KC Golf News
Curt Nelson Retires after 26 Years
Editorial and Photography by Alan Hoskins, Feature Writer
OP26 at Overland Park Golf Courses
Taking Sykes-Lady and St. Andrews to record highs in rounds, revenue, and jobs.
Curt Nelson didn’ t have enough experience when he first applied at St. Andrews Golf Club, but he tried a second time, and boy, did it pay off for the City of Overland Park. After 26 years, Nelson retired at the end of the 2024 season, passing the Director of Golf Operations reins to Jennifer Walker, PGA. pro and general manager at Grand Summit Golf & Country Club) and five years as head pro at Storm Lake Country Club in Iowa.
However, with Takes moving up to head pro, an assistant’ s job opened, and Nelson came on board in January 1992. Named head pro at St. Andrews when Takes left, Nelson stepped away from public golf to take the position of head professional at the private Loch Lloyd Country Club in 1995. With the future of Loch Lloyd uncertain at that time with the passing of owner Harry Lloyd, Nelson returned to St. Andrews in August of 1998.“ Nothing but a lot of fond memories of Loch Lloyd,” says Nelson.
Returning as head pro at St. Andrews, Nelson was named Director of Golf Operations for Overland Park’ s two public championship courses, the 18-holes at St. Andrews, and Sykes-Lady’ s with three 9-hole layouts( 27-holes), and its par three course. It arguably goes down as one of the most impactful decisions in Kansas City golf history.
In September 2019, Curt Nelson( above), the long-time Director of Golf Operations for the City of Overland Park saw a dream come true with the opening of the $ 8.2 million stone and granite Sykes / Lady clubhouse and its Club 27 Restaurant. The project was financed totally without tax money.( Photo taken 7 / 22 / 2019)
“ When St. Andrews opened the head pro job in 1991, I applied but didn’ t get it,” says Nelson.“ They hired Dave Takes. Sandy Queen liked my resume but said I didn’ t have enough experience.” Nelson’ s experience at the time included two years at Meadowbrook in Rapid City, SD, where he was an assistant to Charlie Mahon( currently head
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Nelson’ s touch began in 1993 when Zoysia grass was stripped into the fairways at St. Andrews. In 1997, a new clubhouse was opened. In 2007, all the greens at St. Andrews were rebuilt. In 2009, six new holes were added, clearing six rather mundane holes for a state-ofthe-art soccer complex.“ The new six holes transformed St. Andrews from a muni-type course to an Ozarks-feel course,” says Nelson. In 2019, Sykes-Lady opened the piece de résistance, a spectacular $ 6.5 million clubhouse and upscale Club 27 Restaurant that not only offers fine dining but a spectacular panoramic view of both the North and South courses.
Financially, Nelson has overseen a gold mine.“ When the restaurant opened, the City of Overland Park estimated it would gross $ 650,000,” says Nelson.“ I knew it would be more than that. This past year [ 2024 ], it was over $ 3 million.” On a cold afternoon in late January with the course still closed because of weather, the restaurant remained packed to near capacity.
Long the busiest course in Kansas City, it has upwards of 200 leagues, plus many tournaments and other events are played