Meet The River Course Staff
David E. Lowe
Chairman, The River Course, LLC Operating Board
As Chairman of the River Course Operating Board, David has accountability and responsibility to the Virginia Tech Foundation for strategic planning and overall operations of the golf course. His involvement began in 2002 with the acquisition of 'The River' by the Virginia Tech Foundation. Since that time, he has coordinated the reconstruction of the driving range, the construction of the Turf Care Center and Golf Team Center, and the reconstruction of the golf course by Pete Dye. He is currently coordinating the construction of the $5.5 million clubhouse project expected to complete in the late 3rd quarter of 2009.
David is a 1963 graduate of Virginia Tech and president of his class. Following graduation, he served 5 years in the US Air Force with duty in France and Germany. He retired following 35 years in the telecommunications industry where he held executive positions with Bell Atlantic (Verizon) in West Virginia (President and CEO), Washington, D.C. (Asst Vice-President, Public Relations and Advertising) and Virginia (Vice-President of Operations). While in West Virginia, he developed and led a program of corporate support to public education resulting in his company receiving one of four National President's Volunteer Action Awards which was presented by President Reagan at the White House. During his career he was significantly involved in community and economic development activities and private sector support to education. He served on the boards and held leadership positions with many organizations. He was a director of One Valley Bank, NA (now BB&T) and served on the Agriculture and Small Business Advisory Committee to the Richmond Federal Reserve Bank.
He is currently President of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, serves on the board of the Virginia Tech Foundation, the VT Corps of Cadets Alumni Association, and the German Club Alumni Foundation.
David is 'retired'. He and Sharon live in Blacksburg and are parents of four children (2 Hokies married to Hokies) and have 7 grandchildren.
John Norton
Head PGA Professional/General Manager
John assumed the duties of Head PGA Professional/General Manager at Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech on December 1, 2004. He was Director of Golf at Grand Palms resort and Spa in Pembroke Pines, Florida from 2003-2004. Prior to that he was head PGA Professional at the Country Club of Miami from 1994-2003 where he had served as Director of Instruction for the PGA Tour from 1990-1994
John is a 1982 graduate of Marshall University and a former W. Virginia Junior and Intercollegiate Champion. Professionally, he participated in PGA Tour Qualifying 3 times and was the 1986 Nebraska PGA Section Champion. He was a highly respected golf professional in the Southern Chapter of the South Florida Section of the PGA of America for many years and served as President from 2001-2003. He also served the SFPGA Section Executive Committee as Awards Chairman from 2001-2004. Among his many honors are:
- 2003 - Bill Strausbaugh Award
- 2000 and 2002 - Merchandiser of the Year Award
- 2002 - Player of the Year
- 2000 - Golf Professional of the Year
John and his wife Bianca have three children.
Ann Martin
Business Manager
Ann Martin joined the management team of the River Course in February 2008. She is a graduate of Virginia Tech (class of 1972) with a degree in Business Administration and a major in Finance. Prior to her affiliation with The River Course, LLC she was the financial administrator in a local real estate company for 17 years and was a licensed REALTOR® in the New River Valley for over 30 years specializing in residential sales and new home construction.
Ann's responsibilities as Business Manager include serving as the primary financial/accounting position for the golf courses, the coordination and direction for marketing and advertising activities, and performing payroll management and human resource support functions.
Golf is her favorite sport and her enthusiasm for the game is only exceeded by her handicap. Seriously, she believes that golf is the greatest game ever and she is dedicated to this golf facility and its bright future.
Both Ann and her husband are "Blacksburg Natives" with strong family ties to the area. Ann is married to David ("Tot") Martin who works at Va. Tech for the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute and they have two grown children. Their son, Wes, is a graduate of Radford University and a former RU Golf Team Member. He works in the golf industry in Hilton Head, S.C. Their daughter, Carrie, is a graduate of Christopher Newport University and was married to C.K. Funderburgh in June 2007.
Mark Cote
Director of Golf Maintenance
Mark joined the River Course, LLC in March of 2006 as Superintendent for "The River". On June 1, 2009 he was promoted to Director of Golf Maintenance to be responsible for the maintenance of both The River Course and the VA Tech Campus Golf Course.
Mark is a 1984 graduate of Colby College in Waterville, ME with a BA in History. He also holds an Associates Degree in Turf Management from Va Tech.
Mark has been involved in the golf course industry since the age of 12 as a caddy. He spent 2 years teaching and coaching in Southampton Academy before returning to golf. He has worked at Farmington Country Club, River Creek Country Club, The Greenbrier Resort, and 8 years at the Homestead Resort prior to his association with the River Course, LLC.
Mark is a 15 year member of the Golf Course Superintendents Association (GCSAA) of America from which he holds a Class A superintendent rating. He is the Vice president of the Virginias Turfgrass Association (VTA) which is active in continuing education as well as research and scholarships. He also aides in research being conducted by professors at VA. Tech whenever possible. Mark has developed a strong working relationship with the Va. Tech Turfgrass program and employs students and interns on a regular basis.
Mark and his wife Tina have been married for 9 years and have a daughter, Eliza. Mark is a native of Winchester, MA and Tina is a native of Hot Springs, VA. They currently reside in Blacksburg.
Jay Hardwick
Director of Golf Operations/Virginia Tech Head Golf Coach
A 1971 graduate of Virginia Tech, Jay returned to his alma mater in 1983 and assumed the dual role of Director of Golf for the Virginia Tech Golf Course and Head Golf Coach for the Hokies. He was promoted to the position of Director of Golf Operations/Head Golf Coach in 2003. In addition to his coaching duties, he is responsible for the staffs and overall operation of both the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech and the Virginia Tech Golf Course.
Hardwick is in his 27th season at Virginia Tech. During that time, he has developed the Hokie golf program into one that not only wins, but does so the right way. Academic integrity, solid fundamentals and a sense of right are trademarks of this program. The Hokies don't just win, they achieve. With his attention to detail and the support of an outstanding group of boosters, he has brought Hokie golf into national prominence. In January of 2008, Hardwick was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America's Hall of Fame. The honor is a further testament to the mark Hardwick has left on collegiate golf and the golf world as a whole. He received the award at the association's annual banquet in Orlando, and sharing the dais with Hardwick and the two other inductees was golf legend Arnold Palmer, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the GCAA.
He was named the 2005 recipient of the Bill Strausbaugh Award presented by the Middle Atlantic PGA. This award bestows special recognition on a PGA member who has made significant contributions through mentoring of PGA Professionals and through involvement in community and charitable activities. Hardwick also received the inaugural Labron Harris Sr. Award, given by E-Z-GO Textron, in association with the PGA of America. The award is presented to the college or high school coach and PGA Professional whose support of the game through teaching, coaching and involvement in the community has helped ensure the continued growth of the game and represent the finest qualities the game has to offer.
A head golf professional for 37 years, Jay is a Class "A" Member, Quarter Century Club Member, and Life Member of the PGA of America. In 1994, he was inducted into the Virginia PGA Hall of Fame, making him the youngest member of this prestigious group. Jay and his wife Celia have a son Cris, daughter-in-law Melissa and grandsons Jacob Dylan and Aiden Thomas, who reside in Fredericksburg.
For a complete biography, view www.hokiesports.com/staff/hardwick.html
Ryan Peffer
PGA First Assistant Golf Professional
Ryan is the most recent addition to the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech Staff. Previous to this season, he was the Head Men's & Women's Golf Coach and a Professional Golf Management Instructor at Queens University of Charlotte. Ryan also served as the Head Women's Golf Coach at Franklin & Marshall College and as the PGA Senior Assistant Golf Professional at Lancaster Country Club in Lancaster, PA.
Ryan is a graduate of Clarion University where he was recognized as a Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar and the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference MVP. Ryan is a former Keystone Public Golf Association State Junior Champion, has three professional wins to his credit and was a five-time member of Philadelphia Section PGA Dick Smith Cup Team. Ryan is a Class "A" member of the PGA and is also a Titleist staff member and certified club fitter.
