ELIZABETH Barker Pinapfel is the general manager at Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Course in the Bronx, part of the American Golf Corporation, manager of 90 premier, private, resort and daily fee gold courses.  Pelham Bay and Split Rock are part of this portfolio.

Barker Pinapfel is a renowned golf course executive with more than a decade of experience in managing and growing prestigious golf courses across the country. In 2008, she was named one of Golf Inc.’s Top 20 Operators in the nation.

In 2008, American Golf relocated her from Las Vegas to New York to re-brand the two golf courses after a $10 million renovation.  She significantly increased revenue by marketing the properties, launching a large-scale public relations campaign, and expanding the facilities.
A native of New York City, Barker Pinapfel earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Villanova University School of Business. 

Barker Pinapfel’s mother Eileen was a native of Rathmore, Co. Kerry.  Her paternal grandparents were born and raised in Co. Monaghan. Barker Pinapfel’s father is the late James Barker, who served as an officer and director of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City for many years.
She has traveled to Ireland on many occasions, and is a member of the Irish Business Organization and the Emerald Guild.

“As a very small child, I remember knowing I was Irish and I was very proud of that fact. I grew up with everything Irish, from my mom’s brogue to my grandmother’s famous Irish soda bread,” Barker Pinapfel recalls.

“My family was proud to be from Ireland and was always active in the Irish community. I’m proud to say that I was brought up knowing that to be Irish was to work hard, be an integral part of the community, to have a strong faith in God and strive for excellence. My success today is due to my Irish heritage.”Barker Pinapfel and her husband Michael have five children.
 

Return to Influential Women 2011