Clear Creek Golf Club’s search for a new golf pro extended all the way to Indiana Avenue.

The Bovina course hired Kent Smith, a 15-year golf pro at the Vicksburg Country Club, to replace Randy Tupper. Tom Gilfoil, Smith’s assistant at the VCC for the past three years, assumed the head golf pro duties at the private country club.

“It’s a different game with the amount of rounds played and activities out here,” said Smith, who began working at Clear Creek last Monday. “There are a lot more golfers and a lot more customers.”

Tupper left the Bovina course in February to take a job at The Refuge, a Jackson-area course. He oversaw the refurbishment of the front nine and plans are in the works to redo the back nine as well.

“When this gets done, it will be a really good golf course,” Smith said. “It’s got a great layout.”

Clear Creek has made strides to attract people to play the course that abuts Interstate 20. A new sign near the Bovina exit points players to the course. The name was changed to Clear Creek Golf Course instead of golf club to drive home the fact that the course is open to the public and not a private club.

Smith will oversee the day-to-day operations of the course, run the pro shop and continue to give golf lessons.

Clear Creek and VCC are the only two golf courses in Vicksburg. Clear Creek is home to both Warren Central and Vicksburg high schools, while the country club is St. Aloysius’ home course.

The Class 1A state championships will be played at VCC.