Alex Hoyos learned a great deal as first assistant professional at Essex County Club for three years from 2017-19.
The 36-year-old learned so well under head PGA pro Jack Davis that he left the prestigious Manchester By-The-Sea club for a five-year stint as director of golf at the similarly named Essex County Country Club, one of the many five-star clubs in New Jersey.
But now that Davis has departed Essex for a new position as director of golf at famed Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Penn., Hoyos is happily returning to Essex County Club as Davis’s successor.
“My three years at Essex with Jack left such a positive impression,” says Hoyos, “that I often thought about the possibility of returning to Manchester if Jack ever decided to move onward. Once I learned that he had, I made inquiries and I was fortunate enough to get the job. I was flattered at the amazing level of outreach I experienced from Essex County Club members when Jack announced he was going to Merion.
“There are so many special aspects about Essex,” Hoyos continued. “The history, of course, the Curtis sisters, Donald Ross, the fantastic golf course, the gorgeous property. But what has always resonated the most with me is the membership.
“Of all the special places I have worked, this has the strongest sense of family,” added Hoyos, who was born of Cuban parents who escaped Fidel Castro when they were both 10 years of age.
“The members do not look at their staff as employees so much as they look at us as family members. They want to know their staff as individuals, to help us grow as professionals. They want to build personal relationships with us, not just professional relationships. That’s one unique culture that makes us feel good every day we come to the club.”
Hoyos has enjoyed a unique growth in the game; he never played golf until he was 19.
“Playing baseball and the trumpet, jazz trumpet, were my main interests through high school,” he explained. “I was not good enough to play college ball (at Florida Atlantic University) and I missed the competitive aspects.
“At the same time I got a part-time job working at a driving range in West Palm Beach. That’s when I fell in love with the game and was able to practice for free. That’s where I met Annette DeLuca, a former LPGA Tour player who had switched gears and become a noted teacher in the area.
“She saw I had a passion for the game and helped me improve my game, at the same timer helping me learn how to work with juniors.”
No wonder Alex switched his majors at Florida Atlantic from the trumpet to PGA Education. Before he earned his degree, he bravely left school and secured an assistant’s job with the renowned Met New York club pro Darrell Kaestner at Deepdale in Manhasset, N.Y.
“There was no turning back,” Hoyos admitted, “as much as I love the trumpet.”
He obviously made the right decision, owning one of the most coveted head professional jobs in the country.
Alex’s philosophy as a head golf professional is all-encompassing:
“It’s all about team,” he said. “How can we, as a golf operations team, make for the best possible situation for each other, which in turn will hopefully maximize our efficiency with our members and their guests? It’s my job to ensure that we, as a team, balance our jobs, our careers, with our life outside the job here at Essex.
“If all that succeeds, our members and their guests will remember their day at Essex in visiting a ‘Top 100’ club.”
He and wife Hailey are the ideal team, with two children. Son Luca is 2, and daughter Sevi is six months. Hailey is a busy spouse and parent, too. She works in wealth management for Brown Brothers Harriman.
“We’re happy,” Alex quips, ”that we can continue my career climb, going from Essex to Essex to Essex.”