Our People
Billy Sitton - Founding Partner
Billy has a rich, 38-year background
of professional management and executive leadership in golf operations. He most
recently is a Principal in Triumph Golf LLC, an owner / management entity of
golf clubs, and was formerly a Senior Vice President of Operations for ClubCorp
USA and Managing Director of ClubCorp International, from 1996 until 2008. His
senior management responsibilities at ClubCorp (formerly CCA) included
development, marketing, golf course construction, revenues, expenses and total operations
oversight of facilities in Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, Australia,
Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, California (daily fees), and Bear's Best in Atlanta
and Las Vegas.
Billy has extensive experience in Mexico and Latin America. He lived in Mexico
from 1988 through 1996 and served as Director of Golf for CCA-Mexico from 1992
through 1996. In 1996, Billy assumed the Managing Director position for all of
Club Corp's international properties, concurrent with his domestic
responsibilities. During this time, Billy was directly responsible for the
development (planning through construction) and operations of seven Mexican
golf courses. Billy was involved with many new golf course constructions and
renovations. He personally supervised construction of Cozumel Country Club and
Vista Vallarta, with 36 holes of Nicklaus & Weiskopf Signature Design
championship golf courses. Billy’s success in Mexico garnered additional responsibilities
with ClubCorp’s International properties in Latin America, the Caribbean and Australia.
From the results of his new
responsibilities, Billy was promoted to a co-position of Managing Director
International and Vice President of Operations (domestic) for ClubCorp. His new domestic responsibilities included
Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, California, Nevada and Georgia. Billy ultimately
achieved the position of Senior Vice President over Golf & Country Clubs
while with ClubCorp.
Billy first joined Club Corp in 1981 and worked his way through the
organization, holding positions including assistant golf professional, head
golf professional, superintendent of golf course maintenance, and club manager
at various properties.
He is a Class A member of the Professional Golfers
Association of America. Billy has played professionally and has participated in
a number of USGA and PGA TOUR events. He has negotiated, developed and staged
the EMC2 World Cup @ Vista Vallarta (a World Golf Championship), The Blue Agave
Golf Classic (a Champions Tour event) and currently hosts the highly regarded Puerto
Vallarta Pro-Am (International Pro Ams Inc.).
Billy left ClubCorp in 2006 to form
his own company to execute his business philosophies related to the investment,
operations and financial return opportunities in the golf industry. Triumph Golf LLC was formed in 2008 and
currently owns and operates golf clubs in Texas, Georgia and Ohio.
Billy was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Management and Finance from
Hardin-Simmons University.
Mike Feild - Founding Partner
Mike Feild has worked in the hospitality industry
for more than 30 years. Originally from Miami, Florida Mike graduated from the
University of Houston in 1981 and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in
Hotel and Restaurant Management. He spent several years working for the
Sheraton Corp and TGI Friday’s before joining ClubCorp in 1985.
Working for ClubCorp for 25 years Mike held
positions as Executive Chef, Food and Beverage Director, Club Manager, Regional
Manager and Director of Operations for Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean
with ClubCorp International.
He joined ClubCorp in 1985. He worked at
Atascocita Country Club, The Tower Club in McAllen, Texas and then at The Club
at Cimarron in Mission, Texas. In 1994 Mike
transferred to ClubCorp’s International division and partnered with Billy
Sitton to oversee ClubCorp-Mexico and supervise five resort golf clubs in
Mexico and with New Club Development and Club Opening responsibilities for
several City Clubs in Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela. In 1999 he returned back
to the United States to again partner with Billy Sitton on the construction and
development of two new golf courses in Puerto Vallarta and Cozumel Mexico.
In 2006 Mike returned to club management to take
on the challenge of revitalizing the Kingwood Country Club. The Grand Opening of
the Water Park was held in the summer of 2007 and included an adult pool,
family pool, slide pool, zero depth splash pad and a 500-foot lazy river in the
new resort style Water Park. A year later Mike opened the 17,000 F2 Fitness
Center which includes a 6,000 F2 cardio and workout room, Pilates studio,
private exercise classroom, full-service health spa, fitness and tennis retail
shop, welcome desk, Kid’s Club and Café. Under Mike’s leadership the club has
repositioned itself as a value-based family oriented private club with a
vibrant and growing membership.
Mike brings a wealth of experience to both the
Front of the House and Back of the House Private Club operations. He has a
proven ability to organize and partner with member planning committees and
associations. He also has strong experience implementing Membership growth and
retention strategies.
Jim Hearn - Founding Partner
Jim has an extensive 34-year background in real estate including
business development, acquisitions/dispositions, sales, brokerage, research,
and venture capital. With over $5.3B of closed transactions, Jim has overseen
every aspect of the real estate deal from conception to final
disposition. In 2011, Jim founded ApexOne Investment Partners, LLC, a
boutique investment company focused on the acquisition and operation of
workforce housing multifamily properties. From 1998-2011, Jim served on
the Executive Partners Board of Hendricks & Partners, the nation's largest
private real estate company focused in the multi-family industry. Jim's
professional background also includes partnerships with Allied Realty Services
from 1990-1997 and with Eton Financial Group from 1986-1990.
A natural athlete, Jim’s passion for golf began 35 years ago. What began
as an amateur hobby turned into a business when he joined the Triumph team nine
years ago. Jim's primary directive at Triumph Golf is to source new business
opportunities and expand the firm's capital sources. He brings a wealth
of transactional knowledge and leadership skills to the team and is considered
an expert at assessing the direction and accomplishment of the work flow
process.
Mark Tiefel - Founding Partner
Mark G. Tiefel has over 25 years of experience in the real estate investment industry. Mr. Tiefel is president of Capital Equity Group, Inc., a private real estate investment firm headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. The firm is involved in all aspects of real estate ownership including acquisition analysis, capital formation, property management, and disposition. The company's philosophy is that careful acquisition underwriting combined with focused property management offers the opportunity for superior investment returns.
Mr. Tiefel currently serves as a managing partner for more than twenty properties located throughout the United States having an aggregate real estate value of more than $400,000,000. This includes properties located in Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Denver, and Los Angeles. Over the last twenty five years, he has served in similar capacities for companies that have purchased real properties valued in excess of $1,000,000,000. During that time, Mr. Tiefel has been involved in the ownership of multi-family properties in markets throughout the United States with a focus on the southeastern U. S. In addition, Mr. Tiefel has been involved in commercial properties and assisted living facilities in the western United States, shopping centers on the west coast, self-storage facilities in the northeast, and low-income housing properties in the Midwest. His commitment to the highest standards has led to an outstanding track record of performance for Capital Equity Group's investors.
In 2009, Mr. Tiefel took his business and investment expertise and applied it to the golf course industry. As managing partner of Birmingham Associates, LLC, the company purchased The Tanglewood Club, an eighteen hole championship golf course in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. Mr. Tiefel and his partners began transforming the well- known Tanglewood Golf Club back into a profitable venue with championship-level facilities.
He holds a bachelor's degree from Kent State University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a member of numerous real estate organizations including membership in the Ohio Golf Course Owners Association.
Our Resources
Tom Henslee, Henslee & Huguely LLP - Business Solutions for Your Club Legal Issues
Henslee & Huguely LLP is a legal consulting firm focusing on membership and other legal issues affecting private clubs and resorts. From our combined 53 years of experience in the golf and private club industries, Tom Henslee and Rand Huguely bring a unique, and "real world" perspective to legal matters. We pride ourselves on taking a pragmatic approach to club issues, seeking efficient solutions that will meet legal requirements as well as serve the business goals of our clients.
Michael Quimbey - Regulatory and Compliance Specialist
EMCUE Company, Inc. is an Environmental, Safety, Utility and Americans with Disability Act consulting firm specializing in the development and implementation of comprehensive solutions to meet the ever-changing regulatory and compliance demands specific to the service, hospitality and recreation communities.