Interview With Todd A. King, PGA Professional/GM, Deer Valley Lodge & Golf

Below is an interview with Todd A. King the PGA Professional and General Manager at Deer Valley Lodge & Golf. He started in the golf business by flipping burgers and serving Pepsi at Odana Hills in Madison when he was in college and worked his way up to shop assistant the first year. He entered the PGA Program after college and attained PGA Membership in 1998.

Hired as the Head PGA Professional at Deer Valley in 1999, promoted to Director of Golf in 2003 and then Facility GM after the opening of Deer Valley Lodge in 2006.

The following are a few traditional and non traditional golf centric questions that I love to ask influential people in the golf industry.

When did you start golfing and who introduced you do the game?
I introduced myself to the game at the age of 18 during my senior year in high school. I played almost every other sport growing up and golf filled a void after my high school athletic career ended. I became engrossed in the game.

After I started to play more, PGA Member Tom Benson from Odana Hills spent a lot of time with me teaching me about the game, the golf swing and how to compete on the golf course. He introduced me to a higher level of the game than I ever could have found on my own.

What is your current home course?
Deer Valley Golf Club

To date, what is your proudest golf accomplishment?
In golf it was shooting a 67 at the Special Projects Pro-Am at Odana Hills to win the Low Pro event (my first real check as a professional) and being congratulated by Larry Tiziani, who I had always respected but I didn't think he knew who I was.

Industry-wise it was to oversee the opening and the success of a brand new golf course followed by the construction and opening of a hotel and indoor waterpark onsite, you can't buy an education like that!

What is your biggest golf pet peeve on or off the course?
Golfers that don't mark their ball when it is someone else's turn to putt.

What is your favorite club in your bag and why?
Putter first followed closely by driver and sand wedge, clubs that you really develop a relationship and trust with.

What is your favorite golf destination?
Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail- so many wonderful courses!

What course is on your bucket list that you have not played yet?
Definitely Pebble Beach, I have a better chance of playing there than Augusta.

If you woke up tomorrow and could play one course you played before, where would you play?
I would choose The River Course at Blackwolf Run, I have only played in once and it left an indelible impression.

If you could change one aspect, rule or thing about golf, what would it be and why?
Rule 4-4 Maximum of 14 clubs, who wouldn't want to add another wedge or hybrid.

Dream foursome (living)?
I would like to play with Fred Couples, Greg Norman and Nick Price. That would be a fun match but I would definitely need strokes and Fred as my partner.

Dream foursome (living or dead)?
Chevy Chase, Bill Murray and Ted Knight - need I say more?

18 Rapid Fire, Off The Cuff Questions

1) Hitting Long Drive OR Sinking Long Putt?
Long Putt, nothing like watching your opponent grimace.

2) Having Round of Life OR Hole in One?
A round of my life, it lasts longer.

3) Golfing at the crack of dawn OR twilight?
Crack of dawn, I never play as well in the morning but the morning air is invigorating.

4) Hit a power fade OR power draw?
Power draw, but if baby fade was an option I would pick that.

5) Beverage cart OR halfway house?
Beverage cart, you only see the halfway house once.

6) Bathroom OR bushes?
Bushes if the course isn't crowded.

7) Hot dog OR wrap?
No beer choice? I pick wrap.

8) Around the green, being in sand OR thick rough?
Sand please!

9) Walking OR riding?
Riding, lots of places to put "stuff".

10) Do you carry traditional 3 iron OR hybrid?
Both

11) Do you prefer long par 3 OR long par 5?
Long par 3

12) Pants OR Shorts?
Shorts when recreating and pants when working

13) Palmer OR Nicklaus?
Jack!

14) Beatles OR Elvis?
Elvis and its not even close.

15) Play for fun OR play for money?
Play for fun? Does not compute....

16) Bump and run OR flop shot?
Bump and run, less time in the air is better around the greens.

17) Lay up OR gamble?
Gamble, what is worse than trying to lay up and still hitting it in the water.

18) 18 holes OR 36?
36, but I only get to do that about once every two years.