Jackson City Council approves new golf course management

JACKSON, Tenn. — In an update on a story we first told you about Monday, Jackson city leaders approve a plan to have new managers take over the city’s only municipal golf course.

Council members met Tuesday morning in downtown Jackson to discuss a lease reassignment of the city golf course. They agreed to let the owners of Jackson National take over management of the facility.

“I think the golfing community will appreciate the management we have there and their expertise in making the golf course all it can be for the golfing community,” Mayor Jerry Gist said.

Jackson National President Mashall Talkington has worked at the family-owned club for 12 years. Growing up around golf, he says he is excited about the opportunity.

“I’m can’t believe I am actually running it,” Talkington said. “I can’t wait to get in there and get to know everyone who plays out there.”

Talkington said he will be able to enlist the help of his father, Tom Talkington, who managed Jackson National Golf Course for 31 years. He says together they will work to make the playing experience the best it can be for their customers.

Talkington is a recent University of Tennessee graduate. He says golf has always been his passion and that improving conditions on the Bent Tree course will be his No. 1 priority.

Council members say they are expecting good things from the new management team and hope it will bring out more people to the course.

“We are looking for bigger and better things with our golf course,” District 4 City Councilman Harvey Buchanan said. “We are looking to change the atmosphere, and we’re hoping the new management team will change the atmosphere.”

The City Council meets the first Tuesday of every month. The next meeting will be Dec. 6.