By Clifford Cowley
Andy Mackimmie
Occupation: Head Pro-Coeur d’Alene Resort
Location: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Pro Status: PGA Member Class A-1
Andy Mackimmie
College has its place. With Andy Mackimmie, it has a prominent place in his life. His father was the Director of Student Housing at Washington State University.
“Growing up in Pullman, Wash., and living just a few blocks from the university had its advantages,” says Mackimmie. “WSU was always a big part of my family life, and a big part of my childhood. It was like my second home.”
Growing up, sports were a big part of his life too. He attended WSU sporting events, sports camps, and participated in school field trips to the university. His love of sports led to his calling in the golf business.
A Change in Focus
Mackimmie didn’t start out playing golf at an early age. His sport was soccer, but when he reached high school, soccer was no longer available. A friend and his dad encouraged him to try out for the golf team in his sophomore year. His friend coached Mackimmie all the fundamentals. “After a few weeks of playing golf nearly every day, I was hooked. In my last two years of high school, I played on the varsity team.” In his senior year, his team qualified for the Washington State Championship tournament.
Once Mackimmie got into WSU, golf became more of a recreational game for him. To his own admission, Mackimmie started college not really knowing what he wanted to do with his life. He changed his major several times before finally settling on recreation management with a minor in business administration. “At that point, I knew I didn’t want to be stuck in an office my entire career,” says Mackimmie. He still enjoyed playing golf as much as he could, and he worked summers at the nearby University of Idaho golf course, so he could make a little money and play when he wasn’t working.
“I pretty much lived at the golf course from sun up to sun down in the summers,” he says. “It was a grind, but I succeeded in getting myself to a three handicap.”
More and more, it became clear to him that a career in the golf industry was the direction he wanted to focus on. Not as a professional on tour, necessarily, but to help others enjoy the game like he did, and to manage golf operationally.
Fortuitous Circumstance
In 1990, at the start of his junior year in college, he read about a new golf course opening in Coeur d’Alene, complete with a floating green and just two hours away from Pullman. “The plans for the facility looked amazing, and I was fortunate to have the opportunity to play the Coeur d’Alene Resort Golf Course in the summer of 1991 when it first opened. I knew if I could get my foot in the door at a place like this, it would be a fun start to my career,” says Mackimmie with a raised level of excitement in his voice. “Little did I know I would still be enjoying the golf business, let alone here at Coeur d’Alene, 21 later!” he adds with a grin.
Indeed, in a business that is fraught with job changes, Mackimmie has made his way to the top in the same organization. A tribute to his friendly manner and attention to providing golfers with a lasting, comfortable experience at Coeur d’Alene.
Mackimmie began his career at the resort fulfilling his college internship in 1992, working outside services and occasionally taking loops as a forecaddie. “The highlight of my first season at the resort was carrying the bag as a caddy for Jack Whittaker, the ABC sports commentator, just prior to the Merrill Lynch Shootout event the course hosted. It was a thrill to be part of a PGA event, meet many of the pros and work the tournament.”
As his tenure at Coeur d’Alene progressed, Mackimmie worked as an assistant golf professional and was promoted to first assistant. He also spent a year managing the food & beverage operation at the golf course, which was no small task.
“It’s not just a hot dog and soda shop. We have a chef who delights in making dishes that can serve as a meal, and tantalize the taste buds of golfers making the turn. Many people from the community and the resort come just for lunch at our ‘little hot dog stand,’’” says Mackimmie with a laugh.
In 2000, he completed the PGA Management program and earned PGA membership. In 2007, he was promoted to Head Golf Professional.
Life Influences
Mackimmie credits his dad as the one who guided him through many important decisions in his life. “He was my soccer coach growing up and always took the time to play catch, shoot hoops, or whatever other activities were going on at the time. It was during those precious times together I learned a lot about life and myself. He was the one that convinced me to keep sports in my life and inspired me to take on new challenges—like golf.” He credits his mother too, a registered nurse who worked most of her career at the Whitman County Health Department, as instrumental in teaching him to care about others. “If it wasn’t for their tireless support, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.”
Professionally, Mike DeLong, former Director of Golf at Coeur d’Alene was a great mentor for Mackimmie for over 10 years, providing him with insight and guidance in understanding the golf business. “Mike was encouraging and upbeat in his approach with employees and always willing to talk with you about whatever was on your mind. When faced with a difficult business decision, I still often find myself thinking,
“What would Mike do?”
Managing Philosophy
No doubt, Mackimme’s management style stems from his parents’ and Mike DeLong’s influences on his life. He believes hiring the right person for any given job is the most important job a manager can do. He hires on personality first, then skills and experience second. “In the hospitality business, you have to have a staff that understands and buys into the philosophy of serving others first,” says Mackimmie. A positive attitude, small gestures, and exceeding expectations at every turn, one guest at a time, makes a huge difference in how the golf experience is perceived. Training is the easy part.”
Teaching Philosophy
No matter what level of player he teaches Mackimmie likes to focus on the fundamentals first: grip, stance, posture, and alignment. “Having a static body set up is a critical aspect of eliminating variables and inconsistencies to promote a repeatable golf swing. Having good balance, rotation and timing is more important than the positioning of hands and arms in space. Most importantly, does the club head move through the impact zone with consistency? Every golfer will hit a good shot. It’s only the frequency of good shots that separates a pro from an amateur.”
After the basics, Mackimmie considers himself more coach than teacher. Teaching students to teach themselves based on their own ball flight feedback is key. “Knowing what causes a specific ball flight pattern is an important element to the learning process. Then, I can suggest drills that can help repeat certain ball flight patterns. Too many students practice just to practice. Practicing with a purpose and small goals in mind translates to more effective practice sessions and quicker results.”
Andrew Mackimmie has created a life of sports through the business of golf, setting a standard for how a course should operate by serving others, focusing on the customer, and exceeding their expectations.
Carry on, Andy.
What’s In Andy Mackimmie’s Bag?
Titleist 913 D2, 9.5º Driver
Titleist 913F 15º Fairway wood
Titleist AP2 Irons 3-PW and GW
Titleist Vokey Wedges 56º-11 & 60º-07
Scotty Cameron Studio Select Newport 2 Putter.
Titleist Pro V1x Ball
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