New Kidd in town

Mike Kidd likes to take things to the next level. Whether it’s motorcycle racing or golf, he’s capable of committing huge amounts of energy and focus to his passions.

It is his love of golf combined with more than 40 years in the motorcycle racing industry, first as a professional racer and later as a promoter, that landed him in the management position of the Jacksboro Golf Course and Country Club.

The 63-year-old recently moved to Jacksboro from Fort Worth. His father, the late Don Kidd, had moved her 25 years ago. Before his father passed, he visited him here frequently.

“I’d come visit about 15 times a year and come and play golf with him,” Kidd said. “Then, for about the last 4 or 5 years, I’d come out almost every weekend that the weather was nice. We had a strong bond through racing, then that strong bond carried on through golf.”

He and his wife, Sandra, had been looking to move to Jacksboro for the last few years.

“The more I played golf out here, the more I wanted to stay out here,” Kidd said.

Once he moved back, he learned that the golf course was in trouble so he decided to step in.

“I didn’t move out here to not play golf,” he said. “I think big things are fixing to happen in Jacksboro. I don’t think they’re going to happen overnight. I think good things are fixing to come our way out here. That’s why we want to start making improvements to the golf course. To be ready as Jacksboro grows the golf course is ready for new members and get people to playing golf again.”

He, his wife, and a partner, Kevin Brunson of Weatherford, have made a proposal to take over management of the country club. Kidd has been acting as interim manager since last fall.

The city-owned golf course has mostly been able to break even by charging fees for play or membership. In the last few years, membership has declined from about 150 to about 80.

Although it’s a country club, it is not exclusive. Although it is city-owned, the city has not had any financial outlay to run it.

“We have made some recent improvements like the flag poles and worked on the road. But as for the cost to manage it, it’s been able to pay its bills,” said City Manager Mike Smith. “We have had some minor costs, but it’s been really and truly minimal. We’ve simply been keeping the thing open until we can turn it over to a management company.”

Kidd has several ideas to help increase interest and activity for the club. He plans to make upgrades to the course, clubhouse, bar and pro-shop, put lights up for the driving range and host more events.

“Our goal is to get membership back up to 150 members,” Kidd said. “We’re going to work extremely hard and this is a goal, I’m not exaggerating, we want to be the best 9-hole golf course in Texas within two years.”

To read the complete article, see the Feb. 3 edition of the Herald-Gazette.