CourseCo, Inc. Principals

Michael began his career in the golf industry at the age of 15 with an after school job at the local driving range.  From that early experience with the game and serving the public, he decided to pursue a career in the golf industry, one that has earned him a reputation as a highly respected manager.

Working in, then managing, a golf shop during his college years, Michael graduated from Sacramento State University where he was a member of the varsity golf team. 

In 1997 he joined ClubCorp at Teal Bend Golf Club.  During his six-year tenure, he developed the leadership qualities and business acumen that led to his first club manager position.  “My management philosophy is simple: follow through and meet commitments.”   

StoneTree Golf Club was Michael’s next general manager position where the challenges of high end daily fee golf during the post 9/11 years enabled him to sharpen his yield management and cost containment skills such that he maintained net income margins even through declining rounds.  The development of a self-sufficient, professional team at this elite property is a tribute to his overall management abilities.

Michael joined CourseCo in 2005 as a Senior Operations Manager.  His continued dedication and success in developing management teams, strong business ethics and disciplined approach to financial performance quickly led to his becoming an owner and then President/CEO of CourseCo.

Tom was first introduced to the golf business as general manager of Bodega Harbour in its formative years, 1977-1980, where he completed grow-in and opened the Robert Trent Jones II golf course. He had overall operating responsibility for all property functions including golf operations and maintenance, food services, strategic planning, architectural design review and governmental relations.

He formed EBITgolf, Inc., CourseCo's predecessor, in 1989 and commenced the master-planned renovation of Riverside Golf Course for the City of Fresno, which he has leased since then. As founder of CourseCo, Tom heads an organization with approximately 1,200+ employees at 33 golf facilities generating some $80 million in gross revenues. He has been quoted in Golf Digest, Golf Business, Golf Course News, and USGA Golf Journal on golf related topics.

A graduate of Stanford University, he has done post-graduate study in both environmental planning and finance at Sonoma State University where he was later assistant to the president. Tom has an extensive background in public service. He was formerly Director of Research for Operating Engineers Local Union #3, the largest building and construction local in the world; director of the California State Assembly Office of Majority Services; and chief administrative officer of the State Assembly.

Read "A Stroke of Genius" from the March 2003 issue of NorthBay biz magazine.

John entered the golf business with the acquisition of Deep Cliff Golf Course in Cupertino, California in 1991. The course suffered from serious deferred maintenance problems and a comprehensive $800,000 remodeling of the clubhouse was accomplished in his first two years of operations. Under the direct management of CourseCo, Inc, the course now operates successfully, and provides a good example of a successful turn-around situation. In 1993 John purchased Mallard Lake Golf Course in Yuba City, California. Under CourseCo's management, operations were reorganized and a substantial upgrading of the facility, including construction of a new driving range, was completed in 1993. A rebuilt mini-golf course designed by CourseCo and constructed as a community project with Teen Challenge and Yuba City High School, was completed in 1994. Following a successful operational and financial turnaround, Mr. Telischak sold the Mallard Lake Golf Center in May 1997. He has made a significant commitment to investing in the golf industry and is looking forward to continuing that commitment.

John has been active in real estate investment, development, finance, and management since 1968. After working for IBM in both finance and real estate at their headquarters in New York, he joined Kidder Peabody Realty Corporation on Wall Street and was active in financing a wide variety of real estate transactions nationally. He is currently president of Telischak & Company, his principle investment and development entity. Formed in 1975, Telischak & Company directly, or through its affiliates, has developed, purchased, sold, and/or financed over 50 properties totaling in excess of $500 million. He became a partner in CourseCo in January 1996.

Raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, John earned a BA in economics from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut and an MBA from the Stanford Business School.

Tom is a veteran of the golf business.  Tom spent the bulk of his young career at Adobe Creek Golf Club where in a span of 12-years he progressed from Assistant Golf Professional, to First Assistant Professional, Head Professional, and finally General Manager.  While GM, Tom’s leadership produced facility records for gross revenue, rounds, and profit for three consecutive years.  Tom focused heavily on customer retention, designing and implementing Adobe Creek’s Frequent Player Program.  He managed the redesign and renovation of Adobe Creek’s Practice Facility, and developed targeted on-line marketing strategies that helped set the revenue records.  His focus on affiliate club membership led to the Adobe Creek Men’s and Women’s Club growing from 200 to 500 members within a two-year period.

Tom had a significant role in the due diligence for the purchase of Peacock Gap Golf and Country Club and was ultimately named the General Manager for both Adobe Creek and Peacock Gap.

In a break from the golf business, Tom spent three years working for a recruiting firm in the high tech industry giving him a strong grounding in the culture and practices of sophisticated corporate environments.  He returned to his passion, the golf business, joining CourseCo at the corporate office in 2009.