Forty Under 40: Chris McSpadden

Chris McSpadden, 33, said he always wanted to get back to Arkansas. Getting to return for his dream job was like landing a hole-in-one.

A Paragould native, McSpadden graduated from Mississippi State University in 1993 with a bachelors degree in professional golf management. He was assistant golf pro at TPC at Southwind in Memphis for one year before getting the same spot at Signal Mountain Golf Club in Chattanooga, Tenn. Three years later, he rejoined the TPC organization at Atlantas renowned Sugarloaf course. He was then promoted to head pro at TPC at Piper Glen in Charlotte, N.C., before getting the same gig in May of 1999 at Sugarloaf.

In August 2002, McSpadden said, mutual friends knew John Tyson was building the prestigious Clear Creek Golf Club in Johnson. A phone call led to an interview and the job. McSpadden said being involved with Clear Creek from its inception and working with famed golf architect Robert Trent Jones has been incredible.

We made a good choice with Chris, Tyson said. Hes taken the time to qualify himself with his experiences within the TPC system to do whats necessary to improve and learn.

McSpadden, an avid fly-fisherman, said hell serve as pro for the first year.