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As Lead Assistant Golf Professional at Egypt Valley, Joe Tierney is involved in all aspects of the golf operation—from helping Mike and Landon with the overall member service experience, to running the in-house Junior League program and the Ladies’ 3-Hole program with Jillian, to aiding Sam with the merchandise layout of the golf shop, to assisting in the running of leagues and member tournaments. Keep reading to learn more about Joe, who’s returning to Egypt Valley for a second time!

Please tell us about your background and where your passion for golf comes from!
I played some golf growing up in Florida, but I was focused on other sports as a kid. My mom put my brothers and I in golf clinics during the summers to get us started with the game. I began working at a golf course in high school, and that’s where my passion for golf really took off. After graduating from college, I began working as an Assistant Golf Professional at the course that my mom worked in my hometown. The following year, I became a traveling golf pro, working in Northern Michigan during the summers and in Florida during the winters. My wife and I moved to Florida for about five years to work in golf year-round before returning to Michigan.

Explain a bit about your Egypt Valley journey and how you came to work at the Club!
In 2018, my wife and I were living in Florida and planning to start a family. We wanted to move back up to Michigan. I found out that Egypt Valley was looking for an assistant, so I applied. I made a connection with Landon and Mike in phone interviews and was hired. In 2022, I left Egypt Valley for a Head Professional position in St. Louis. After being down there for a year or so, my wife and I knew that we would rather be in Michigan. Fortunately for me, Devin left Egypt Valley earlier this year for a Head Professional position in Illinois. Mike reached out to me to see if I wanted to come back, and I emphatically said “Yes.”

What’s your favorite part of your job at the Club?
My favorite part of the job is interacting with all the people that I encounter each day, including both members and staff. Egypt Valley has a sense of community that you won’t find at every country club.

What’s something surprising or interesting about you that members might not know?
My family is full of golf professionals. My wife was a club professional for years until we began having kids. She still teaches a little during the summer. My brother-in-law, Dan Urban, which some members may remember working at Egypt Valley, is the Head Golf Professional at Gull Lake Country Club in Kalamazoo. My older brother and his brother-in-law are both Head Golf Professionals in St. Louis.

When you’re not at the Club, what could you be found enjoying?
When not at the club, you’ll most likely find me outside with my wife and two young kids. During the summer, we love going to parks, on nature walks and bike rides. In the winter, we’ll go sledding and hiking in the snow. We use any excuse to be outside enjoying the outdoors.