Tom Bugbee
Chief Operating Officer
Tom currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at CourseCo and is also a partner in the firm. Tom originally joined the company in 2009 as the Director of Operations, was promoted to VP of Operations in 2011 and became the COO in 2018. In his current role, Tom oversees the day-to-day operations of the company including golf course operations as well as the finance and accounting department. While his responsibilities include financial performance and contractual compliance it is his focus on the support and development of key team members that has led to his success.
Born and raised in Petaluma, California the golf business was a passion for Tom very early in his working career. Starting at Adobe Creek Golf Club in outside services he quickly moved up through the ranks as assistant professional, head professional and then becoming the General Manager at the early age of 24. It was in this position that he was first introduced to acquisitions. He played a key role in the due diligence and transition at Peacock Gap Golf Club which was also his first experience in multiple property management. Tom left the golf business for a brief three-year period where he worked in the high-paced corporate tech world focusing on sales recruiting working with companies including IBM, SalesForce, Oracle and BMC Software. With a degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix and a passion for golf, the opportunity to return to the golf world and join the CourseCo team at their corporate office was the perfect fit for this Sonoma County native.
With over 25 years of experience in the golf business, his accomplishments in the industry are wide ranging. Tom has been interviewed and quoted in multiple publications including Golf Inc Magazine, The New York Times, The San Francisco Chronicle and the Wall Street Journal. Tom has managed over $100 million in capital projects including golf course and clubhouse construction. Currently a Board Member of the First Tee of the North Coast he is involved in this new chapter and assisting to get it off the ground. Perhaps the professional accomplishment that Tom is most proud of is being a part of CourseCo as it has grown from 14 courses centered in Northern California to 40 courses spread across the Western United States.
Tom still resides in Petaluma with his wife, Daniele, and their three daughters – Maddie, Brooklyn and Gwen. When not working or playing golf Tom enjoys traveling with his family and is an avid San Francisco Giants fan.