Golf a life and a livelihood for Elkader GM Chapman

Joe Chapman has lived what many would call a dream job, working at a golf course for 40 years.

Chapman, general manager of the Elkader Golf and Country Club, will tell you, however, it's not always fun and games. But it does have its rewards.

"I got my master's degree in education, and I was teaching science and coaching golf at a junior college in Nebraska," Chapman said of his beginnings, when golf became a job.

Chapman was a very successful coach, too. He was undefeated in five years. He was runner-up for National Coach of the Year in 1978.

In 1980, he became executive director of the Iowa section of the PGA of America. What was supposed to be a three-month position ended up lasting nine years. He also was selected executive director of the Iowa Golf Association in 1982.

Perhaps his crowning achievement came in 1987 when he founded and helped develop the Amana Colonies Golf Course with Larry Hartzell.

"There was quite a bit of rigmarole," he said. "Another fellow and I worked at it and were able to get the land leases and secured the funding and went about getting it built."

In 1990, the course was voted as one of the top 10 new golf courses in the country. Champman served as CEO, general manager and board chairman until 1992.

He moved to Edgewood in 1995 to manage Woods Edge.

"I'm a small-town guy and fighting with the corporate structure wasn't my thing," said Chapman, a native of Filley, Neb. "The money was nice, but sometimes you make more than you are willing to earn."

He was named Club Manager of the Year in 1999 and in 2000 Woods Edge was selected the 9-hole course of the year by the IGA.

He is entering his eighth year at Elkader, his 40th in the golf industry.

"We really set out to make the course an integral part of the community, where everyone can come out and enjoy themselves," he said.

Though 65 and semiretired, Chapman isn't slowing down.

"We have become a semiprivate course, which is what we needed to do," he said. "We have put some programs with different products and events. There are three things that we try to put into place ... have a quality product, offer it at a fair price and give the customer service.

"If that's done, you won't go wrong."