After a whirlwind year as Chief Marketing Officer of a young, evolving restaurant group, I was pleased and proud of the achievements, learnings, and all the new friends I’d made. The restaurant group was a genuine blast and getting even better, but the new year brought about a new direction that I just wasn’t interested in pursuing. I like details and wanted to dig into doing the difference-making kind of details. It was a tough decision to leave, but I dusted off my golf bag and pulled out my 5 Iron to take a shot at something new…
In March 2023, I joined 5 Under Golf Center in Beaumont as Vice President of Marketing. The small business does mighty big things in golf, eCommerce, events, restaurant, and more. By the end of June, I’ve found myself as the new President of the company.
After my first three months of digging in to the fast-paced multitude of restaurant marketing, PR, design, digital content and branding, my team and I managed to find success pretty quickly. With some small strategic moves in content marketing and some internal processes, we reduced some costs in digital ad spend here and there while gaining nearly double the exposure and engagement.
It’s a rewarding feat and I’m very thankful and proud of my team who rolled with the punches and cranked out wonderful work. The marketing all-stars of Jennifer Jackson, Lexi Pyle, and Nana Garrette pulled together for the marketing plan and produced high quality work at a high speed (and patience with me). We led some new initiatives with social media and events that gained good attention and new customers along with new TV spots, billboards, and e-mail marketing.
In mid to late June with great momentum, we achieved a prestigious award: the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Integrity. For a mid-size business category, our company won the distinguished honor among our peers in Beaumont. We also just came off of a 6-week closure of our outdoors for construction and upgrades including new nets, new patio flooring, and furniture.
See the article here
It was shortly after this when Austin Williams left the position as 5U President to join a new bank in an executive role. Unexpected for sure, but a good opportunity for him. Soon after his announcement, I was named the new President by our 5 Under owner, Mr. Don Shaver. It’s an honor to be in this role, and I’m excited for the opportunity. I am grateful to have been entrusted with such a meaningful brand and multi-dimensional business.
Friends of Five Under have been very helpful and supportive. It’s a gift to have hard working staff with expert leadership in each area of business.
See the Beaumont Enterprise article here
See the Port Arthur News article here.
The largest sports and entertainment venue of its kind in Southeast Texas, 5 Under Golf features five unique offerings all under one roof: (1) interactive golf and game play with indoor Topgolf Swing Suites and a 2-story outdoor Toptracer range; (2) an award-winning restaurant and bar; (3) events inside and out for dinner parties, tournaments, corporate events, birthday parties, wedding/bridal showers, and live music—complete with a spacious patio and outdoor bar; (4) a full-service pro shop full of the best names in golf clubs and equipment along with high quality, popular sportswear including johnnie-O, lululemon, and On Cloud; and (5) a powerful online store serving golf fanatics worldwide with a huge inventory of high demand golf gear and athletic apparel.
5 Under Golf is home to the best in all things golf in Southeast Texas. Only 5 Under carries the big collection of select brands and models in Southeast Texas, and it’s unique in golf club repairs, fittings, lessons, and services. It’s not uncommon to find a Titleist or Callaway specialist fitting a customer for a set of clubs in one of our Topgolf Swing Suites while our very own PGA Associate is giving lessons in another. With Scotty Cameron putters, drivers and irons from Ping, Srixon, Cleveland, XXIO, and more, you’ll see more variety and inventory here ready to grip and rip.
From premier names like Peter Millar, TravisMathew, and FootJoy and others, guests choose 5 Under for the unique selections and personal service. Much of our staff is made up of former college golfers, former high school golfers, and golf enthusiasts—so you know you’re getting authentic passion for the game and expertise when you talk shop with our 5U crew. It starts with our owner, Don Shaver, who was a Lamar University golfer.
Golfers choose 5 Under for a variety of reasons, but it’s this commitment to the game that they really like. Like a good golf clubhouse, it’s a place to belong and feel welcomed by golfers and even non-golfers alike. We hear it all the time that they like just coming in for a beer or just to come in and visit with others to talk about the game, watch the latest PGA tournament on the screen, and check out the new putters and grips. If it’s golf, it’s in here. Myself, I played golf for PNG High School (along with soccer), and I’ve lost my fair share of golf balls in the woods this side of Houston. Still do. Luckily, my golf score wasn’t a prerequisite for this position, but I am indeed a player, fan, and friend of the game, and my best days on the job are when I get to chat with a member or customer out on the range. Members like Jerry Watson (a retiree and driving range regular), Ty Hallmark (a local small business owner and avid golfer), and Mr. De’Mo Moffett (a golf coach, a pastor, and community volunteer) help to make 5 Under a special place.
Along with golf, the events we host are out of this world. The United Way, for example, will host their second annual Par-Tee-FORE a Purpose fundraiser. A full tournament here where guests can mix, mingle, and play a full round of golf all within 10 feet of each other. Food, drinks, full-service, live music, swag bags, sponsors, the whole 359 yards…This is what we can do here. I’m eager to put marketing and branding behind this and to serve in some new spots with the organizers. We have the time, tools, talent, and space to do it all, so this is a big power swing for anyone looking to put on a show—no matter the size. From birthday parties for kids to bachelorette parties to even a Pat Green concert, 5 Under does it all.
Plus, the restaurant is a star on its own. With award-winning shrimp and grits, the menu is a knockout. It’s more than just finger foods and bar food. No sir. 5 Under features gumbo, chimichurri steak, ribeyes, chicken fried steak, avocado snapper, a 2-story Aloha salad….and so much more. Many guests come in just for the food! Brunch on the weekends, dinner nights, whiskey and wine dinners, specials, and more. It’s a joy to market such a strong restaurant and bar in Southeast Texas where golf is the bonus and not just the attraction.
I aim to do my best to support the guests, their experience, and those of the staff that make 5 Under what it is. I like details. I’ve been able to work in some of those design details into our look and more into some processes to help both the overall customer experience and the workflow experience for our side of things. Much more to come, but like a fast green in a drought, we’re on a roll!
I invite you to follow our company and follow me as we get to work on some good things inside and out. 5 Under has a lot to offer and I am looking forward to what’s ahead. http://www.5undergolf.com
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