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John S. Wait,
President, Sirius Golf Advisors, LLC
Unlike most golf course
consultants and managers, Mr. Wait did not grow up in golf, but came
into the golf industry after being a successful businessman and
marketing consultant. His varied background has proven an asset in
golf course evaluations as he has been able to transfer what he has
learned in the non-golf world and successfully apply it to golf.
This is in opposition to many of today's golf managers and
consultants who lack outside experience and whose "hands-on
training" came when golf was in such high demand that almost all
golf operations were successful, no matter how poorly they were run
and without any marketing expertise. His insight and expertise have
made him one of golf's most sought after analysts.
John graduated in three
years from the University of Kansas with Honors and a double major.
He received his Master's Degree from KU in 1978. In 1980, John
founded Encore Copy Corps in Lawrence, Kansas. Encore was a unique
company which received acclaim for its innovative services that
combined copying, binding and the new (at that time) field of word
processing services. John was also recognized for his creative and
effective advertising program. In 1982, John joined Scriptomatic, an
international manufacturer of addressing equipment. He quickly rose
from District Manager to National Marketing Manager. When the
company was sold and new management was hired, John moved to Durham,
North Carolina. In 1985, John formed IBS Mail Marketing. IBS
provided comprehensive marketing services that included market
research, creating marketing strategies, graphic design, printing,
data services, mailing services and fulfillment services. IBS had to
relocate three times in four years to handle its rapid growth and
its eventual 21 employees. In 1989, John sold IBS. With a
non-compete agreement that kept him from the marketing industry,
John began a career in financial services, specializing in working
with small businesses. When the non-compete expired, he began doing
marketing consulting. Recognizing a need in the golf industry, John
began to work with area golf facilities in improving their
marketing. In 1994, John joined Club Development Properties, a golf
course development company, as Director of Marketing where he
provided both marketing and financial analysis expertise. In 1995,
John formed Sirius Golf Advisors. Sirius performed market
feasibility studies for both golf courses and the accompanying real
estate development as well as marketing and business consulting to
existing operations. In addition to his work with Sirius, John has
managed four courses, two daily fee and two private. He has worked
as a subcontractor for several other consulting companies, including
Signet Golf Associates, American ClubServ and the National Golf
Foundation (NGF). John actually became a full-time consultant for
NGF before returning to Sirius. As of this writing, John has
conducted over 50 feasibility studies, over a twenty operational
evaluations as well as working with numerous courses on improving
their marketing and/or operating efficiency. John is also a licensed
real estate broker who has experience in residential sales as well
as in selling golf courses.
Contact:
jwait@siriusgolf.com
Steve Stramm
Golf Operations, Golf Course Sales
Steve Stramm started his
career in the golf industry at the TPC Sawgrass. Starting in outside
operations, Steve quickly worked his way up to Assistant Golf
Professional. Among his duties as golf professional, Steve was
charged with the recruiting process for outside operations (staffed
by college graduates), scheduling the golf shop staff, as well as
managing a six-figure merchandising location during THE PLAYERS
Championship. From the TPC, Steve moved on to the PGA TOUR, where he
worked as a tournament official on the PGA TOUR, Nike Tour, and
Senior PGA Tour. In this capacity, he worked with local tournament
volunteer leaders to coordinate event scoring, managed the TOUR's
national on-site promotional events, and served as on-site liaison
for the TOUR's marketing partners. Steve then embarked on an
entrepreneurial effort, leaving the TOUR to co-found a golf
entertainment company called IronTee. As a start-up enterprise,
Steve was involved in every aspect of the organization from product
development to fundraising to staffing to daily operations. The
company was able to generate $500,000 in start-up capital, launch
IronTee.com, and offer promotional scorecard products in golf shops
across several states, but ultimately failed two years later due to
lack of funding. Steve then left the golf industry for Naylor
Publications, a publishing firm specializing in trade association
publications. There he held a position as Publisher, responsible for
new business development while maintaining and servicing a client
list of over 100 trade associations, representing approximately $6.5
million in annual revenues. After five years in this position, Steve
realized how he missed the golf industry, and was fortunate to come
across Sirius Golf Advisors and John Wait.
Contact:
steves@siriusgolf.com
Jim Faubion, Associate
Head Agronomist
Jim received a BS Degree
in Agronomy and an MS in Turf Management from Texas A & M University
and served on the staff of Texas A & M staff for two years.
He joined ClubCorp International in 1964 and served in several
capacities including:
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Golf Course Superintendent
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Regional Golf Course
Superintendent
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Director of Golf Course
Design and Construction Management
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Director of Golf
Operations and Chief of Staff of Operations
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Senior Regional Golf
Course Superintendent
As Chief of Staff, Jim's
responsibilities included coordination of the Corporate Advisory
staff including:
In 1990, Jim formed
ClubCorp's consulting division, serving as President through 1993
and Chairman through 1997. The Consulting group's purpose was to
provide development and management consulting for owners and
developers of clubs and resorts worldwide.
Jim served as ad visor to Club Corp's Operations and New Business
Groups on golf course issues including Design, Construction and
Management from 1997-2004. In December 2004 he formed his own
company, ClubSource, LLC, which provides Golf Course Construction,
Management and Placement services to the Golf Club Industry.
Contact:
jfaubion@siriusgolf.com
Peter Dejak, Associate
Agronomist
Peter
serves as President of Construction and Agronomy for Signet Golf
Associates and has seventeen years experience in managing a variety
of golf course developments and maintenance operations in the
South-East. Responsibilities have included complete construction of
seven golf courses, a wide variety of renovation work and overseeing
course maintenance operations. In 1989, he joined Club Development
Associates, where as Director of Construction and Course
Maintenance, he supervised multiple course operations. Experience as
a golf course superintendent and golf course construction contractor
has allowed Peter to anticipate operational needs of the golf course
during the development phase. He left CDA in February, 1996 to form
Signet Golf Associates. Peter is a graduate of the Penn State School
of Turfgrass Management, with "Highest Distinction". Peter has among
his credentials working at Augusta National where he learned from
the best. He lives in Southern Pines with his wife and three
children.
Contact: Pdejak@siriusgolf.com
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