Bios

Kirk Porter

  General Manager/Golf Professional

Kirk grew up playing junior golf and working at his favorite course, St. Andrew’s Golf Club in St. Charles, MO. He played college golf for two years at the University of Missouri- St. Louis and graduated with a business degree. Kirk became a member of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) and the General Manager at St. Andrew’s Golf Club in 1989. He enjoyed this position for over 12 years where he taught group and private lessons, coordinated junior camps, and promoted their golf tournament business. He then managed Country Lakes Golf Club for one year until he came to Bear Creek in 2002. Kirk has now been at Bear Creek for 13 years as the General Manager and Golf Professional and has enjoyed watching the course mature. He has also managed Bear Creek's sister course, Sun Valley Golf Course, since 2005. Kirk enjoys working with each department of his staff to make Bear Creek and Sun Valley two of the finest courses in the area. He has received the 25th Year Quarter Century Award for his recognition in the PGA and continues to support and contribute to the PGA's growth of the game intiatives.

Ben Sontheimer

  Greens Superintendent
  maintenance@bearcreekgolf.com 

Born in St Louis, Ben got his start in the golf industry weed-eating at Four Seasons Country Club. He went on to become the Assistant Superintendent at Emerald Greens Golf Course before moving to Persimmon Woods, where he spent 10 years also as the Assistant Superintendent. He transferred to the Woodlands Golf Club where he spent two years as Superintendent, followed by a five year run with Belk Park Golf Course as their Superintendent. He started at Bear Creek in March 2016 as our new Superintendent and he is excited for the challenges and opportunities Bear Creek provides. Ben is looking forward to meeting all of the community involved here at Bear Creek and welcomes everyone to contact him with any questions or concerns they have. 

Ben Kendig

  Executive Chef
  chef@bearcreekgolf.com

Ben joined the team at Bear Creek Golf Club on February 15th. He has over 15 years of restaurant experience ranging from the public and private golf settings to corporate franchises, family owned restaurants, and fast food. After completing an Associate’s Degree for Graphic Design, Ben decided to pursue his passion for cooking professionally. Ben trained under Chef Jeff Conner as a Line Cook at the Links at Dardenne in O’Fallon, MO. Upon Chef Jeff’s promotion to a different club, Ben inherited the Chef position. After a total of five years, he was promoted to Head Chef at The Missouri Bluffs Golf Club in St. Charles, MO and spent the next three years managing the restaurant, as well as the coordination of special events. Most recently, Ben was the Sous Chef for Whitmoor Country Club in St. Charles, MO for the past three years. In this position he exercised and learned new cooking techniques, presentations, and other “tricks of the trade” under Executive Chef, Jesse Kirklin. Ben looks forward to bringing new menu items and dining concepts to Bear Creek Golf Club and is happy to now call this club “home.” Make sure to pop your head in the kitchen to meet Ben the next time you come out to play!