CLEVELAND COUNTRY golf professional Neil Scott is leaving his position at the club for employment elsewhere in the private sector. He has been the head professional since 2006. Banner photo, LARRY C. BOWERS
Lamar Mills, general manager of golf and clubhouse services, acknowledged that Scott is leaving the post this week.
Mills said Monday that he will assume the responsibilities of the job on an interim basis as he and the country club board go through the process of selecting a new professional. “It could take three months or more for us to find the right man for the job,” said Mills.
Scott said he is transferring elsewhere in the private sector for employment, allowing him to spend more time with his wife, the former Meredith Roberts and their 1-year-old daughter, Evie. His wife is a third-grade teacher at Oak Grove Elementary School.
Scott, the son of Cleveland’s Maggie and Jim Scott, came to Cleveland Country Club as an employee in 1996. He was elevated to assistant professional in 2001 and took over the job as head professional in 2006.
He is a Bradley County native, attended Stuart Elementary, Cleveland Middle School and graduated from Cleveland High School in 1999. He later received his degree from Lee University.
Scott said he was influence to play golf by his parents, both avid golfers. His mother is a former Tennessee State amateur champion and has multiple city and state senior championships. He began playing golf in middle school and played competitively in high school and college.
Scott said his golf game was greatly influenced by former country club professionals Joe Markham and Keith Hight.
Stepping down from his vocational golf responsibilities, Scott plans to continue to play in competitive events and has filed to have his amateur standing reinstated with the USGA. This reinstatement should come within the coming year.
“I hope to be able to play in regional, state and possibly national amateur events,” he said.
“I’ll miss being the professional at the country club, and I’ll miss the people,” Scott said. “But, I feel this is the right move for me and my family.”
