Meet Dave Carlisle

When the Kissing Tree Golf Club opened in 2018, Dave Carlisle was on board as our first head golf professional. At that time, Dave never imagined that life would move him around the country — or that he’d be back in 2025 to put his 34 years of golf and hospitality experience to work as the club’s General Manager. We sat down with Dave to find out what he’s been up to, how Kissing Tree has changed, and what he’s excited about for the future.

KT: Thanks for talking, Dave! We’re so glad to have you back at Kissing Tree. Tell us what you’ve been up to!

DC: Well, I started here at Kissing Tree under Josh Clay, and I stayed until 2020, when I moved to manage a facility up in Montana. I stayed in touch with colleagues at Troon, and a few years later they reached out and asked if I would be interested in being the interim General Manager at a club in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I was there for almost 5 years, and then the General Manager position opened up here at Kissing Tree. I wasn’t looking to move, but this has always been home to our family. Both of my sons live in Texas, and my granddaughter is here. We’re super happy to be back.

KT: How has it been to be back at Kissing Tree? 

DC: A lot of residents reached out when they found out I was coming back — I’ve gotten a lot of support from the community! I love that; it made the decision much easier to know they were excited. Since I’ve been in the office, a lot of folks have come by to say how excited they are. I’m definitely feeling the love.

KT: Is the course the same as you remembered? 

DC: When we opened, there were very few houses, especially on the front 9! There are a lot more houses now! The back 9 looks the same, and I love it. I know we’re here for growth, and this progress is a good thing.

KT: What are you excited about? 

DC: I’m excited to continue to improve Kissing Tree and make this the best golf course and restaurant that we can have. I think Ryan did a great job while he was here, and it’s my intention to keep up those improvements and add in best practices where they’re needed. I have some ideas, but right now I’m still getting oriented, talking to people, and observing. Cleanliness is a big deal to me — it’s the little things that matter the most.

KT: Do you have any advice for people playing the KT course for the first time?

DC: Gary Stevenson did a great job with designing the Kissing Tree course — it’s playable for golfers at all levels. Instead of making the course longer and harder, he designed it so it’s shorter and more fun to play. My advice would be to play the tees designed for your level of play. This course can be very challenging if you play the back tees. Too often, beginning golfers (or even better players) want to play the back tees — I don’t know if that’s an ego thing. People automatically go to the back tees, but if they moved up a couple they’d enjoy the course more.

KT: And what’s it like to have Tarbox & Brown, a full restaurant, as part of the club now?

DC: It’s fun to know the history of the clubhouse — we had started on that project before I left. It’s changed a lot, but the concept is the same. When we first opened in 2018, we just had the Rolling Stone food truck with Chef Kirk, who was a friend. I actually worked with him again in Oklahoma before he passed away. He just wanted to make people happy by giving them the food they wanted. I miss his Frito Pie. But man are we lucky to have Chef Dave at the helm of Tarbox. I’ve spent some time with him, and he’s just what we need here. And boy he can cook! Everything I’ve had has been phenomenal.

Oh man, we miss Chef Kirk’s Frito Pie, too! If you see Dave around the Kissing Tree Golf Club, be sure to give him a warm welcome. Did you know that residents get a discount on golf? Find your move-in-ready home now and hit the greens!