At the Turn: Jeff Sexton

Jeff Sexton

Superintendent // Evansville (Ind.) CC

Jeff, what are you having? 

I’ll have a Captain Morgan and Diet Coke.

Tell me about Evansville CC.

We’re an 18-hole private club. We’ve got about 700 members. It’s your typical family-oriented country club. We just went through a big renovation back in 2022. We just finished up our second full summer after the renovation, and the membership seems to be really happy with it. I’m in my 15th season here.

How did you get into the business?

I’ve got a dad (Tony Sexton) who was in the business for 42 years. We’re originally from the St. Louis market. My dad, a couple of my uncles that worked for him, they were in the business, and I just sat around as a youngster listening about golf course management on the couch during the holidays at Grandma’s house, and it just drew my interest from there.

Next time I’m in Evansville, what do I have to do?

You need to go to the House of Como and get a steak. It’s the best steak in the grungiest restaurant in the city, but a lot of high-profile folks have been through that little restaurant. It’s decorated for Christmas year-round. It seems like the silverware and the plates are all garage sale type items. But man, it’s a great steak.

What teams do you root for?

I’m a Purdue Boilermaker, so I’m watching lots of basketball. I also watch a little St. Louis Cardinals on occasion.

Tell me about your family.

I’m married. We’ve got two boys and a girl. I’m proud to say my oldest son is in the Catholic Seminary. God will take him where he wants to take him. My daughter’s a senior in high school, going through the college choice stage of life right now. And then I’ve got a freshman in high school, my youngest. We like to travel and do things together. We’re a real tight-knit group.

What does it take to be successful as a superintendent?

I had a conversation a long time ago with a friend of mine … I call it the sixth sense. I try to teach my assistants about the sixth sense of golf course management. I think just the time it takes and to have that sixth sense in your blood, to be able to go above and beyond and just go to the course when needed is a big deal. You just have to live it and understand it and feel it when it comes to weather and wind and humidity. There’s just part of this industry that can’t be taught.

As interviewed by Seth Jones, Nov. 10, 2025.