Interview With JT Thompson PGA/Head Golf Professional Bullseye Golf Club
A Light Hearted Golf Q & A Interview
By Brian Weis
Below is an interview with JT Thompson, the PGA/Head Golf Professional at Bullseye Golf Club. The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.
Can you provide our readers a brief biography?
I have been fortunate to work as a golf professional and General manager over the last 17 years. I have held GM roles in the private club industry at Deer Park CC in North Central Illinois & Stevens Point CC in Central Wisconsin. I have had head professional roles at Greenwood Hills CC in Wausau, Wi, Lacoma Golf Club a 45-hole public facility in East Dubuque, Il & Pine Valley Golf Course in Wausau. My PGA apprentice training included working for storied Marriott Hotels Golf Management Division in Orlando, FL, Minocqua Country Club in Wisconsin and Valparaiso Country Club in Indiana. I have recently attained PGA Certification in General Management and have completed certification as Callaway Master Fitter & as a Certified US Kids Golf Coach!
When did you start golfing and who introduced you to the game?
I was exposed to the game at age 5 or 6 and friends of my parents who were big golfers used to take me to the golf course (parents never played golf). At age 8 my parents took over operations of a supper club attached to public golf course & we lived above the restaurant less than 40 yards from the 1st tee.
What is your current home course?
Bullseye Golf Club in Wisconsin Rapids,WI
To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
I have a couple;
1. 2006 Illinois Junior Golf Player of the year
2. Played Division 1 Golf at Loyola University Chicago
3.Being a Certified PGA member (less than 7% of PGA members accomplish this distinction)
4.Holding the course record at Pine Valley Golf Course in Wausau, WI score of 64 since been tied
What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
Slow Play
What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
Honestly no favorite...None of them work quite like they used to.
What is your favorite golf destination?
Arcadia Bluffs in Michigan coupled with a round at Crystal Down (one the elite private club in the country) just down road from Arcadia. Have been fortunate to do that trip twice.
Followed closely by the the UP of Michigan Greywalls/Sweetgrass/Timberstone
What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
Milwaukee Country Club
If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
National Golf Links of America Long Island, NY
If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
Single rider carts or scooters for all players...Helps pace of Play & the scooters are blast to play golf on!
Dream foursome (living)?
My UP of Michigan trip buddies & throw in Tigerwoods the perfect 5 some!
Dream foursome (living or dead)?
If I choose some pros I would go with Kevin kisner/Tiger Woods/Max Homa
Favorite 19th hole drink?
Crown Royal & Diet Coke
18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions
1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Long Putt
2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
Round of Life...Hole in ones are pure luck
3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Both
4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power Fade
5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Beverage Cart
6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Bathroom
7) Hot dog OR wrap?
Hot Dog
8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Sand
9) Walking OR riding?
Depends on the day
10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Hybrid
11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Long Par 5
12) Pants OR Shorts?
Shorts
13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Neither
14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Dave Matthews
15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Money
16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Bump it
17) Lay up OR gamble?
Gamble
18) 18 holes OR 36?
Either, but I am one that enjoys 9 holes too
Revised: 03/25/2020 - Article Viewed 22,686 Times
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About: Brian Weis
Brian Weis is the Publisher of GolfTrips.com, a network of golf travel and directory sites including GolfWisconsin.com, GolfMichigan.com, ArizonaGolfer.com, GolfAlabama.com, etc. Professionally, Brian is a member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA) and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG). In 2016, Brian won The Shaheen Cup, an award given to a golf travel writer by his peers.
All of his life, Brian has been around the game of golf. As a youngster, Brian competed at all levels in junior and high school golf. Brian had a zero chance for a college golf scholarship, so he worked on the grounds crew at West Bend Country Club to pay for his University of Wisconsin education. In his adult years, his passion for the game collided with his entrepreneurial spirit and in 2004 launched GolfWisconsin.com. In 2007, the idea for a network of local golf directory sites formed and GolfTrips.com was born. Today, the network consists of a site in all 50 states supported by national sites like GolfTrips.com, GolfGuide.com and GolfPackages.com. It is an understatement to say, Brian is passionate about promoting golf and golf travel on a local, regional, national and international level.
On the golf course, Brian is known as a fierce weekend warrior that fluctuates between a 5-9 handicap. With a soft fade, known as "The Weis Slice", and booming 300+ drives, he can blast it out of bounds with the best of them.
Contact Brian Weis:
GolfTrips.com - Publisher and Golf Traveler
262-255-7600