Like and Follow Golf Oklahoma
By Ken MacLeod
Presented the selection of the firm of Nick Sidorakis and Randy Heckenkemper to operate the City of Tulsa golf courses, new Tulsa mayor Monroe Nichols had no hesitation in enthusiastically endorsing that choice.
“If you went around the country, or the world, looking for an individual who has the experience running one of the top clubs in the country, running major championships, has the connection and concern with our kids that he does through First Tee, then the concern for the local community and public golf and the respect that he has from everyone, you wouldn’t find anyone better than Nick Sidorakis.
“He’s one of one.”
Nichols was referring to the career of Nick Sidorakis, who in 27 years as general manager at Southern Hills Country Club helped bring a U.S. Open and two PGA Championships to Tulsa while also being a co-founder and director for the First Tee of Tulsa based at Mohawk Park, which has helped introduce the game to more than 153,000 children on site and in schools and community centers since its inception in 2001, all free of charge.
Nichols told Golf Oklahoma Thursday that he heard from several constituents as he was running for mayor that they were concerned with conditions at Page Belcher and Mohawk Park and that he needed to be engaged with the process as the current contract with Troon Golf Management expired at the end of 2024.
Nichols described himself as a casual golfer who had never played a round growing up in Texas or before his graduation from the University of Tulsa at the end of his football career in 2005 but now makes a good scramble partner though capable of shattering a window or too if the houses are too close. But he enjoys the game and has played many rounds at Mohawk Park and a few at Page Belcher.
Randy Heckenkemper and Nick Sidorakis.
“I’m good for about five amazing shots a round,” he said. “The rest of the time you better watch out.”
He thanked Tulsa Parks Director Anna America for the work she put in in soliciting and examining bids from eight national golf management companies and the one local bid. He said he thinks both courses have the opportunity to bring in increased rounds and visitors to Tulsa, most immediately Page Belcher with the recent improvements and the pre-Covid closing of other courses along the Highway 75 corridor to the south including courses in Glenpool, Bixby and Okmulgee.
“We want to bring in more visitors to experience great golf and get more Tulsans playing on these courses,” he said. “That’s why Nick is so unique with his experience and commitment with the First Tee. He and Randy are going to be a home run for Tulsa golf.”
Currently the Tulsa County courses at LaFortune Park and South Lakes in Jenks each have exceeded 50,000 rounds played in 2024 while total rounds at the 36 holes at Page Belcher are around 65,000. There is a lot of room for growth at both Page Belcher and Mohawk Park.
Nichols said he was committed to the City maintaining all of its properties, including parks and golf, in good condition to be assets to the citizens and enrich the quality of life.
