Justin Isaacks

PERSONAL – Justin was born and raised in Sacramento and still lives there. He’s the Driving Range Manager at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex, which is a top 100 driving range in the country. Justin played a bit of golf in his younger years but really picked it up again during Covid.

TIE TO THE MONTEMAR – A week after I had reluctantly took the job to come help manage Bartley Cavanaugh Golf Course, I came to the realization that we were way under-staffed. Our company has six golf courses and all job postings are placed by our human resources manager. I asked her to place an add for a cashier and a week later she sent me what she thought were the top 15 applicants who had applied. She said all the rest were “shit.” I thought the ones she had sent me were shit so, just for giggles, I had her send me the resumes of the other 100 or so applicants. Justin had never worked in golf but was the only applicant intelligent enough to write the word on his resume, explaining that he loved the game and felt he would be great for the position. He was the only person I called and I hired him a week later.

 He turned out to be so good at the job that six months later when I saw that the owners were looking for somebody with food and beverage experience (Justin previously owned his own bar) to manage our flagship driving range, Justin immediately came to mind. He like the idea, I sent over a good word, and he did the rest to earn the position. He’s elevated the driving range to new heights, adding top tracer technology to over 50 stalls, building bars, bringing in live music, and a number of other things to make one of the best driving ranges in the world even better…. And we got another great addition to the Montemar. Good thing I didn’t hire one of the initial 15 applicants.

 ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MONTEMAR -Justin has been great in adding some great people to this event and I’ve got a feeling he’ll add some more to the future. Anything he can do with the driving range in terms of prizes would be greatly appreciated.

 WHAT NEEDED TO HAPPEN IN 2024– His payment points will be better than they were last year and his knowledge of the format has only improved. A proven stick to help carry his scramble team would go a long ways to propelling him forward and keeping him in the hunt come Monday. He’s still got all the resources in the world to help shape himself into the golfer he can be. Whether or not he will use them is anybody’s guess. If he gets his last payment in early and drafts well I think we could see Justin in the hunt come Monday.

 WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED IN 2024 –  Justin showed up to Idaho with big hopes and completely shit the bed the first round. 106 for a guy who manages a driving range is just as bad as 106 for a guy who manages a golf course (me). We both managed to put up a 106 last year and the only excuse I have is sometimes you want to leave work when you’re done. Perhaps Justin feels the same. The differences in our 106s is Justin opened with one and actually had a great round the final day, whereas I got worse as I played, and drank, more. Justin wasn’t the luckies in 2024 and by the end of the tournament had the distinction of being dead last out of 80.

 WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN 2025 – Drew McGhie finished dead last in 2023 then jumped to 5th in 2024. Justin needs a similar type of showing. Justin was dead last in first deposit points but got max for 2nd deposit points so he’ll go into 2025 with more deposit points than he’s ever had. He needs to utilize the back yard of his office and practice as much as possible these next two months. If he can do so there’s no reason he can’t walk out of Reno with his first ever top 10. Last year’s opening round collapse is going to help in a big way this year.

 ODDS TO WIN – 44-1

 FUN FACT – I once saw Justin almost murder another human. Literally, with a golf ball. More on this when we get to Aaron Schurer.

MONTEMARS PLAYED – 3 (2022 – Sacramento, 2023 - Scottsdale, 2024 - Coeur D’Alene)

MONTEMAR ROUNDS PLAYED – 7 (2022 – Yoche, 2023 – TPC Scottsdale, TS Piipaash, TS O’odham, 2024 - Circling Raven x 2, Coeur D’Alene Resort Course)

LIFETIME POINT TOTAL – 461

JACKETS WON – 0

TOP 3 FINISHES – 0

TOP 5 FINISHES – 0

TOP 10 FINISHES – 0

RECORDS – 0

TOURNAMENT HANDICAP - 20

INVITED BY – Oliver Kenyon

PLAYERS INVITED -  4 (Aaron Schurer, Brooks Marino, Sean Isaacks, Phill Kerr)

PRIZES DONATED – I think Justin is donating a range card for the Haggin Oaks Driving Range