Chamber honors Woodland Hills with annual award
by Kelly Augustine, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce
The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce board of directors named Woodland Hills Golf Club as the Small Business of the Year for 2023.
Constructed in 1971, Woodland Hills was the first 18-hole golf course built within Nacogdoches’ 70-mile radius and is well-known for its steep slopes and forest-lined fairways. Under the development of the third and current owner Douglas Datin, the course offers new scenic views, features and amenities that give it its unique challenges.
“The course brings people together,” Datin said. “We have retirees who come out regularly, families who play together, dads and sons, grandparents teaching their grandkids, and many from the business community enjoy being on the course.”
Datin considers himself fortunate for knowing his professional goal early in life; however, owning a course in Nacogdoches was not in his original plan. After a chain of unforeseen events affected his career path, he noticed that an ad kept popping up to manage a golf course in a town with a name he could not pronounce. After he and wife Jill began seriously considering their “what ifs” and “what nows,” they decided to take a chance on the move to East Texas and an investment in Woodland Hills.
“I had just graduated college, and we had two new babies when Jill and I first looked at the course. The owner at that time was willing to do a lease-purchase agreement with us, because I had no money for a down payment,” Datin recalled. “But I could see that there was so much potential in the place. It was just a matter of time and work to make improvements.”
During the past 16 years, Datin has worked to make his dream a reality. The water feature on #10 and #11 is one of the largest projects that he envisioned when he first toured the course.
“We took a chance and worked hard, working long hours when there was a lot of uncertainty, because at that time golf was in decline,” he said. “Looking back, it’s good to see the progress, and have our kids grow up here. They all know how to run the mowers. They work here during the summers. Even though Nacogdoches wasn’t on our radar, I’m so glad we came here, and we are part of the community.”
Community involvement for the business includes hosting 10 to 15 benefit tournaments each year. Organizations such as CASA, The Helping House, Family Crisis Center of East Texas, SFA Alumni Association and several fraternities and sororities find fun ways to raise money for their missions while spending a day on the course. As an active member of the Nacogdoches County Chamber, Woodland Hills entertains chamber members at the Blueberry Golf Bash biennially.
Datin’s explanation of his success at Woodland Hills reveals a driving passion. “I really love being out on the golf course, working with the crew and with my kids, and seeing the evolution of the course over time,” he said. “Just like a contractor may point out the houses he has built, I will point out projects to my grandkids – we built that retaining wall, we put in that pond, that tee box, and that’s what brings me joy.”
Golfers can look forward to more improvement projects on the horizon, including a revamped driving range, new putting and chipping greens and a practice bunker. Datin also promises, with a grin, that more water hazards will be built.
Woodland Hills Golf Club will be honored at the Nacogdoches County Chamber’s 101st Annual Meeting & Membership Banquet presented by The Fredonia Hotel and Convention Center on Sept. 26. Commercial Bank of Texas sponsors the Small Business of the Year Award, a Gary Justice Business Excellence Award.
###
