ISSUE 006
Employee Spotlight
Reagan Kingsley
MARKETING & COMMS DIRECTOR
If Southern Hills ’ staff elected a Homecoming King , Reagan Kingsley would be hard to beat . Reagan is loved by members and colleagues alike because of his award-winning smile , unwavering positivity and character beyond reproach . Whether you ’ re a member having dinner in the Members ’ Lounge when Reagan visits your table , or you ’ re a club manager who Reagan sits next to at a meeting , he gives you the feeling that he is as happy to see you as you are to see him . Reagan is proudly Tulsa-born and raised , as passionate about our great city as he is about our great Club . Truly our Club culture personified , Reagan says , “ It ’ s Southern Hills or bust for me .”
Reagan graduated Oral Roberts University ’ s Marketing program in 2017 . Although you might likely expect he was hired through a networking referral , we were actually just fortunate he answered our job board ad for a Marketing Manager in November 2019 . Reagan was “ baptized by fire ” so to speak when he was instrumental in helping the club navigate the pandemic in 2020 , the Senior PGA in 2021 , and the PGA Championship in 2022 in rapid succession .
In summer 2020 , Reagan recalls playing golf on the Champ and struggling to walk up the hill on 18 . He had always been active in sports , but had difficulty controlling his diet . He says , “ There ’ s always amazing food available at Southern Hills , but I had to learn that just because I can eat it , doesn ’ t mean I should .” Reagan ’ s subsequent New Year ’ s resolution was to take control of his diet and exercise . He joined a 60-day weight loss and fitness competition at his gym , and his journey began . He lost 40 pounds by following a Keto diet , fasting intermittently , and committing to long , fat-burning cardio workouts . He was a national finalist in the competition . Today , Reagan has lost over 100 pounds since he began . With help from Cameron Chhim , who kept pace for Reagan throughout the Route 66 race , he finished his first half marathon in November 2021 . Then , when IRONMAN Group announced plans to host an IRONMAN Triathlon in Tulsa , Reagan set his sights on completing the 70.3- mile half triathlon . Working at Dry Gulch summer youth camp for 10 summers throughout high school and college , Reagan
became a competent swimmer . He had also purchased a road bike during COVID and had begun developing an interest in cycling , particularly as he started to meet members who were cycling enthusiasts . He remembers when he began cycling feeling proud of himself for riding 7.5 miles to his parents ’ house . Present day , he sometimes runs the 15-mile round trip to his parents ’ house !
In May 2023 , Reagan completed the half IRONMAN in Tulsa . He was moved by Southern Hills members and office staff , who came out to cheer for him along his route . That evening , he celebrated his accomplishment with friends at the Gathering Place and watched the full IRONMAN competitors as they persevered through their 140.6-mile challenges . There , Reagan had his first thoughts about the possibility of competing in a full IRONMAN .
Months later , out of the blue , Reagan ’ s friend , Hudson , texted him a link to the March 2024 IRONMAN New Zealand page . Reagan responded , without proper consideration , “ If you do this , I will .” They registered in September 2023 and began to work the rigorous training regimen .
Before flying 16 hours to the other side of the world to compete in the full IRONMAN last month , Reagan averaged 15 – 18 hours per week of cardio exercise to prepare for the triathlon . During his training peak in February , he was spending 10 hours per week on his bike , six hours on foot , and three hours in the pool . Reagan says , “ A triathlon is an individual sport , but an entire community made up of Southern Hills , my church , and my family pushed me along . While I was training , I received tips from members about everything from their own IRONMAN experiences , to how to prepare for anything and everything that could possibly go wrong with my equipment or travel . Members supported me in every way , ranging from letting me borrow gear to upgrading my flight !”
Reagan ’ s IRONMAN was the 40th anniversary race for host city Taupo , New Zealand , second only to Kona , Hawaii in terms of longestrunning hosting tradition . The race began with a mass cannon start . Reagan ’ s 2.4-mile swim took place in 20 MPH wind gusts , resulting in oceanic waves . Reagan remembers seeing rescue boats while he swam , pulling competitors who were overwhelmed by the waves out of the water . He finished his swim leg in one hour 28 minutes .