Meet the Member: Todd Harbour, PGA
TODD HARBOUR, PGA - A FULL CIRCLE RETURN ROOTED IN CONNECTION & COMMUNITY
For Todd Harbour, PGA, golf was never just a career path but instead was woven into his childhood. Born and raised in South Austin, Todd grew up at Onion Creek and began playing the game at just two years old. He later earned a collegiate scholarship and, like many competitive players, started with a belief that playing professionally would be his future. However, life soon redirected his path and started him on the journey that led to his role as General Manager at Austin Country Club.
“I thought I’d play for a living,” Todd recalls. “But I’d just gotten married, my wife got pregnant early, and I was like, I need a job. I love golf. So I got into the golf business.”
That decision marked the beginning of more than three decades in club leadership. Starting in the Southern Texas Section, Todd earned his Class A in three years and quickly moved into Head Professional and Director of Golf roles before stepping into General Manager responsibilities in the mid-1990s.
His career extended far beyond Austin, including 13 years running TPC properties for the PGA TOUR and leadership roles at TPC Craig Ranch and Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas. While there, he spent more than a decade building a championship-caliber team and also served on the Northern Texas PGA Board.
In Northern Texas, Todd built not only a résumé, but a life. His children and grandchildren were nearby. His roots were deep. Royal Oaks felt like the place where he would finish his career.
“I never, ever thought I would leave Royal Oaks. Loved it. Loved everything about it,” he says.
For Todd to return to the Southern Texas PGA Section and uproot his entire life, everything had to align. Any decision to move would require more than just professional interest. It had to be personal.
As a junior golfer, he took lessons from Harvey Penick at the original Austin Country Club on East Riverside, a memory that gained meaning over time. The chance to return to the club and the Section where his story began carried a weight that few opportunities could match.
“It’s the only place I would have probably ever left to go,” Todd admits.
Despite the changes throughout his career, one theme has remained constant: relationships drive everything. Todd speaks often about the mentors who have taught him. Leaders like Brent Buckman, Bill Hughes, and Randy Smith modeled the presence, authenticity, and connection that embody what it means to be a PGA Professional.
“You don’t really think about it, going through your career, how many great people mentored us up,” he reflects.
He constantly displays that influence by walking around, connecting with members, supporting staff behind the scenes, and making himself visible in the daily rhythm of the club.
“You’re not going to see me in my office. That’s how you get to know people, and that’s how they know you’re real. I’ve never had a welcome like this anywhere I’ve ever been. These people are off the charts,” Todd shares.
Just weeks into his role at Austin Country Club and returning to the Section, his journey has come full circle. From South Austin junior golfer to TPC Network executive and now back to where it all began, Todd Harbour’s career is a testament to timing, trust, and the power of relationships.
In the end, the game may open the door, but it’s the people who make it worth walking through
