Karen Peek is the Director of Golf Operations for Golf Detroit. In partnership with the City of Detroit Recreation Department, Karen is tasked with restoring the vibrancy and viability of the City’s golf courses.
As a native Detroiter, her life and work are deeply rooted in the community. She spent 15 years working with American Golf Corporation in Detroit as a Manager, Regional Manager and Regional Director. Under her leadership, the Great Lakes region grew from 7 to 15 courses and enjoyed record breaking growth in rounds while dramatically improving course conditions. She is a Class A Member of the LPGA Teacher and Club Pro Division and an honoree at the 1993 Women In Golf Summit.
Karen is not only a proven leader, but also a pioneer. Karen was the first black member of the Michigan LPGA, and the only black member of the national LPGCA T&CP Division at that time.
Karen believes operational excellence on all levels is the key to success. Course conditions, customer service and fiscal responsibility must blend together on a consistent basis.
Karen holds a BA in History from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Born in Detroit, Lisa Woodcox is a Class A Life Member of the LPGA. She began her golf career in 1988 at another City of Detroit golf facility, Rackham Golf Course, as a teaching professional working for current Director of Golf, Karen Peek. Through 1993, she had the opportunity to manage Rackham, Rouge Park Golf Course and Palmer Park Golf Course for American Golf Corporation.
In 1993, she made the decision to specialize in youth golf initiatives as the Program Director of the LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program. For the next 20 years, she utilized the City of Detroit golf courses for youth programs and served as the Executive Director of The First Tee of Southeast Michigan.
The First Tee is a youth sports organization whose mission is to grow the game of golf by transforming the experience that kids have with the sport. In 2015, she became the Program Director for The First Tee of Greater Detroit.
Her addition to the Chandler Park staff will be a benefit to the Greater Detroit golfing community. Lisa is very excited to be back managing a City of Detroit golf course and working once again for her life-long mentor Karen Peek. As General Manager of Chandler Park, this completes a “cycle” for Lisa. She can now say that she has managed all 4 of the City of Detroit golf courses.