New Faces At Harbor Shores, Saint John’s, Crystal Mountain

New Faces At Harbor shores, Saint John’s, Crystal Mountain

Three of Michigan’s top resorts have named new leaders for their golf programs.

Saint John’s Resort in Plymouth has named Stan Witko as its Executive Director of Golf. With twenty years of industry experience, Witko will oversee St. John’s new 18 hole course, short course and putting course, all of which open in 2024.

 At Harbor Shores, Jackson Davison isn’t exactly a new face, but has been promoted to the role of PGA Head Golf Professional. He previously served as the resort’s Golf Operations manager. Davison recently completed his Class A PGA Membership requirements.

Crystal Mountain has named Jamie Davison Director of Golf. Davison most recently comes from Gladstone Golf Club in Gladstone, Mich. where he served as general manager and head golf professional. He is a native Michigander who lives in Traverse City.

For more information:

• Saint John’s Resort Names Stan Witko PGA Executive Director of Golf
• Harbor Shores Resort Names Jackson Davison PGA Head Golf Professional
• Jamie Davison named Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain 

Saint John’s Resort Names Stan Witko PGA Executive Director of Golf

Industry veteran will oversee all golf operations for the luxury resort’s new golf complex

Plymouth, MI – Saint John’s Resort, Detroit’s leading hotel and conference destination resort, has hired Stan Witko as its Executive Director of Golf. The 20-year industry veteran will oversee all golf operations that include the new 18-hole course, short course and putting course opening in 2024.

“When I saw the Saint John’s job posting, I had a feeling it was an incredible opportunity and that my abilities aligned perfectly with the vision of the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation for this remarkable property.” said Witko. “With the addition of The Cardinal Golf Course to our already luxurious resort, Saint John’s will solidify its position as Detroit’s premier destination resort.  Our aim is to provide extraordinary experiences not only to locals, but also to visitors and golf enthusiasts from all corners of the world.”

After college Witko shifted career paths and attended The Golf Academy of America. After graduating with honors, he began his golfing career at Diamond Woods, a small course in Oregon. He then worked as the first assistant at The Golf Club of Terra Lago in Palm Springs before becoming the Director of Golf for the Himalayan Youth Golf Organization in Nepal — a life-changing experience that the country recognized him for changing and growing golf.

“I spent about a year in Nepal, building a program from scratch with sponsorship provided largely through a private donor and from the R&A,” explained Witko. “I was also able to help create new revenue streams for the Nepali Golf Professionals, bring the Faldo Tour to Nepal through a five-country agreement, and brought them new teaching equipment and new ways of instructing, including allowing all children access to golf, regardless of their financial situation.  My work in Nepal really prepared me for everything else in life, especially my golf career and impacting people.”

Following Nepal, Witko joined Riverside Golf and Country Club in Portland, Ore. where he spent seven years working his way up to General Manager before making the move to Saint John’s Resort. In addition to his passion for golf, Witko is a licensed skydiver and one of a few people who are members of both the PGA of America and the United States Parachute Association.

Selecting Witko for the new position was an easy decision for Saint John’s executives. “We are very excited to have Stan become a part of our team here at Saint John’s Resort,” said Paul Wegert, CEO of Boutique Hotel Professionals and managing director of Saint John’s Resort. “With our golf facility being completely reshaped and the high-end golf product and golf entertainment venue we will now be providing our guests, Stan was the perfect fit to help us provide our guests with the ultimate golf experience.”

Witko also intends to work jointly with organizations like The First Tee, in order to provide space and learning for children who may not have any access to golf without assistance.

“My goal is to be one of the top golf experiences and venues in Michigan, and that comes from creating and running a world class operation, and also from the deeper mission at Saint John’s Resort, which is to truly help those who are less fortunate.”

About Saint John’s Resort

Saint John’s Resort, the premier resort destination in Detroit, features 200 acres of luscious grounds, 118 luxurious hotel rooms, two bars and restaurants – upscale FIVE Steakhouse and the brand-new Wine Grotto (opening Summer 2023), and more than 50,000 square feet of unique event and wedding space. With a rich history that dates back to the late 1940s, Saint John’s Resort originally opened its doors as a seminary. After more than 40 years, the seminary closed, and it was re-opened in the late 90s as a retreat center for youth and families, before converting to a conference center and hotel. In 2021, the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation acquired the Inn at St. John’s and began converting it into what it is now – Saint John’s Resort. Undergoing a multi-million-dollar renovation, the property will open an additional 50,000 square feet of meeting space along with a new 18-hole championship golf course, seven-hole Par-3 course, two-acre putting course, and a more casual third bar/restaurant in 2024. The resort is part of the Pulte Family Charitable Foundation’s “Humanitarian Hotels” strategy – undertaking initiatives for employees, guests, and their communities that represent the Foundation’s mission of serving those in need. Additionally, 100% of the net profits from the resort are donated to educational and humanitarian initiatives from Metro Detroit and around the globe. Visit www.saintjohnsresort.com.

Harbor Shores Resort Names Jackson Davison PGA Head Golf Professional

Former golf operations manager and instructor earns Class A PGA Membership.

Benton Harbor, MI – Harbor Shores Resort, Southwest Michigan’s premier lakefront golf resort destination with its award-winning Jack Nicklaus Signature designed golf course, has promoted Jackson Davison to the role of PGA Head Golf Professional.

Davison, who has been in the golf industry for 10 years, previously served as the Golf Operations Manager for Harbor Shores, overseeing the golf operations and golf instruction at the five-time host of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship. Having recently completed the requirements to earn his Class A PGA Membership, Davison is more than qualified to take on his new position.

“Jackson has been an integral part of our team at Harbor Shores since 2018. He has all the attributes necessary to be an exceptional PGA Head Golf Professional and has worked tirelessly to create a team and culture that has an impact throughout the entire facility. I couldn’t be prouder,” said Joshua Doxtator, Harbor Shores’ PGA General Manager. “The PGA Professional Management Program is not easy with only 17 percent making it past the first of three levels. He now stands proud as one of 28,000 PGA Professionals in the world.”

Prior to his golf professional career, Davison had a successful history in competitive golf, winning the 2008 Michigan High School Division 1 State Championship then playing collegiately at both Grand Rapids Community College and Davenport University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Sports Marketing.

Davison began his professional golf career in Orlando, Florida as an Assistant Golf Professional at Tuscawilla Country Club, while pursuing his dream of playing competitively as a professional golfer. He competed on various mini tours in Florida and in the Midwest before landing at Harbor Shores Resort, where his focus shifted to operational management, instruction, and player development. He has also held key roles assisting in two KitchenAid Senior PGA Championships in 2018 and 2022.

“I am very excited to accept the role of PGA Head Golf Professional at a golf operation as special as Harbor Shores Resort,” Davison said. “It has been a lot of work, dedication, and very rewarding to be able to obtain my Class A Membership status and continue to expand my career as a part of this team at one of the top golf facilities in the country. Together we are all committed to creating a special golf experience for guests and share one of the best stories in the golf industry. We are very dedicated to serving and empowering the Benton Harbor community and I am proud to be a part of that now under my new role.”

About Harbor Shores Resort

Harbor Shores Resort, host of the 2024 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, is the premier golf, resort, and beach destination and waterfront communities in Southwest Michigan located just 90 minutes east of Chicago in Benton Harbor/St. Joseph, Michigan. More than 75 years ago, Benton Harbor became a booming industrial town. During World War II, global home appliance leader Whirlpool Corporation transformed its plants and factories into F.D.R.’s arsenal of democracy, manufacturing components for fighter planes. The town then evolved into a vibrant manufacturing center in the 1950s and 60s only to see it all disappear over the next two decades.

Harbor Shores and the development of the Jack Nicklaus Signature Design signaled a turning point in Benton Harbor’s history. Golf was the core component of the development on the shores of Lake Michigan and the Paw Paw River and stands as a remarkable testament to a vision made possible by $900 million in strategic investments, a collective set of projects with collaborating community leaders and organizations, allled by the Whirlpool Foundation and its benefactor Whirlpool.

The award-winning golf course winds through a variety of terrain including wetlands, riverside and hardwood forest and offers stunning views of Lake Michigan from lakeside holes. The 550-acre residential, golf, recreational and waterfront community features world-class amenities, including a marina village and river walk, town center with restaurants and shops, health and fitness center, deep water marina, the four-star Inn at Harbor Shores hotel and spa, golf villas, miles of recreational trails and rivers, and acres of parks and green space. Visit www.harborshoresresort.com.

Jamie Davison named Director of Golf at Crystal Mountain 

THOMPSONVILLE, Mich. (August 8, 2023) – Crystal Mountain is pleased to introduce Jamie Davison as director of golf. Davison comes to Crystal with a wealth of experience in golf operations and leadership at various country clubs across the nation.

“After working from all corners of Michigan, including the U.P., and then down south in Georgia, Texas and South Carolina, I finally feel at home here at Crystal,” said Davison. “This resort has such a remarkable legacy already, especially among the snow sports industry, and I’m looking forward to helping create a northern Michigan golf legacy as well.”

Davison most recently comes from Gladstone Golf Club in Gladstone, Mich. where he served as general manager and head golf professional. Prior to that, he spent several years working for ClubCorp, now rebranded to Invited, which owns and operates more than 200 private clubs worldwide.

“He checks all the boxes,” said Everett Leonard, Senior VP of Finance overseeing golf. “Jamie understands the complexity of resort golf and has the passion and drive to succeed.  He is a proven leader with great business sense, he is tech savvy and has phenomenal customer service skills.”

Davison earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business management from Lake Superior State University (LSSU) and an associate of arts degree from Bay College in Escanaba. He later returned to LSSU in 2009 as the head coach of the Division II men’s golf team and the first-ever women’s golf team.

“I had the privilege of recruiting new student athletes and sharing my knowledge and love for the game with them,” said Davison. “Growing the game is a passion of mine, so being able to work alongside Crystal Mountain’s award-winning golf school team is invigorating.”

As Director of Golf, Davison will lead most golf operations. Greg Babinec will remain the head golf professional, Brandon Dean the assistant golf professional and Trevor Mills the golf course superintendent.

“His addition to the team makes me even more excited for the future of golf and golf instruction at Crystal Mountain,” said Leonard.

In addition to golf, Davison has been a registered official for high school and college basketball in Michigan and Georgia for 20 years, and continues to ref in Michigan.

A native of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Davison now lives in Traverse City with his wife Kayla and their 2-year-old daughter Lorelei.

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About Crystal Mountain:

Established in 1956, Crystal Mountain is a family-owned, four-season resort destination located 28 miles southwest of Traverse City and a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 1,500-acre resort features lodging, dining, downhill and cross-country skiing, two championship golf courses, shopping, award-winning Crystal Spa, Michigan’s only alpine slide, Peak Fitness, the Park at Water’s Edge, Michigan Legacy Art Park, weddings, a conference center, and real estate options. Visit www.CrystalMountain.com for more resort details or information about Four Seasons Club memberships.