Cane Garden - Staff

Brian Linton PGA Professional

Hometown: Bay Head, New Jersey

Growing up in a small New Jersey town, a life as golf professional was the furthest thing from my mind. Long days at the beach and many hours training on the soccer fields, golf was not part of my life until my junior year of college. The first time I played golf, I have to admit I was hooked, as this game posed so many challenges and no two rounds were ever the same. Upon graduating from Rutgers University with a degree in Economics, and a short stint with Smith Barney in Manhattan, I gave up my Park Avenue office for a life as a Golf Professional. My new career started at a small private club, not far from my home, called Manasquan River Golf Club. From there, my career took me to some fantastic facilities which included Plainfield Country Club, Ocean Reef, Pinehurst Resort and Duke University, until I found my way to the Head Golf Professional position at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto, Florida. The last three years of my career was spent as the Director of Golf at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables. Each and every one of these facilities provided me with new opportunities, challenges, and enriching experiences. One of the wonderful advantages of this profession has been all the interesting and wonderful people that I have had the opportunity to meet, play golf, and become friends with. This list includes some great golf professionals as well as professional athletes, movie stars and politicians. Some of the members of this list include Dan Marino, Bret Hull, Alonzo Mourning, Ed Reed, Jimmie Johnson, Bob Griese, Governor Jeb Bush, and President George W Bush. One of the highlights of my professional career would have to include the opportunity I had to spend the day on the golf course with President George W Bush and Governor Jeb Bush at The Biltmore Hotel in 2009. Aside from a great day of golf on the course, my favorite memory was the 20-25 minutes that I spent alone with the president on the driving range (guarded by the secret service of course). I watched him hit some balls, and our conversation was as normal as any I have had all my life. He wanted to know about where I grew up, my family, clubs I have worked at, among other things. The burning memory I still have to this day, is the sincerity he displayed in showing interest in my life story, and this is something that I will never forget and will always respect. The only regret from that day was that my wife and kids were at our house in Citrus County and were not able to meet him as well. He made sure though that his assistant had some souvenirs waiting for me at the end of our round that I could give to my daughters. When away from the club, I enjoy spending time with my wife Kacie, and my two beautiful daughters, Abigail and Hanna. My hobbies and interests include playing the drums, playing soccer, watching my girls play soccer, reading and music.

Michael Berry Golf Staff Lead

Hometown: Flint, Michigan;

I was born in Flint, Michigan where I lived for 33½ years. Graduated from Flint Northern High School after which I served in the USN as a ships servicemen aboard the USS Shasta AE-33. I worked for General Motors in Flint at AC Spark Plug for 13½ years before transferring to the Saturn plant in Spring Hill, TN. I served out the rest of my 30 year sentence with GM at Saturn. Retired from GM and moved to the Villages the same year.

I live in the Village of Country Club Hills, (The Historic Side), with my wife Ruth of 36 years. We have 2 children, Susan and Donovan also 1 beautiful granddaughter, Chance. She has grandpa wrapped around her finger. We have been here for 8 years and love living in The Villages. I enjoy playing golf and I am a big Michigan State football fan, "Go Spartans". In my quiet time I enjoy cross stitching which I have done since I was 15 years old and I am a member of North Lake Presbyterian Church.

J Johnson Golf Staff Supervisor

Hometown: Centerville, MA

I first visited The Villages in 2015 with my wife Jocelyn and within 2 years we bought a house for our future retirement. After 30 years in the Financial Services Industry and many terrible New England winters we decided it was time to move here full time in 2020. I started at Cane Garden in various positions shortly after arriving and immediately appreciated the team atmosphere. I transitioned to the supervisor team in September 2022. When not playing golf you can find my wife and I walking our dogs around the Village of Gilchrist.

Jim McGrath Golf Staff Supervisor

Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio

I was born and raised in Cleveland Ohio � graduated from John Carroll University. Retired from the Cleveland Fire Department after 35 years. Officiated football and umpired girls fast pitch softball both on the high school and college levels for 25 years. Married to my wife Barb for 39 years, we have two children. We relocated to The Villages In December of 2011.

Stuart Scales Golf Staff Supervisor

Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC

I was born in Winston-Salem, NC. I graduated from NC State University with a degree in Economics and started my first career with RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. I enjoyed an 18 year career with multiple management positions in the Production Division. Golf has always been a major part of my life and I entered my second career in managing several off course golf retail shops in NC. In 1990, I moved to Lexington, KY and took a position at The University Club of KY as a Director of Golf. This was a new 36 hole facility that was partnered with the University of KY and designed by Arthur Hills. After a some good years of getting the facility up and running, I was hired to become General Manager of Man Of War Golf-a PGA teaching/practice facility in Lexington. Visiting my sister on multiple occasions after retirement, I moved to The Villages in 2016. I had a year at Amelia National CC in Fernandina Beach, FL. as a part-time Assistant where I split my time between Fernandina Beach and The Villages. I moved back to The Villages full time and started with The Villages Golf and Tennis division as a Staff Assistant at Cane Garden in 2021. It has always been important to me in my career to help every golfer have the best golfing experience they can and I hope to continue that endeavor at Evans Prairie. I currently reside in The Village of St Charles.

Loch Reidy Golf Staff Supervisor

Hometown:Douglaston,NY

I was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. At the age of seven my family moved to Douglaston, Queens, N.Y. Douglaston is on Little Neck bay, the western end of Long Island Sound. I spent many years sailing and racing sailboat out of the Douglaston Yacht Club. I attended Bayside High School and Pace College (now University) studying Finance and Accounting. While in college I was drafted into the U.S. Army, completed Military Police school and was stationed in Georgia and Berlin, Germany. I settled in New Milford Conn, after being discharged and completed a thirty year career with The Southern New England Telephone Company and the SBC Corporation. I started my Telco career as a technician and retired as a second level Manager. During my time in Conn., I was able to reacquaint myself with sailing and made 15 passages to or from Bermuda. The 16th passage ended in disaster and a book was written about it ("Overboard"). My wife (Sandy) and I reside in the Village of Gilchrist. We have two daughters, no grandchildren yet.