KIMBERLY LAWS WILL TAKE OVER AS MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE CHIEF

More than two months after firing the last Jaycee Municipal Golf Course manager, the city last week hired Kimberly Laws for the job.

Laws, 26, comes from Carlyle, Ill., where she worked at a public golf course owned by her family.

She replaces Robert Casey, who was hired April 19 after city officials decided a full-time manager would hasten play and further improve the condition of the course.

After less than two months on the job, Casey was dismissed.

Laws said Tuesday she's excited about the opportunity to come to Cape Girardeau.

"I was looking for other opportunities outside of Illinois," she said. "In Missouri, it's not too far from home, but it's something different, which I always wanted to try."

Laws has worked in various capacities at golf courses for the past 13 years. She graduated in 1989 from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a degree in commercial recreation.

Dan Muser, director of the city's Parks and Recreation Department, said Laws also previously worked at a resort with a private golf course and as a recreation coordinator in an Illinois State Correctional Facility.

"Also, as a student she worked in a lot of recreation training as an intern," he said. "I think she's got some pretty good golf course experience."

Laws' salary will be about $21,000, and she'll be responsible primarily for pro shop operations, organization of tournaments and assurance of smooth play on the course.

"I'm glad we finally got somebody out there," Muser said. "She seems real enthusiastic. I think there's a lot of opportunity here for somebody to get in and make some improvements and build on what we've already done."

Muser said there's always room for improvement at the city golf course.

A course manager was hired earlier this year after a year-long trial to see if course improvements and a more active management role by the Golf Course Advisory Board would be sufficient to improve play.

Some city council members for years have urged that a full-time manager be hired, but the council early last year accepted a golf course board recommendation to not hire a manager.

The city instead continued to use Carroll Williams, a golf instructor at Southeast Missouri State University, as a course "consultant."

Although complaints about the course's condition subsided this spring, those regarding the management of the course persisted.

Muser said Casey was hired to solve the problem, and he replaced two employees who previously shared administrative duties at the course.

But when Casey didn't work out, Recreation Coordinator Penny Wingerter was saddled with the responsibility of the municipal golf course.

"She was out there all summer," Muser said. "It worked out, but I think it was tough on her. She was basically trying to work two jobs. With a new manager, we expect things will run a little smoother."

Laws said she's impressed with the course.

"I've heard this is the best it's looked since they've opened up," she said. "I was just out there the other day, and it looks really good."

But the new golf course manager echoed Muser's sentiments, admitting that there likely are improvements that can yet be made.

"Right now, I'm not really coming in with a lot of new ideas and programs," she said. "I'm still just getting the hang of it.

"But there's always room for improvement, and as I see things, I'll bring them up. Right now, I've been plenty busy just learning the new job."