When Bobby Godwin began his job as Ozark Ridge Golf Course operations manager Jan. 1, he found himself in a familiar place … a place he’s called home for a long time.
“I came out here with dad probably 25 years ago,” Godwin recalled. “He took over 30 years ago, and I came five years after.”
At the time, Godwin said, his father, Buddy Godwin, was under contract with the city of Poplar Bluff to operate the pro shop and food service area.
Godwin learned to play golf in high school at the urging of his father.
“Dad used to tell me when I was sitting on the end of the bench playing basketball or trying to play baseball and never getting in the game, ‘I don’t know why you’re jacking with that. When you’re 35, there’s not going to be any baseball or basketball. You better learn how to play golf,’” Godwin recalled of his dad’s conversation. “And he was spot on.”
After a stint in another field after graduating from college, Godwin again found himself at Ozark Ridge.
“I sold insurance for about eight years when I got out of college, then I came out here and worked with dad for about 15-16 years,” he said.
Another career change in 2011 took him away from the course.
“I went to (former city manager) Doug Bagby in 2010 and asked him about making us employees out here. He went to Mark Massingham, and he said they were unable to do that because of the liquor license,” Godwin said.
Instead, Bagby suggested Godwin apply for the Black River Coliseum director’s position.
“The Godwins are always fans of Poplar Bluff, and that’s the only reason I applied,” he said. “I took over in August of 2011, so I was there for nine and a half years.”
During that time, he still found himself at the golf course.
“If I didn’t have an event at the coliseum, I was out here on the weekends,” Godwin said.
Speaking about his new job as operations manager at Ozark Ridge, Godwin said, the time was just right.
“I had no intentions of leaving the coliseum, and dad and I had already talked about making preparations for us getting out of here (at the golf course) and having our weekends off,” he said.
“That didn’t last long,” he added with a laugh.
Last summer and fall, the city was cutting hours and downsizing where it could balance its budget, and cuts at the Black River Coliseum were part of that.
Godwin said he knew if he left, it would help ensure the other employees were able to keep their jobs.
Today, Godwin is getting more comfortable in his new role.
“One of my only good attributes is being in communication with people and trying to make them feel welcomed and happy when they are leaving here, and that’s what we need - we need people to come from out of town and say ‘man they treated us right,” he said. “That’s what we’re hoping to get to.”
Godwin said he and his staff at the golf course still are “making a plan of attack” for maintenance and operations this year, but the course is “in better shape than it’s been in probably 10 years or so as far as going into the spring.”
Godwin credits friends at the nearby Westwood Hills Country Club for their continued help, along with many others.
“I know a lot of the pros in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois, and if I have a problem, I’m not afraid to ask. If I don’t have the answer, I’ll find out,” he said.
Regulars at the course, he said, also have helped.
“It’s just kind of a family deal out here between all the guys that play. A lot of guys are willing to fill in the gaps and help us put away carts if we get behind or whatever,” he said.
Godwin is looking forward to construction of a screened-in porch area attached to the clubhouse, something he said has been needed for a long time.
“It’s going to be a big thing. These guys like to sit outside, and that will give us another 30 or whatever seats,” he said.
He also thinks 2021 will be another banner year for golf as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
Last year, a “lot of people who had never played before couldn’t get out and go to ball games or do things came out with their family,” Godwin said.
This year, he said, will be a bit of a trial and error one, but he’s hopeful the golf course is headed in the right direction.
“We’ll have to feel our way for the first year,” Godwin said. “My bosses are the park board, and I need them to let me take the ball and run. Hopefully, they’ll get behind me and by December, I’ll have them all happy that they made a good decision.”
And, Godwin said, he again has no plans to leave his “home.”
“I hope it’s home for another 10 or 12 years,” he said.