
“No, no,” he said. “They’ve both had great careers and we hope they’’ll stay with us for many more years to come.”
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