Golf Resources Inc. (GRI) was established in 1987 as a Golf Course Design, Management and Agronomic Consulting Company. Sam Swanson and D.A. Weibring were pursuing options in the golf market when Byron Nelson called D.A. and inquired about the endeavor. Byron and D.A. had developed a friendship through the years and had been helping D.A. with his golf game. He invited Sam and D.A. to a lunch he hosted with Steve Barley and Don Armstrong. Steve was a former superintendent at Colonial Country Club and was currently overseeing the TPC Las Colinas, while Don was the current superintendent at Colonial. This was the pivotal meeting for the creation of the company, Byron thought the four men were a good fit and they agreed! Byron Nelson, Paul Cato and Dave Pelz became investors and members of the Advisory Board.
Don Armstrong resigned from Colonial CC to lead the efforts of Golf Resources providing Agronomic Consulting for all of the Morrish/Weiskopf design projects, public, private and resort facilities around the world. Sam Swanson was the President of the company for the first 20 years of the company. Sam’s background in real estate and management was especially beneficial to GRI.
Golf Resources owned Sports Turf Supply for four years in the late 80’s. John Trebly, a very experienced chemical and fertilizer specialist ran the company who serviced the turf industry.
Design Services were added by hiring Maury Miller who lead the design team for the first ten years of the company. Steve Wolfard joined the team in 1997 after serving as a golf course superintendent at the Hills of Lakeway in Austin, Texas. Along with 13 years serving on the Nicklaus Design Staff, Steve has led the company’s design efforts for the past 20 years. In 2008, the design segment of our company rebranded as Weibring Wolfard Golf Design (WWGD) to honor Steve for his great work and contribution to the company! Other contributors to the design business have been Steve Wenzlof, Jimmy Fecter, Josh Peters and Nate Fisher.
Golf Resources Management, another subsidiary of GRI, has been active as a boutique management/consulting group providing expertise in eliminating or reducing financial harm and improving the business operations for golf properties. Services have included real estate expertise, operational and personnel evaluation, agronomic consulting, food and beverage services among other areas. Strong contributors to Management and Operations have been: Pam Marshall, John Hungerford, Scott Beasley, Jim Fitzsimmons, Rick Gorbell and Dan Budzius.
Bill Kirkendall joined and led the company from 2007 to 2014 bringing his outstanding business resume to GRI. Dan Budzius led the Management Division for Golf Resources expanding through the Midwest and Southwest. Both Bill and Dan currently serve on the Advisory Board. Matt Weibring has served on the Advisory Board for over ten years and he also supports the design team. During the past 30 years, many outstanding individuals have supported the company beginning with Byron Nelson, Paul Cato and Dave Pelz. Also, David Lightner, Rusty Wells and Joe Jernigan.
Don Armstrong has returned as a consultant for WWGD after winning a challenging health battle. Don supports all of the projects with his agronomic experience. David Lightner, longtime Financial Advisor to D.A. Weibring, also serves on the Advisory Board of WWGD along with his company FSM Capital handling the accounting and financial support.