Head Professional - "It is more than golf."

Sonnenalp Golf Resort
Vail, Colorado
Part 1

by Anthony Scaggs
Golf Clubs, Golf Resorts, Golf Courses

Golf resorts, like people, come in all shapes and sizes as well as difficulty. Some of the common threads in successful golf courses is the relationship between the staff and the membership or guest. Generally, the professionalism and attitude of the staff flows from the top down. The Head Professional at Sonnenalp is Doug Wall. The entire staff personifies his energy, professionalism and positive attitude.

Doug, a graduate of Vanderbilt University, heard the call of Alger Hess' Horace Greeley and as a young man, headed west. While deciding the course of his career, he came to Colorado to ski. As with many successful careers, he was in the right place at the right time. Doug's golf career literally started from the ground up. He began at the range, then handling bags and finally in 1995 when Mike Steiner - the previous Head Professional - left, Doug became the Head Professional. While working his way up to Head Professional, he spent his winters working for Golf Digest in Florida and Arizona.

At the Sonnenalp Golf Resort, the Head Professional is in charge of golf operations such as retail, tee times, groups, teaching times and the golf staff. The retail store bespeaks the style of the Pro Staff. It is bright, inviting and ready to serve the guest. The merchandize in the Pro Shop represents a variety of men's and ladies fashions such as Tehama, Polo, Byron Nelson and E. Magrath. These high quality fabrics are moderately priced.