Egg Harbor Township, NJ – Jim Karafa has been named General Manager and
Director of Golf at Hidden
Creek Golf Club in Egg Harbor Township. A class "A" member of the PGA &
award winning CMAA (Club Managers Association of America) member, Jim comes to
Hidden Creek as an accomplished country club professional with more than 25
years experience, 15 of those serving as General Manager.
After playing collegiate golf and graduating from Penn State
University in 1986, Jim launched his professional career at the prestigious
Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, PA; He then assumed the position of
GM/Director of Golf at Diamond Run Golf Club in Pittsburgh, PA, followed by the
GM/COO position at Belmont Country Club in Ashburn, VA. Most recently he
operated and transitioned high end private courses for Troon Golf, including
Colonial Golf & Tennis Club in Harrisburg, PA, and Concord Country Club in
Chadds Ford, PA.
Jim is a graduate of Penn State University. He and his wife
Liz have two sons, Collins, 18, and Tanner, 15.
"Jim brings a passion and energy to Hidden Creek that will
further ensure a great golf and club experience for our members and their
guests," said Dave Goddard, President of Ole Hansen and Sons, the parent
company of Hidden Creek Golf Club." "Working in concert with the rest of our
exceptional staff, we believe Jim’s leadership will elevate Hidden Creek to new
heights."
A private club located in Egg Harbor Township, NJ, Hidden
Creek was designed by the renowned tandem of Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. They
are regarded by many in the industry as the preeminent golf architects in the
world today. Opened in 2002, Hidden Creek has been named as one of "America’s
100 Best Modern Courses" by Golfweek Magazine for nine consecutive
years. The club ranked third among private golf clubs in the U. S. in GolfWorld’s
inaugural Reader’s Choice Awards in 2008, behind only the fabled Augusta National
and Pine Valley Golf Clubs. In 2003, Hidden Creek was ranked 72nd on
GOLF Magazine’s list of "Top 100 Courses in the United States." In 2004,
the United States Golf Association (USGA) selected the club as a qualifying
site for two prestigious USGA Championships, the U. S. Women’s Open and the U.
S. Senior Open.
