The Pond Scum Rises to the Top of Cypress Lakes (Golf Club)

 

Cypress Lakes Golf Club - Located on the fringe of Muscle Shoals, the club was originally built by industrialist Neil Whitesell who later donated the white elephant to the city in 2012. If the endeavor has ever been profitable, we're not aware of it. In a 2014 attempt to balance the budget, the city terminated the golf pro who came with the club.

Matt McCollum -

Perhaps you know our friend Matt? If you don't, we'll give you a little background. The Decatur native was working as the golf pro at a private country club in Morgan County when it was forced to close for financial reasons. The head of a young family, Matt took a job at Cypress Lakes around four years ago as a part-time employee in the golf shop.

Matt supplemented his income by giving private golf lessons in his free time and became a respected member of the local golfing community. In fact, Matt was so good at what he did, he not only became an important part of the Cypress Lakes family, he was touted by several "in authority" to be the next golf pro should the position ever be reinstated.

Rusty Wheeles - Rusty is the head of Muscle Shoals Parks & Recreation, and has always, at least on the surface, supported Matt in his quest for a full-time golf pro position. Or has he?

In a TimesDaily article from early June of this year, Wheeles stated he was "not aware" of anyone currently employed by the city having a Class A PGA certification. There are three possibilities:

1. The author of the TD article misquoted Wheeles.

2. Wheeles had a lapse of thought and misspoke.

3. Wheeles issued a deliberate falsehood concerning Matt McCollum.

The Job Applicants/Finalists - Matt McCollum and Scott Clayton (pictured above) of Birmingham.

Scott Clayton - Clayton has worked at four separate country clubs in the past decade. He also purchased a home in Birmingham last year. Everyone should ask why he now wants to leave his latest job. Any forward thinking person should ask just how long Clayton will stay in Muscle Shoals if he takes this position.

We understand that Clayton toured Muscle Shoals on Thursday after being offered the job. At that time he presented his list of demands for extra perks. Can we all say cheeky?

There are conflicting reports of Clayton actually accepting the position. If indeed he has, we'll have more on his background later.

The Civil Service Board - Five individuals make up the Muscle Shoals board. The two male members voted for Matt, while the three female members (Bethany Malone, Paula Michael, and Jean Madden) voted for Clayton. It's been suggested to us that these women were not voting against Matt, but to oppose current administrators of the golf course. Whatever their reason, they didn't help their city with a choice based on vitriol.

Note: While we were contacted by and spoke to several sources, we have not spoken to Matt McCollum about the surprise decision. There is currently a petition circulating to redo the civil service board vote on the position. Obviously, there will be more to come.