Lester George, President and Golf Course Architect

Education: B.S. University of Richmond

Serving as a Design Coordinator for Golf Services International from 1987 to 1991, Lester studied with other golf course architects learning all aspects of golf course design and construction. In 1991, Lester opened his own golf course architecture firm, Colonial Golf Design, Inc., which has since evolved into George Golf Design, Inc. Opening this company in Lester's home state of Virginia made George Golf Design the only full-time, full-service golf course architecture firm in the state.

Since the opening of the firm, the company has experienced vast growth in popularity and demand. Lester has completed at least 50 projects, and this experience in the design, renovation and restoration of numerous golf courses throughout the United States and Japan has established Lester George as a leading golf course architect.

Lester incorporates creativity and passion for the game of golf in every golf course design. The blending of his terrain reading ability and his lively interest in the history of golf enables him to visualize imaginative course designs emphasizing playability, beauty and ease of maintenance.

George's projects have received rave reviews from major golf publications, clients and players. His most recent new course opening, Kinloch Golf Club in Manakin-Sabot, Virginia was awarded the honor of Best New Private Golf Course of 2001 by Golf Digest Magazine and was just ranked as number ten in the 100 Greatest Modern Golf Courses by GolfWeek Magazine. Lester's flagship course, The Colonial Golf Course, in Williamsburg, VA, was honored as one of The Top Ten Daily Fee Golf Courses in America, by Links Magazine, as well as being listed as one of the Top 100 Reasons to Play Golf This Year by The Washington Golf Monthly. Our complete renovation of the Newport Bay Course at Ocean City Golf & Yacht Club was on this list, as well.

Lester's first executive course, Golf Range and Recreation Report named Sundance Golf Course, in New Braunfels one of the Best Practice Facilities in the Southeast Region of the United States. He also designed The First Tee Chesterfield, the premiere 18-hole First Tee course in the United States.

Recently, Lester was chosen to design one of six Kentucky State Park golf courses. His selection to design in Kincaid Lake State Park in Falmouth, Kentucky was based on his experience working on large municipal projects with steep, rocky terrain. Along with his acclaimed new course designs, Lester has had the opportunity to work on the renovation, restoration, and re-design of many of the finest and oldest golf facilities on the East Coast. After the completion of our renovations, several of our clients have hosted prestigious national, regional and statewide events.

His selection by Golf World Magazine as one of the leading young architects in the country, and his selection by The Board Room Magazine as one of their architects of the year, has positioned Lester George as a principal player in golf course design.

J. Glenn Muckley, Design Associate

Education: B.S., University of Illinois, Engineering

Glenn is an integral part of our design and project administration team. He is our AutoCAD expert and the key player in the development and preparation of plans, specifications and budgets for all of our golf course projects. He performs our GPS work and has an excellent talent for grading, as well. Glenn also works in the field doing construction management with Lester on all projects.

Prior to joining the firm, Glenn worked for Williamsburg Environmental Group, an environmental planning firm, where he was charged with managing the environmental concerns associated with planning, designing, and building golf courses. In his five years there, he worked on over 30 golf course projects, gaining valuable experience in the fields of stormwater planning and design, environmental feasibility, and regulatory strategies for golf course design and construction.

F. Pat George, Business Manager

Education: Radford University, B.A. English

At George Golf Design, Pat is responsible for the daily business operations. From tracking project status to billings and business accounting, she has years of varied experience in executive positions. All origination and implementation of business contracts are performed by Pat, as well as the legal aspects of our projects. She is in charge of the maintenance of all project files, bidder lists for construction projects, managing the bidding process and any business-related issues.

Prior to joining George Golf Design, Pat acted as Training Director, District Director, Director of New Affiliations and Director of Relocation Services for Century 21 of the Mid Atlantic States. Pat was responsible for developing strategic alliances with mortgage lenders, moving vendors, relocation management companies, corporate housing vendors and insurance companies. While creating and implementing a new office orientation program, she managed the activities of the training department including budgeting, planning and staff assignments for the region of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. Pat also instructed courses in sales skills, finance, personal development, sales management and business management and leadership skills. She consulted individually with 52 franchisees on effective recruiting, training, motivation and recognition. Pat helped formulate annual business plans and hired and trained franchise sales people to market franchises in a five state Division. She manages our personnel and office based on these models.

Shannon E. Fisher, Marketing Director

Education: B.A., The College of William and Mary.

Shannon manages the advertising, marketing and public relations for George Golf Design. She also co-manages our corporate finances and taxes and is often an in-house contact for many of our clients and vendors. Shannon designs and executes our press relations programs, plans and places annual advertising campaigns in national and regional trade magazines, writes and publishes company collateral material and tracks publicity for the firm. Also, Shannon photographs all of our work and releases these photographs to the press or in our collateral pieces, which she writes and designs.

Prior to joining the firm, Shannon was an Account Executive/Account Services Assistant for Barber Martin & Associates, a full-service advertising agency with well-known clients. There, she assisted a Vice President/Account Supervisor with the account management of large, nationwide accounts and solely handled smaller, statewide accounts as an Account Executive. Shannon conducted market research in many industries, formulated and implemented marketing plans and new business proposals, as well as prepared advertising budgets and reviewing billing of clients. She also planned and placed advertising campaigns, did fundraising for pro-bono, non-profit clients and oversaw event management.