Spartan Profiles: Ollie Nutt

MASTER OF PEBBLE BEACH GOLF

            No golf course in America is more iconic than Pebble Beach.  Located in a part of California that Robert Louis Stevenson described as "the most felicitous meeting of land and sea in creation,” it hosts two annual golf tournaments—the PGA Tour’s AT&T National Pro-Am and the Champions Tour’s Wal-Mart First Tee Open.  Both are run by the Monterey Peninsula Foundation, which in turn is run by president and CEO Orval “Ollie” Nutt, ’63. 

            Since becoming president in 1999—he was hired by MPF chairman Clint Eastwood, and vice chairman Peter Ueberoth—the AT&T National Pro-Am has seen its greatest growth in 60 years.  “None of it would get done without the 200 or so volunteers,” says Nutt, deflecting praise.  But under his leadership, the purse has grown from $2.8 million to $6 million next year, while charity will receive $7 million, up from a little over $1 million. 

            “We’ve met a lot of really nice people, both celebrities and from the business world,” says Ollie.  “This is a world-class operation, and you can sense the unbelievable spirit of volunteerism in this country.  It’s been terrific.  I enjoy it every day.” 

            Growing up in Livonia, Ollie chose MSU over Michigan because “UM was too close to home.”  He studied engineering and married classmate Bonnie (Button), ‘62.  “I learned a lot from the overall social interaction at MSU,” he recalls.  “It was a true awakening.  I saw all the different things that were possible.” 

            After working as a structural engineer in Detroit, he joined IBM in sales, eventually becoming IBM’s marketing manager for Exxon worldwide, based in Houston.  In 1975 he joined upstart Amdahl Corp., and rose to head its South Central sales division covering 17 states and eventually to vice president of sales, responsible for generating some $2 billion a year. 

             In 1986 Ollie moved to the Bay area, where Amdahl was headquartered, and retired in 1997 when the company was purchased by Fujitsu.  “We loved the Carmel area,” he says.  “I was aware of the Monterey Peninsula Foundation.  I said, hmm, what if . . . “  He went through the interview process and landed the job over 200 applicants. 

            He and Bonnie are members of the Monterey Peninsula Country Club, whose “Shore” course—ranked in the nation’s Top 100—was designed by the late Mike Strantz, ’78, a fellow Spartan.