OC exec heading to Florida to take up golf course ownership, in the Insider

After 12 years in north Tustin, T.C. Newman and wife Ruby are leaving for Jacksonville, Fla., where Newman has just bought his own golf course. Newman, 50, is a human resources consultant, former corporate executive (with Pfizer’s Shiley division and Warner Bros.), ex-Army helicopter pilot and immediate past president of the 100 Black Men of Orange County, a professional support group for black youths. In paying $6 million ($5 million of it borrowed) for the Arnold Palmer-designed Mill Cove public course, Newman says he expects to fulfill a couple of objectives. One is to “combine a passion with an avocation. The fact is that I play a lot, I love the game, and I have been looking at the business side.” The other is to serve as a role model. “As far as I’ve been able to determine, this will make me the third African-American to own an 18-hole golf course. Tiger Woods has opened up the playing side, but there’s a whole side that minorities haven’t participated in,the managing, operations and owning of golf courses.” Newman, raised in Maryland and well-traveled, says about Orange County: “We truly loved it here. We’ve raised our kids here. We found the environment to be open and welcoming.” But golf is a lot more affordable in Newman’s new locale. A weekend round at Mill Cove is only $45, but T.C. still promises “the OC discount” to any Southern Californians who pay him a visit Corporate consultant and networker extraordinaire Bill Ellermeyer’s business card lists his occupation as “venture catalyst” Another take on job turnover in the high-tech sector, from Steve Giusto of newly public Resources Connection in Costa Mesa, which provides tech experts on a project basis: “IT folks are less loyal to begin with, but they’re usually not looking for money or awards. ‘How cool is the project?’ is what really floats their boat. If they don’t like your job, somebody across the street will be willing to pay them well to do something challenging” TravelAge West magazine ranked John Wayne as the worst airport for service in the U.S. LAX was one of eight ranked as best for choice of flights, Long Beach was one of four ranked as worst in choice Calling all hams: Auditions for the CHOC Follies will be held Jan. 13 and 20 at 10 a.m. at the Sutton Place Hotel. You must be at least 21 and willing to sell at least $500 worth of tickets or sponsorships. The annual revue has raised $800,000 for Children’s Hospital Overheard at Buzz’s Wharf in Maui: “I like your Hawaiian shirt. Where’d you get it?” “At Hilo Hattie in The Block at Orange.”