City of Fort Walton Beach recently issued the following announcement.
Meet Jim Ates, operations supervisor for the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club. Jim joined the city team 16 years ago and became the operations supervisor after his first year. He is responsible for all staffing, payroll, golf carts and the driving range. The 36-hole FWB Golf Club is quite popular, generating approximately 55,000 rounds per year, and his role in operations is vital to its success. Jim’s professional background includes the Air Force, teaching, professional music, mental health counseling and opening a restaurant. He also earned a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Eastern New Mexico University. It’s fair to say that Jim’s life experiences are quite interesting and diverse.
Jim is originally from Pensacola, yet his travels have taken him all over – many years spent as a traveling musician. His wife, Faye, of 29 years brought him back to Florida to settle down in the Fort Walton Beach area. They have five children, four grandchildren, two great grandchildren and one more on the way. Jim will still occasionally take a local music gig playing his bass. You just might see him around the golf course or in a music show! If you do, be sure to say hello. Getting to know Jim Ates:
- Hobbies: Golf, cooking and playing guitar.
- Favorite place to visit: New Mexico
- If you could learn anything, what would it be? Better computer skills.
- If you could be anyone for a day, who would it be? Ben Hogan
- Something about yourself that would surprise others: “My high school guidance counselor told me not to go to college because I’d never make it. He was probably right. Four years in the military definitely made me more responsible and self-disciplined.”
Original source can be found here.
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