Roslyn, Wash. -- Scott Syms must have been a chef, or farmer, in a previous life, given the way he knows how to start things from scratch and cultivate their growth.
Actually, Syms has done those very things in his previous professional life, making him a perfect match for Tumble Creek at Suncadia, where he has been named its first head golf pro. The 18-hole private course designed by Tom Doak is to debut with nine holes in July, with the final nine holes to be completed in September.
Syms, 43, who is from Hailey, Idaho, left a club pro position in 1990 to create the women’s golf program at the University of San Francisco. Like his new position at Tumble Creek, Syms was involved, “from the ground floor,” he recalls.
“It involved teaching, coaching, recruiting, promotions, scheduling and directing various fiscal budgets for scholarships, travel and equipment," he says.
During his six years with the Dons, Syms also discovered a novice player named Juli Christopher, who didn’t even start playing golf until she was 18. Now on the LPGA Tour, as well as married with two children, Juli Hilton credits her golf success to Syms’ ability to guide her from the beginning – which is exactly what Syms will be doing with the golf club at Tumble Creek.
“My immediate objective is for Tumble Creek to be recognized as one of the foremost private clubs in the industry,” says Syms, who comes to Suncadia after nine years as head professional at The Valley Club in Sun Valley, Idaho.
Suncadia is Washington’s first all-season destination resort set on 6,000-acres on the Cle Elum River near Roslyn, less than 90 minutes from Seattle.
Construction on the resort began in 2002. Once completed, Suncadia is to include a village with shops, galleries and restaurants, a lodge located on a bluff 250 feet above the river; a state-of-the-art conference center; three golf courses; a 7,000 square-foot village residence complex; luxury condominiums; town homes, cabins, custom homes and custom home sites; and 40 miles of hiking, biking, cross country ski and snow shoe trails.
“I have lived and breathed golf for more than 20 years,” Syms says. “Suncadia is an incredibly exciting project, considering the vast areas of development that are under way. This is a great opportunity to give members and guests the ultimate in outdoor endeavors, activities and lifestyle.”
A competitive collegiate golfer at Boise State University, where he graduated in 1985 with a degree in business administration, Syms has been active in various educational programs within the PGA of America and has authored instructional columns for magazine publications. Following college, he became an assistant pro at Quail Hollow Golf Club in Boise before moving to Half Moon Bay Golf Links, 30 minutes south of San Francisco along the Pacific coastline. That second job led him to connect with USF, where he coached from 1990 to 1995, prior to his first job as a head pro at The Valley Club.
“Being at The Valley Club in Sun Valley was a great experience and something I always will cherish,” Syms says. “But coming to Tumble Creek is a chance to be involved with a new beginning.”
For more information about Tumble Creek and Suncadia, call 800-667-1828 and or visit www.suncadia.com.