The Fezler Golf Team

Since 1994, Forrest Fezler worked exclusively with award winning architect Mike Strantz designing and creating some of the nation's most notable golf courses.  Recently, Mike lost his enduring battle with cancer, but "The Maverick Lives On" as Forrest and his team continues to contribute their skills and vision to the game of golf.   

President of Fezler Golf, Forrest Fezler has been a member of the PGA Tour since 1972. Growing up in California and playing golf throughout his youth, Forrest won the California Amateur in 1969. Since Qualifying school in 1972 Forrest had eight 2^nd place finishes between 1972-1983, with a Championship win in 1974 at Green Island Golf Course at the Southern Open (now known more commonly as the Buick Challenge) and two weeks later finished second in the U.S Open at Winged Foot behind Hale Irwin.

Owning his own golf course in Tallahassee, Florida, Golden Eagle, was where his passion for golf construction was peaked. His experience as a course owner and developer has proved invaluable over the years as he works with various course owners. And in 1994 Forrest changed careers from golf competition and ownership to golf course construction.

Joe Rice, principal and managing member of Fezler Golf, is an attorney that actively practices for the law firm of Motley Rice, LLC in Charleston, South Carolina.  Joe participates actively in litigation of complex matters, including extensive involvement in the asbestos litigation and representing the states in the litigation against the tobacco industry.

For the last five years, Joe has been involved in the establishment and building of golf courses.  He is a principal in Raspberry Falls Golf and Hunt Club in Leesburg, Virginia.  Raspberry Falls is a Gary Player Signature Course that operates as a daily fee course in Leesburg. In addition, Joe is the principal in Bull's Bay Golf Club in Awendaw, South Carolina.  Bull's Bay is a Fezler Golf course in the lowcountry of South Carolina, located approximately 10 miles North of Charleston, South Carolina.

Frank Antonelli, partner grew up on Long Island and graduated from Columbia University in New York City with a degree in Economics. After working as a financial examiner for the NASDAQ markets, Frank returned to earn a Masters degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University’s acclaimed program in 1988.

Frank began his career in golf at Muirfield Village Golf Club in 1988, working for Jack Nicklaus overseeing the club management and tournament marketing/operations for the Memorial Tournament. In 1992 Frank was named vice-president and general manager of Country Club of the North in Dayton, where he was responsible for overseeing the construction and management operations of the golf club and LPGA event.

In 1999 Frank formed Empire Sports Management with Fezler Golf partner Joe Rice, to manage televised celebrity golf tournaments and develop golf courses. ESM currently oversees Bull's Bay Golf Club and manages several televised Celebrity golf tournaments, including the Monday after the Masters Hootie and the Blowfish Celebrity Pro Am and The Kiawah Pro Celebrity Challenge.

Frank currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina and is married to women’s basketball television analyst, Debbie Antonelli. They have three boys Joey, Frankie, and Patrick.

Barry D. Gumb, partner and chief financial officer of Fezler Golf, is a certified public accountant, accredited business valuation analyst, and expert litigation consultant with over three decades of experience in the financial community. 

Barry has been involved in the economic feasibility, establishment and development aspects of golf courses over the last five years.  He is additionally an active principal with Pratt-Thomas, Gumb, and Company, P.A., a local public accounting firm, with offices in Charleston, S.C.

Jennifer Pittman, administrator for Fezler Golf, has worked nearly 10 years in administrative support.  Since graduating from San Diego State with a degree in Communications, Jennifer has worked as a Travel Coordinator, Advertising Agent, Accountant, and Executive Assistant for a variety of companies.  She currently resides in Oceanside, California with her husband Shane and daughter Danielle. She has been apart of the Fezler Golf team for seven years and provides support for all aspects of the business.

Michael Jones, shaper began his career in construction in 1981 in Plymouth, North Carolina.  Always fascinated by golf course design, he was thrilled in 1994 when given the opportunity to work for Forrest and Mike Strantz while designing Stonehouse and Royal New Kent in Williamsburg, Virginia.  There he learned the unique art of shaping golf holes and has served as a proud member of the Fezler Golf team for every golf course designed by Strantz since that time. 

Michael, a native of Brunswick County, North Carolina, often says that he is very fortunate because he gets paid to do something he truly loves. He resides in Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina with his wife, Daphne and his daughter Salem.  Michael is a first-class shaper who is highly regarded as an expert in his field and is a tremendous asset to the Fezler Golf Construction family.

At age 19, Jeff Jones, shaper, a native of Brunswick County, North Carolina left the family tobacco farm and started working as a laborer for a construction company in Myrtle Beach, SC. In 1988 he worked on building the first Legends course in Conway, SC where he quickly progressed from an equipment operator to a golf course shaper and a passion was born.

In 1994 he was introduced to Mike Strantz and Forrest Fezler in Williamsburg, VA. Under the direction of Mike and Forrest, Jeff’s passion for Golf Course Construction grew tremendously. He learned the ropes of not only building golf courses, but building true works of art. Realizing he could not ignore his desire to shape golf courses he has continued to work with Fezler Golf team since 1994 relocating his family based on the course construction. His passion for course design and love for his family are the two mainstays of his life. 

Jeff spends his free time in Mt. Pleasant, SC, where he resides with his wife of 20 years and three beautiful daughters, Megan, Sable & Samantha.