Jerry Matthews, ASGCA Past President, has more than 40 years of experience in designing and remodeling golf courses for real-estate developments, private clubs, resorts, privately-owned public golf facilities and municipalities. Golf has been an integral part of Jerry's life, almost from the day he was born. His foray into the golf industry began when he was 12 years old, working for this father on the maintenance crew at Green Ridge Country Club, where he continued to work summers until completing college. After receiving a Bachelors degree in Landscape Architecture, he spent a brief stint as an officer in the U.S. Army before returning to Michigan State University to earn both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Urban Planning. Upon completion of his formal education, he teamed with his father in 1960 to form the golf course design firm of W. Bruce Matthews & Son. Working with his father for the next 20 years, Jerry was instilled with the finer points of golf course architecture. In 1979, he took over as president of Matthews & Associates, PC as Bruce settled into retirement at the family-owned Grand Haven Golf Club, a masterpiece of his own design. Building upon the history and tradition set forth by his father, Jerry gained recognition and reaped major attention from national publications like Golf Digest for such Michigan courses as The Lakes Course at Michaywé, Gaylord; Timber Ridge Golf Course, East Lansing; Elk Ridge Golf Course, Atlanta; St. Ives Golf Club, Stanwood; Timberstone Golf Course, Iron Mountain; and Bucks Run Golf Club, Mt. Peasant. Jerry is currently semi-retired, providing services as an on-going consultant for some select clients. Until recently, he also dedicated time to teaching the class "Golf Course Design and Construction Techniques" for the Turfgrass program at Michigan State University. Jerry taught this class starting in 1993, and enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of the background of new golf course superintendents as they enter their chosen profession.