KC Golf News
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Curt Nelson Retires after 26 Years at Overland Park Golf Courses
OP26
“ He’ s [ Nelson ] taught me everything I know, he and my dad,” says Walker. Her father, Gary Clark, was head pro at Milburn Country Club for 27 years and started Walker swinging a golf club at about age two.“ Growing up in the golf industry, I learned a lot from my dad and was able to meet and build relationships with a number of other golf pros in the area who I continue to see and work with.
“ Since starting at St. Andrews in 2013, I have learned a tremendous amount from Curt on how to manage a golf course and restaurant operation. He continues to pass along his years of experience and knowledge to me, which I very much appreciate. He has done a wonderful job leading our course and setting us up to be successful— I look forward to continuing in his footsteps.”
Curt Nelson and Jennifer Walker in front of the history of how the Overland Park golf courses came to be with the help of Ben Sykes and Wendell Lady who played prominent roles in bring to life the city’ s green space, park lands, and recreational facilities.
Before that, she won a Kansas state junior title at age 12 and played the National PGA Junior Series each summer, winning two events. She played four years at Kansas, earning All-Big 12 Academic honors her last three years. In 2008, she won a Collegiate Players Tour event in Manhattan and was second in the Marilynn Smith Invitational in 2009. As a professional, she has competed frequently in the Prairie Invitational and Midwest PGA Section events.“ I hope to compete more, but with two little ones, I only play once or twice a month,” says Walker, now 36.
Jennifer Walker and Curt Nelson look out at the remaining snow that closed the Sykes-Lady course for virtually the entire month of January— a memorable month to say the least for Walker in her first month as Director of Golf Operations.
No story on Walker would be complete without a brief look at her spectacular playing career. She won the Kansas Class 4A Championship as a freshman and sophomore at Piper High School in 2003-04 during a streak in which she won 27 consecutive tournaments. In her four years, she won 36 of 39 high school tournaments. A twotime winner of the coveted Kenneth Smith Award for high school students( 2005-06), she was twice named the Kansas City Star Player of the Year and All-Metro four times and was an EA Sports Student Magazine All-American in 2005.
She started her professional career at Eagle Bend following graduation in December of 2011, then was hired at St. Andrews in 2013 by Garret Walker. She married six years later in October 2019. Garret left St. Andrews for stints at Brookridge, Loch Lloyd, and the Jayhawk Club but is now back at St. Andrews as Director of Instruction. Together, they have two sons: John, two-and-a-half, and Jackson, 18 months. Walker also has two stepsons: Liam, 14, and Pierce, 12.
Walker’ s work has not gone unnoticed. She was awarded the Midwest PGA Section’ s Assistant of the Year in 2016 and Merchandiser of the Year in 2023. She earned her PGA membership in 2017, a step that elevated her to head professional at St. Andrews.
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Learn more about Overland Park’ s municipal courses; Sykes / Lady Overland Park Golf Club and St. Andrews Golf Club at www. GolfOP. com.
14 March 2025 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE