This week in the AJGA Trailblazers Spotlight Series we are featuring Hampton Clark, who currently serves as a Senior Experiential Operation Manager with CSM Production. Clark worked as a communications intern during the summer of 2020 and landed a full-time role as a Communications Coordinator the following year. After his time with the AJGA, Clark stayed within the golf industry with his current role at CSM Productions working with the Underrated Tour, Steph Curry and SC30 in 2023.
Clark was immersed in sports at a young age. He was known for being a relief pitcher at the University of Cumberlands. As he got close to the end of his playing career, Clark shifted focus to working in sports and graduated with a degree in communications and business.
“We’ve all had the dream of playing professional sports and my dream was baseball,” Clark said. "When that wasn’t an option, I had to be realistic and look for an internship and that’s how I first found golf.”
Clark began his golf career as a video storytelling intern at Golf Channel. His daily tasks were converting articles into slideshows. Clark didn’t know much about the golf industry, so he used it as a measuring tool to see if he could see himself furthering his career in it.
“I’ve never been around golf, so I just thought of it as a job,” Clark said. "I thought I was either going to like it or hate it, but thankfully I ended up liking it a lot and saw it as something I could do.”
Clark found himself at Intern Recruiting Weekend (IRW) at the AJGA after going through the application process. He discovered that it was a traveling internship and began working as a communications intern that summer.
“I looked at it as an opportunity for more golf, so why not try it,” Clark said. “I’m a go-with-the-flow guy as I don’t like to force anything, but I learned a lot during those five months. The internship then gave me the opportunity for a full-time role.”
Clark began his full-time stint with the AJGA as a Communications Coordinator in January of 2021. He was the primary liaison for signage and worked alongside the AJGA’s Foundation department. It wasn’t what he expected after working primarily on social media and storytelling during the internship, but he found a new level of appreciation for the Foundation’s mission to give back.
“I started learning that everyone had specific roles within communications, so it was a bit of an adjustment,” Clark said. "But seeing the different ways we give back, whether that’s with the Cobra PUMA State Cups, Liberty National ACE Grant and endowments taught me a lot. They were great to work with and learning different ways to create signage kept me busy.”
Clark credits the professional skills he was able to build, such as time management, multitasking and problem-solving to the AJGA. He loved the AJGA for the people he was able to work with as he was able to build friendships that he still holds today.
“The people certainly kept me there as it’s just one big family and we’re all the same age relatively speaking which helps,” Clark said. “Thomas, Sydney, Libby, and Amanda [Fellow AJGA Staff Members] …I could go on and on but we’re all going through the same challenges and have that camaraderie that makes everything better, so it helped me through my time with the AJGA.”
Clark started to seek out new opportunities outside of the AJGA towards the end of his second year with the organization. He appreciated the culture that allowed young professionals to seek out those opportunities. One day he received a call asking if he would be interested in working with Stephen Curry and the operations space for an organization.
“I stopped listening after Steph Curry if I’m honest,” Clark said. “I was very interested and found out it wasn’t directly with Steph Curry, but an organization that partners with him. Still, it was a great opportunity and I loved how open you can talk about jobs within the AJGA because they want to hook you up with the next opportunity.”
Clark began his time with CSM Productions working for the experiential team in January of 2023. His role involved helping wherever he was needed initially, but then had responsibilities with NASCAR, setting up the productions and event space within events like the Daytona 500.
“It was such a new experience for me as I was learning about tools, permits and safety and I’m even forklift certified which I never thought I’d say,” Clark said.
In addition to his responsibilities with NASCAR events, Clark is solely responsible for being the liaison to Stephen Curry and the SC30 team’s Underrated Tour. The tour’s goal is to grow the game of goal by providing equity, access and opportunity to student-athletes, primarily within the minority space. The tour runs three to four events from June to August.
Clark's job consists of running the tournaments, setting up equipment and signage and making sure the stakeholders have lodging and amenities. Clark ensures that he provides the kids and their families with an enriched experience. Clark still loves to reach out to his AJGA friends as a resource.
“I know the name says underrated, but it doesn’t mean they’re underprivileged,” Clark said. "It doesn’t mean they’re coming from bad areas. It just means they’re not getting the exposure, so giving back to them and seeing the bonds we create is special to me.”
Clark is looking forward to continuing to grow with CSM Productions and the Underrated Tour. He’s glad he’s continued to work within the golf industry but will continue to do things to the beat of his drum.
“Golf has always been like you have to act a certain way and there’s a certain way to do everything,” Clark said. "I try and change that mindset. I can be my own person and run things my own way and still be professional while doing it. I’m excited for what’s to come and looking forward to being a part of that growth.”