John Stark
Head Golf Professional
[email protected] – 979.297.4653 Ext. 302
Distinguished as the 2023 KemperSports Golf Professional of the Year
John Stark was born and raised here in Lake Jackson, Texas and is 26 years old. He attended grade school and high school in Lake Jackson as well. He is an aspiring golf professional very eager to enter into the golf business, and he feels there is no better place to do so than here in his home town Lake Jackson, Texas. His first place of employment was Riverside Country Club doing outside work, and soon after he moved inside the golf shop during his summers off from college. After leaving Brazoswood High School, John attended the University of Houston for his freshman year. He left the University of Houston to pursue an education at Texas A&M University. John graduated from Texas A&M University in May of 2004 with a B.A. in Agricultural Economics and started working for the Wilderness Golf Course soon after. His hobbies besides playing golf are hunting and fishing the Texas gulf coast area. John Stark, Head Golf Professional has been a instrumental member of The Award Winning Wilderness Golf Course Team for 15+ years.
Larry Monte
Teaching Professional 979.583. Ext. 301
Larry Monte has been a lifelong resident of Brazoria County having been born and raised in Freeport, TX. Larry is a resident of Lake Jackson where he and his wife, Barbara, raised their 3 children and are proud grandparents of 6”. Larry had a very successful career playing high school golf. He attended and played golf at Stephen F. Austin University in Nacodoches, TX. Larry was an assistant pro at Elkins Lake CC in Huntsville and El Dorado CC in Humble, TX for 2 years. Larry accepted his first Head Professional position at Freeport Country Club in Freeport, TX. He developed several golf instructional programs during his 6 year tenure at Freeport. Larry spent additional 16 years as The Head Professional at Riverside CC in Lake Jackson, TX and has developed a passion for teaching the game.
Blayne C. Sparks
Golf Course Superintendent 979.297.4653 Ext. 311, [email protected]
Blayne C. Sparks is originally from Patterson, Louisiana and a graduate of Louisiana State University with a B.S. in Turfgrass Management. While attending L.S.U., he was introduced to golf course maintenance at The Island Golf & Country Club located in Plaquemine, Louisiana. During the summer of his junior year, he interned with Heritage Links of Houston, assisting in the construction of an additional nine holes to the Starr Pass Golf Course & Resort in Tucson, Arizona.
After graduation, Blayne and his wife Katherine moved to Pearland, Texas where he became the Chemical Technician at Magnolia Creek Golf Links in League City. From there, he was hired as the Assistant Superintendent at The Wilderness Golf Course in Lake Jackson. Although golf is his first passion, some of his other interests include alligator hunting, fishing and snow skiing.
Laura Jenkins
Antionette Nichols
Managed by Kemper Sports
The Wilderness at Lake Jackson, is managed by KemperSports on behalf of the City of Lake Jackson. The best-in-class services at The Wilderness Golf Club are provided by KemperSports staff members who receive the job benefits of working for a professional golf course and hospitality management company.
About KemperSports
KemperSports is a golf course and hospitality management company that provides daily fee golf courses, private clubs, resorts and hospitality venues with proven service strategies to increase guest and member satisfaction. With experienced golf management, operations, marketing and technology solutions, KemperSports has been a leader in the golf and hospitality industry since 1979, with over 130 venues under management across the United States and Mexico.
The company’s award-winning portfolio includes nationally-ranked golf courses, private clubs, municipal golf courses and golf tournament venues such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, named the No. 1 Golf Resort in North America by Golf Digest and GOLF Magazine; Streamsong Resort; The Glen Club; Desert Willow Golf Resort; and Chambers Bay, host of the 2015 U.S. Open.
For more information about KemperSports, please visit https://www.kempersports.com/. Join the KemperSports social media conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.