Ted Sokolis
Legend of the Links – 1995
Ted Sokolis was the first Golf Course Superintendent at the Village Links. He began work in July of 1965, while the course was just under construction. He built the original maintenance building, and was on site throughout the construction of the course. Ted established a quality of course maintenance consistent with Dave Gill's design. The Village Links quickly became noted for its first rate playing conditions.
In 1972, as the golf business was expanding, and the referendum to build an additional 9 holes had been approved, Ted was promoted to the new position of General Manager. As General Manager, Ted over saw the construction of the new 9 holes. When the golf course construction contractor went bankrupt after finishing only 15% of the job, Ted became the defacto general contractor. He completed the remaining 85% as designed. He later supervised the construction of the halfway house in 1976, the expansion of the clubhouse in 1977, and the expansion of the driving range in 1982. Ted's decision to regrass the greens in 1981 was a bold move that probably saved the Village Links from several years of business disruption. He left the Village Links in July of 1984, just after plans to expand the clubhouse in coming months had been approved.
Ted established much of the organizational operating structure employed at the Village Links today. He is responsible for establishing the work ethic, and the focus on efficiency and quality that still distinguishes the Village Links.