Golf General Manager/Director of Men's and Women's Golf/Head Men's Golf Coach
Nick Pumford
Nick Pumford was named head golf coach in June 2016. A native of St. Charles, Michigan, Pumford took over the Oakland golf program after spending the previous five seasons as the top assistant at the University of Michigan.
Pumford led Oakland to back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Horizon League Championships in 2016-17 and 2017-18, a feat that has only been done once in the program's history dating back to 1974.
During the 2021 season, Pumford lead Oakland to their first ever conference championship in the programs history.
Pumford was named the 2017-18 and 2020-21 Horizon League Coach of the Year which marked the first time since 1976 an Oakland had a coach received the accolade.
In 2017, he was recognized by Golf Digest as one of the leading golf instructors in the country and just one of five coaches in the country to receive this honor. By a vote of Pumford's peers, he was been recognized as Golf Digest's Best Teachers by State for the 2017-18 season.
He coached former Oakland standout Jake Kneen, who was named Horizon League Player of the Year in 2017-18, the first Golden Grizzly to be earn the honor since 2005.
While in Ann Arbor, Pumford helped coach the Wolverines to consecutive NCAA Regional appearances and Michigan carried a program-best 290.21 per round average. The Wolverines' 54-hole scoring record was shattered this year by 15 strokes with an 824 (-28) total at The MacKenzie (Oct. 12-13) in Fairfax, California. The Wolverines went on to post their highest finish at the Big Ten Championship in six seasons, ending in a tie for fourth place to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament.
Pumford began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Georgia State during the 2010-11 season. During his lone year with the Panthers, they tallied three top-10 finishes, including a seventh-place finish at the Colonial Athletic Conference Championship.
As a player for the Wolverines from 2005-09, Pumford competed in 29 of 33 events and recorded five top-10 individual finishes, winning the 2007 Wolf Run Intercollegiate. He helped Michigan return to the NCAA postseason after an eight-year absence with back-to-back regional selections in 2008 and 2009.
As a co-captain during the 2008-09 season, Pumford contributed to one of Michigan's best seasons in program history. Following the Wolverines' regional selection and eventual fifth-place team finish, they advanced to the NCAA Championship for the first time in 12 years. The Wolverines closed with a sixth-place team finish in stroke play to advance to the team match play finals. After a first-round win over No. 3 seed USC, the Wolverines were eliminated by eventual national champion Texas A&M in the national semifinal. Pumford started all 14 tournaments and was Michigan's recipient of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
Pumford's amateur playing career was highlighted by qualifying for the 2009 U.S. Amateur Championship, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the Michigan Amateur Championship on two different occasions and earning two top-20 finishes at the Michigan Open (2006, 2010).
Pumford earned a degree in general studies from Michigan in 2009. He is married to Kristen (Debandt) and they have three children, Lane, Reese and Lincoln.
Nick may be contacted by email [email protected] or call (248) 364-8371.
Interim Head Golf Professional
Jeff Rachar
Jeff Rachar joined the Oakland University Golf & Learning Center staff in May of 2024. Jeff’s love for the game of golf started when he was 12 years old as a caddy at Edgewood Country Club in Commerce Township. Beginning with those early days as a caddy he knew that he wanted to be a Golf Professional.
After graduating from Lakeland High School in White Lake, Jeff was awarded a golf scholarship to attend Coastal Carolina College in Conway, South Carolina. Upon completion at Coastal Carolina, Jeff enrolled in the PGA of America’s Golf Professional Training Program where he successfully finished all the requirements to become a PGA of America Member.
Jeff has an extensive work history in the golf industry. He began his career as an Assistant Golf Professional at Edgewood Country Club and worked there from 1997-2005. In 2006 he worked as an Assistant Golf Professional at Plum Hollow Country Club in Southfield. From 2007-2014 he was an Assistant Golf Professional at Pine Lake Country Club in Orchard Lake. From 2015-2018 he was the Head Golf Professional at Burning Tree Golf & Country Club in Macomb. Most recently he was the Head Golf Professional at Forest Lake Country Club in Bloomfield Hills from for the past 5 years.
Wherever Jeff has been employed his dedication to his club and his membership is second to none. He is vastly experienced in all areas of the business ranging from exceptional customer service and tournament operations to teaching and junior golf. His goal is to make your golf experience the best it can be.
Jeff served on the Board of Directors for the Eastern Chapter of the Michigan PGA from 2012 to 2019. He served as the Michigan Section PGA Tournament Chairman from 2021 to 2023. In October 2023 he was elected by his peers to be Secretary of the Michigan PGA, where he will eventually become Vice-President and then President of the Michigan PGA Section. In 2014 he was awarded the Michigan Section Assistant of the Year. In 2001 he won the Michigan Assistant’s Association Championship. In 2008 while at Pine Lake he teamed with Paul Lehnert to win the Head Professional-Assistant Professional Championship, and in 2017 he was on the victorious team that captured the Michigan PGA Spring Scramble title.
Jeff lives with his wife Jen and their two sons, Jay and Ben in Grand Blanc. He likes to spend his free time with his family and playing golf. Jeff and his family enjoy going to Tigers and Red Wings games, and he and his wife enjoy traveling in the winter.
Jeff may be contacted by email [email protected] or call (248) 364-8306.
Golf Services Manager
Ashley Dewling
Ashley Dewling joined the Oakland University Golf & Learning Center staff in March of 2014. She is a 2010 graduate of the Michigan State University School of Hospitality Business. While a student at Michigan State, Ashley competed on the Women's Golf Team (2005 - 2010) that won a Big Ten Championship Title in 2007.
In 2010, Ashley attended and graduated from Disney University, with a concentration in Disney Hospitality. After graduation, she spent four years as a Cast Member (Golf and Club Operations) at Walt Disney World Resort Orlando, Florida, and two golf seasons at the Detroit Golf Club, Detroit Michigan, as an Assistant Golf Professional.
Ashley serves as the Golf Services Manager at Oakland University Golf & Learning Center. Ashley’s background in golf and hospitality management will add value to the affiliate and guest experience at the Golf and Learning Center.
Ashley may be contacted by email [email protected] or call (248) 364-8373.
Golf Operations Manager
Kelli Trolla
Kelli Trolla joined the Oakland University Golf & Learning Center in March of 2015, as an OU student employee. She graduated from Oakland in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Wellness and Health Promotion. What better way to promote wellness and health than through a round of golf! Through the years, she has become a favorite of the OU Golf & Learning Center affiliates.
Kelli may be contacted by email [email protected] or call (248) 364-6316.
Assistant Golf Shop Manager
Ainsley O'Neil
Ainsley O'Neil joined the Oakland University Golf & Learning Center as a student employee in 2022. She has been a student at Oakland University since the fall of 2021 and is working towards a degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Operations Management. Outside of the golf course, she is President and Director of Growth for Sigma Sigma Sigma, a sorority on campus.
Ainsley may be contacted by email [email protected] or call (248) 364-8360
Head Golf Courses Superintendent
Tom Schall
Tom Schall started in January 2003 as superintendent of both courses at Oakland University's Golf & Learning Center. He comes from Club Corporation of America where he was employed as one of their top agronomists. Most recently, he was assigned to the River Creek Club in Leesburg, Virginia, and prior to that, he managed the 36-hole Oak Pointe Country Club golf property in Brighton, Michigan.
Schall has golf course experience dating back to 1979, which includes experiences at both Oakland Hills and Dearborn Country Club. He is a graduate of the Golf Turf Management Program at Michigan State University and has been a certified golf course superintendent since 1995.
Golf Courses Assistant Superintendent
Connor McBride
Connor McBride joined Oakland University Golf & Learning Center in January of 2024. Connor grew up in Rochester and spent 10 years working as a caddy and on the golf operations staff at Great Oaks Country Club. After this, he spent a season working on the grounds crew at Bloomfield Hills Country Club before enrolling in Michigan State University's Turfgrass Management Program. During Connor's time at MSU, he completed internships at Desert Mountain Club and Monterey Peninsula Country Club. Before coming to OU, Connor spent the last year working as an Assistant Superintendent at Medinah Country Club outside of Chicago.
Connor may be contacted by email [email protected] or call (248) 364-6324.
Golf Courses Assistant Superintendent
Jack Prince
Jack Prince joined Oakland University Golf & Learning Center in January of 2024. Jack has been working on golf courses since 2017. He was most recently an Assistant Superintendent at Oakland Hills Country Club. Jack has a bachelors degree in Business Administration from Grand Valley State University and is currently enrolled in his last semester at Penn State World Campus earning a certificate in Turfgrass Management.
Jack may be contacted by email [email protected] or call (248) 364-6166.
Business Office Staff:
Business Manager
Tom Stedman
Tom Stedman joined Oakland University Golf & Learning Center in March of 2024. Tom graduated from Arizona State University in 2017 with a Bachelor's degree in Business. Prior to joining the Golf and Learning Center, he worked for the University of Michigan for 7 years. He brings experience in budgeting and forecasting, PCI compliance and financial analysis.
Tom may be contacted by email [email protected] calling (248) 364-6305.