One of Us: Adam Campbell

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As chairman of THE PLAYERS Championship 2019, Adam Campbell oversees the operations of thousands of volunteers whose efforts enable the tournament to generate millions of dollars to Northeast Florida charities each year. For 20 years, he has volunteered and held committee chairman roles for THE PLAYERS. 

Can you please briefly tell us about your background? 

I’ve been a resident of Northeast Florida since the third grade. I’m a graduate of Sandalwood High School and the University of North Florida (UNF). I’m married to another Northeast Florida native, and we have two kids. I’ve been in the financial planning business for 25 years. My team and I established the Sextant Wealth Advisory Group of Raymond James & Associates in April 2009. 

What does it mean to you to be tournament chairman? 

It’s absolutely a humbling experience to be able to lead our 2,100 volunteers who make this tournament possible. In 1978, the charitable giveback dollars from that tournament was $100,000. To put that into context, the 2018 tournament was a $9 million charitable impact. So, what it means is that, for all of our volunteers, it’s really the impact of what we can do to better our community and have the impact on a lot of these grassroots organizations that really need our help and support. 

What are your roles and responsibilities as tournament chairman?

As tournament chairman, my responsibility is to lead those volunteers. We have a very structured organization. I’m very blessed to have five Blue Coats, one being my first vice chairman, who help us with the organizational structure of approximately 45 different committees out here. So, my job is getting out in the community, sharing the great things that this tournament has accomplished and how we keep raising the bar each year, and then also, supporting our volunteers to make sure that they have everything they need to be successful in their various responsibilities and roles.

What are you most looking forward to with the tournament being in March instead of May?

This course was built for a March tournament. I say that because of the winds that we get. The winds that come in are really going to test these golfers. It’s going to be the purest test out there. And I’m just excited for how great the course looks. It is absolutely pristine out there with the overseed. From a golf fan’s perspective, I think it’s going to be a lot cooler for our spectators. Average temperature is about 74 degrees over the last five years. So, it’s going to be a more enjoyable environment for our volunteers, spectators and quite honestly, the players who are competing. 

What changes should residents in the community expect with this year’s tournament?

As a result of the ongoing construction of the new PGA TOUR headquarters, parking is going to be a little bit of a challenge this year. We’re going to lose some spots in our parking lot, but we’ve expanded our rideshare program. We’ve brought Uber on-site by the Couples Gate. So, we’re expecting that program to double in size from last year’s tournament. Then probably the biggest thing is the new Nicklaus Gate that we have coming in from the parking lot. It’s a gorgeous decking going right through the trees. We’re also bringing more to the back. So, when fans are coming in to this tournament, they’re really and truly getting the ultimate fan experience. The tournament will also feature brand-new theme music and a brand-new graphics package.

When you reflect on your experiences at THE PLAYERS over the years, is there a particular story that sticks out to you that speaks to the essence of the tournament?

Going back a couple of years, we had a young lady whose lifelong dream was to come to THE PLAYERS and volunteer. This young lady, from Malaysia, spent her own money to come and volunteer, and that was 2017, when Si Woo Kim was our champion. So, she was pretty excited to be able to celebrate his victory. Last year, we had nine international volunteers. This year, we have 16, coming from Argentina, Portugal, Canada, Switzerland, Germany.