By Katie Denbo

As the saying goes in the golf industry, those who work in golf rarely get a chance to play. However, Victoria Club’s Jeff Cross has managed to keep up his game just fine.

Cross, the club’s head professional of 18 years, is one of only 11 PGA head professionals in the Southland to hold his home course’s record, a 63 he fired in 1991 and a title he shares with Riverside teaching professional Ben Theobald and 2002 U.S. Senior Open champion Don Pooley.

“It definitely was not my best round ever,” he says with a smile, “but it was the lowest.”

For Cross, a Riverside native, his golf path started later in his life. He never participated in the Southland’s junior golf programs, preferring to play baseball and football “until height became an issue,” he remembers. “So one day, when I was 18 or 19, I went to the driving range at Fairmont Park here in Riverside and ended up hitting balls for the next 21 days. I was hooked.”

It was not long after that Cross began what would be his 30-year (and counting) career in the golf industry. After a friend informed him that he could make money as a caddie at golf clubs, he took a job in the cart barn at Victoria Club in 1977. He was subsequently promoted to assistant professional, and in 1989 secured the title of head professional, one that he’s held ever since.

Rewind, however, to 1984. The 85th SCGA Amateur Championship was held at San Gabriel Country Club, and after qualifying, Cross tied for 24th with a four-round total of 303 in his debut SCGA event. The next year, when the championship was held at Virginia CC, he earned a spot in the field as well.

“I remember being scared to death,” he says, “but seeing the members of the clubs really embrace the players and welcome them to their club made a huge difference. If I can give any advice to the players in this tournament, it would be to enjoy yourself! It’s a special championship and a great experience.”

Things you (Probably) don’t know

• ALL IN THE FAMILY: Mom Veda Brown caught the golf bug in her mid-30s and has earned four Victoria club champion crowns in her tenure. Wife Kelly and sons Justin (7) and Eric (13) play as well.
• ON THE GAME HE LOVES: While Riviera tops his list of favorite courses, “my favorite course is really the one I’m playing,” he says. “It also doesn’t matter to me who I play with. I’ve played with celebrities, professional and everyday golfers, but what’s important to me is the camaraderie and experience.”
• LUCKY SHOTS?: Cross has 12 aces under his belt, 10 of them on Victoria’s five par-3 holes. His first ace was the 16th hole just after he first started working at the club: “I hit a thin 4-iron that was just really ugly and it rolled in. I sort of took that ace for granted because it wasn’t a quality shot.”
• RECORD BREAKERS: “I actually played with Don Pooley during the round he set the course record with in the mid- 1980s. He three-putted on 17 for a 63.”

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