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Jody Niemann
LAS VEGAS
PHOTOS COURTESY JODY NIEMANN AND ROYAL LINKS GOLF CLUB
t’s all about making people feel welcome “Instead of the sport feeling very snooty
Ifor Royal Links Golf Club general man- and elitist, I want people to come here
ager Jody Niemann, who is the first-ever and have the same feeling I had when I
female general manager at a Las Vegas golf walked into the clubhouse as a little girl,”
course. It’s kind of a stunner for Niemann Niemann recently told the Las Vegas Sun.
to think that this year marked the first time “I want people to feel welcome, because if
a female has overseen a golf course, but I wouldn’t have, then I would have never
she’s proud to be the one and is inspired by played, and who knows where I’d be.”
her fellow ladies of golf. Niemann also believes there are growth
“When I think about women in golf in opportunities for the game by embracing
Southern Nevada, I think about a group of non-traditional ideas and bringing them
ladies who continue to challenge them- to the golf course. In her first few months
selves and have a don’t quit attitude,” Nie- on the job, she has worked to bring unique
mann says. “They keep reaching for the top events to the course and the future includes
of their profession and remain involved in a combination drone and golf event and
the game because they have a passion for a military fitness/golf training program,
it. For me, that’s what it comes down to; I among other ideas.
just have a huge passion for golf and I love “It’s been a learning experience since I
everything about it and I think that is the became the general manager and I think
same for the other ladies.” I have learned as much about myself as I
Niemann is a graduate of Arizona have about the industry,” Niemann says.
State University and team member of two “Some of what I have learned is that we
NCAA Team Championships. Individually have a responsibility to help grow the game
she is a USGA Public Links Champion and played for three years on and reach out to people who may not “speak golf” or be true golfers
the LPGA Tour and also coached for six years at the division one level. and introduce them to the sport through different events that you may
She donates a lot of time to charity events, where she routinely hits not expect to happen at a golf course. I want golf to be fun and interac-
drives of 270 yards for her stunned male playing partners. tive, and I am very excited to create non-traditional golf events while
Niemann took over at Royal Links late in 2017 and is not only trying still honoring the things that make golf great.”
new ideas at the course, but she is hoping they catch on in the entire
industry.
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