Former student-athlete and leader of local golf organization raves about experience at Reinhardt
When talking with Holt, it is easy to recognize his appreciation for Reinhardt, a small private college. Although his original plan was to be on the College's Waleska, Ga.-based campus for two years and then transfer, he decided to stay at Reinhardt and learn as much as he could about subjects that interested him.
"I came to Reinhardt with the intention of just staying a couple of years and transferring out to Georgia Tech," Holt said. "My wife's a Georgia Tech grad and at the time, I talked to her about her educational experiences and what she was learning, or better yet what she was not learning, in her classes. At the end of the day, I realized that I was sitting on gold at Reinhardt and had the opportunity to meet in upper-level business classes with professors who've actually worked in their field and weren't just researchers. It took me a while, but I just fell in love with Reinhardt and decided I wasn't going anywhere.
"Reinhardt provides its students with the opportunity to actually get involved with the learning process," Holt continued. "Big schools are great and fit for some people, but for me there was no substitution for the things that I learned and the professors that I got involved with at Reinhardt. One of the biggest things I think I learned at Reinhardt was that if you want to get involved with something or you want to learn something or you want to see something or do something in life, you just kind of have to do it. Being in an atmosphere like at Reinhardt College really allows you to do that."
Originally a business major at Reinhardt, Holt thought he may one day have an opportunity for a career in sports, and was also interested in accounting and history. So, by the time he left the Cherokee County institution, he had earned dual bachelor's degrees in business management and sports studies, along with minors in both accounting and history. He did all this while gathering 160-plus credit hours over four-and-a-half years.
Holt played on the Eagles golf team from 2001-05. At the same time, he got involved with working in the golf industry.
"I found that more than playing competitive golf, my real passion was being around the game at competitive levels but being on the other end of the rope," Holt said. "I realized pretty quickly that I wasn't going to be a professional golfer, so I went down another path."
While at Reinhardt, Holt was a teammate of and later played for current Eagles head golf coach Ken Dixon, who also serves as general manager at City Club Marietta (Ga.).
"Jeff was a teammate of mine for one year when I was a senior and he was a freshman," Dixon said. "I also coached him his final two years. Jeff is a great friend and a wonderful person. I have nothing but good things to say about Jeff."
Holt's affiliation with the AJGA began when he was in middle school. He was a player within the organization for five years, and later served as a summer staff member and United States Golf Association P.J. Boatwright, Jr., Intern for the AJGA.
"Everything that I know about golf and what it stands for – the rules of the game, the integrity, the honor and the sportsmanship aspects of it – I learned here at Atlanta Junior Golf," Holt said. "There's absolutely no amendment to that. Everything I think about golf and know about golf I owe to this program."
The AJGA is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and gains its funding through memberships, sponsorships and contributions. Contributions to the association are tax deductible by both individuals and corporations. The AJGA is governed by a board of directors made up of leading area business people, golf enthusiasts and golf professionals. Members of the board serve as volunteers and help guide the activities of the organization.
"We're one of the older junior golf organizations in the country as we were founded in 1974," Holt said. "When we first started, I think we had 100 kids and hosted 30 events that first year. In 2007, we did 102 events for almost 1200 kids."
Holt is currently preparing to lead the AJGA into its most busy time of the year for the first time.
"Ninety percent of our events happen in June and July," Holt said. "So, this year we'll actually do 90 events in about nine weeks."
The primary purpose of the AJGA is to provide an environment where a junior golfer, male or female ages 7-18, can enjoy golf and progress at his/her own rate from beginner to a proficient level while promoting and preserving the traditions and integrity of the game.
"There are a lot of things we're working on," Holt concluded. "The main goal, which ties in with the mission of our organization, is to continue running excellent golf tournaments and providing an opportunity for junior golfers, no matter what their skill level is, to come and play golf with friends and get exposure to playing the game the correct way."
Born in Hapeville, Ga., and raised nearby in Fayetteville, Holt now resides in Marietta with his wife, Lana, a former teammate of his on Fayette County High School's golf team.