The Home Course in DuPont, Wash. has announced that Justin Gravatt is the facility's new PGA head professional. He begins his duties at the course, which is cooperatively owned and operated by the Pacific Northwest Golf Association and Washington State Golf Association, on July 1, 2016.
Gravatt, 33, grew up in Olympia, Wash., and attended Olympia High School. He says he knew early on what he wanted to do with his life.
"Growing up, I had some great PGA professionals as mentors. I'd work on the driving range, picking up balls, or work in the golf shop, and they'd let me play. The golf course was just a great place to be, and I knew I wanted to be one of those guys."
Right out of high school, Gravatt enrolled in the professional golf management program at Walla Walla (Wash.) Community College, where he also played on the men's golf team (capturing two NWAC titles). "It allowed me to get an early start on my career," he said. Gravatt started working as an assistant golf professional at Washington National Golf Club in Auburn, Wash., then served two seasons as an assistant pro at Bellingham G&CC, and by the young age of 24 he was named the PGA head professional at Alderbrook Golf & Yacht Club in Union, Wash.
Gravatt stayed at Alderbrook for 10 years, before accepting the opportunity at The Home Course. "I'm excited to move back to Olympia and raise my family there," says Gravatt, who has a 4-year-old son and another son on the way. "I still have relatives there, and we're looking forward to seeing everyone more often. With the course being just a few minutes up the freeway, it will be easy to do."
When asked what he was looking forward to about The Home Course, Gravatt didn't hesitate. "It has such a great reputation for hosting quality local, regional and national championships, and I'm thrilled to be involved with that. I'm excited about the growth of the game, and what better place to do that than at the home of golf in the Northwest."
Gravatt says The Home Course will be a great extension for his own professional philosophy. "I like to be able to give the daily-fee player a private club experience, and The Home Course is that kind of facility - it's a great course, well maintained, and is playable and affordable for everyone."
Gravatt is familiar with the challenges and opportunities of a golf facility on the rise. "This will be the third time I've worked at a club that will be doing some build-up," he said. "At Bellingham, we did an entire remodel of the clubhouse, and at Alderbrook we went through a make-over of the resort. So I know about the excitement of planning and implementing new phases, and there is so much to look forward to at The Home Course. It's an exciting time for everyone."
