Story by Lyda Kay Ferree, the Southern Lifestyles Lady.
Photography by Jeff Watson.

The following is an excerpt of an article in the October 2015 issue of VIP Jackson.

The Jackson Country Club, which celebrated its 100th anniversary last year, has a new General Manager—R. Kedric Perkins, Jr.

Perkins moved to Jackson with his wife, Triniti, and their 3 1/2 year-old son, Trey, from Marion, Indiana, halfway between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, Indiana. His first day at the Jackson Country Club was August 24.

Kedric, 44, grew up in Elizabethtown, KY, and he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He and his family have spent the last 10 years trying to get back to the South.  When he reviewed the position on the Club Managers Association of America website he felt it would be a perfect fit. “It is an established club, which is what my wife and I wanted, and we would be back in the South where we wanted to be. When you are in this business, you go where the job is and you try to get as close to home as you can,” said Kedric. “My family and I came to Jackson to work at the Country Club and retire here.”

Highlights of Kedric’s many professional accomplishments include the following: He is a PGA Certified Professional in General Management (10 plus years of General Management experience) and CMAA Member in good standing. Kedric is one of only 114 PGA Professionals in the United States that is Certified in four categories: general management, golf operations, instruction and retail. He won two PGA Section Merchandiser of the Year awards and was a National Finalist for the same award in merchandising in 2009. Also, he was the instructor for the 2009 Indiana Open champion.

Of all of his professional experiences, Kedric is most proud of the recruitment, training, and promotion of 13 of his former staff members into further positions in the industry.

Kedric describes himself as “a highly organized, forward thinking team player as well as a leader and a motivator of professional personnel teams that is prepared to address any challenge.” He thrives in fast-paced environments requiring innovative leadership, team building and sound judgment. He is currently enrolled in a Master Professional Program for general management, which he hopes to complete in the next two years.

I asked Kedric what changes Club members may anticipate. “Clubs are becoming more family oriented although the Jackson Country Club will still have men’s and ladies’ events,” he said. “But when clubs figure out, as Jackson Country Club has, that family events are important, the club will be successful and prosperous because you have a better market share from which to draw, and our members will be far more engaged.”

“The Country Club business has changed in the last 15 years,” said Kedric. “We are in a generation that is much more relaxed. The atmosphere at Country Clubs across the United States has changed to adapt to a more relaxed dress code and a relaxed atmosphere. We want our members to come to the Club, relax, have a good time and not worry about how fast they eat or if they want to travel from table to table. We’re about providing Club members a place to go, kick back from your day at work and other activities and enjoy time with your family and friends.”

Kedric speaks highly of the tennis program at the Jackson Country Club. “I’ve been in a lot of nice big clubs, and I’ve never seen a club with as good a tennis program as the Jackson Country Club,” he said. Jay Veazey, USPTA Tennis Professional, has taught tennis at the Club for the last 24 years.

“What I really am is a facilitator of fun,” said Kedric.  “I might put on a rubber nose and act like a clown. The job of our entire staff is to make sure that we’re creating fun. I think that’s why Country Clubs have really come back in the mix, especially in the younger generations. You may come to the Jackson Country Club to play golf, swim, play tennis and/or dine. It’s a safe environment and truly a lifestyle.”

For more information visit jacksoncclub.com