Meet the Pros

Layne Ricks: General Manager
Layne has been a PGA of America Member since 1986, is a longtime Katy resident, and was awarded the South Texas PGA Patriot Award in 2015.  His experiences are vast and include prominent teaching and management positions at Lochinvar Golf Club, Tennwood, Glen Oaks of New York, River Ridge and Cinco Ranch Golf Clubs. He is proud to be General Manager and a part of Heritage Golf Group.

Awarded the ‘STPGA Junior Golf Leader for 2006’, Layne’s junior camps reflect his enthusiasm for teaching not only juniors, but golfers at every level, up to the seasoned tour professionals. His teaching philosophies have been refined over the years by close associations with such golf greats as Claude Harmon Sr., Butch Harmon, Jay Herbert and Dave Marr.  He is a Ping Staff Member, is meticulous and experienced in club fitting, and offers all golfers sound advice to improve any or all aspects of their game.

Tony Allen: Teaching Professional
Tony is a PGA member and began playing golf at fourteen. He worked at Bear Creek Golf World at sixteen under the late Dick (Pro) Forester, medaled in Varsity Golf at Jersey Village High, and played for Wharton Junior College. His professional career began in 1998 at Jersey Meadows Golf Club, continued at Raveneaux Country Club from 2000 through November 2006, and we are pleased to now have this Houston native’s expertise at Meadowbrook Farms.

On the Mizuno staff since 2001, he is a certified club fitter. His passion for golf and his friendly demeanor puts students of all levels at ease. His teaching philosophy and approach is simple; help each student accomplish a competent golf swing, a practical knowledge of their short game and the Rules of Golf. Tony believes the successful development of a player will preserve and promote the integrity of the game of golf.

Trey Birchum: Director of Golf

I’m a born and raised Texan, a graduate of Cuero HS in 1985 and Southwest Texas State University in 1990. I started my life in the golf industry pulling carts at the nine-hole municipal course in Cuero at age 13, spent time in college as outside staff at Quail Creek CC, Onion Creek CC and Austin CC. After college and holding down a job in the real world for a year and a half, the game’s siren song drew me back.

I began my professional career as the Event Sales Director at Bear Creek Golf World in 1994. From there, I progressed through the ranks to hold General Manager and Head Professional positions at Lake Houston GC and Longwood GC. In 2000, I was approached with the opportunity to be part of the startup of Wildcat GC and took the First Assistant Professional role, which I held for eight years. I attained PGA Membership in 2007, and in 2008 was named Head Professional at River Ridge Golf Club in Sealy, TX, a role I held until the course was closed after Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

Coinciding with that closure, and luckily for me, my friend Troy Timm decided to head back home to Wisconsin and I was afforded the wonderful opportunity of becoming the Head Professional at Meadowbrook Farms. Meadowbrook has held a wonderful reputation within golf circles since its’ opening, and I am honored to become a part of that tradition. My family and I have been Seven Meadow residents since 2006 and have two sons who graduated Seven Lakes HS. We have a wealth of friends in the Katy area and are both honored and continually excited to be part of this wonderful community.

Jimmy Odell: Head Golf Professional

Jimmy is a second-generation PGA Member, following his dad ‘Digger’ Odell

from the Gulf States Section of the PGA. Elected to the PGA in 1995, he has extensive experience in the golf industry that includes Bear Creek Golf World, Sugar Creek Country Club, Walden on Lake Houston Country Club, Old Orchard Golf Club, and Gleannloch Pines Golf Club. Within the Southern Texas PGA, Jimmy is an accomplished player winning four times: (2) Assistant Championships, (1) Regular Division Championship, and (1) Senior Division Championship. Attending Centenary College in Shreveport, La., he played Division 1 Golf with PGA Tour Professional Hal Sutton. Jimmy qualified for the Ben Hogan Tour in 1990.

Pulling from his competitive playing and working with some great instructors throughout his career, Jimmy has coached all levels of players from beginners to advanced. A Titleist Staff Member for 20 years, he is an excellent club fitter.

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