Lara Pavloff

DIRECTOR OF GOLF AT THE BILTMORE HOTEL

Raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, Lara Pavloff was a sports enthusiast from an early age. She played soccer and hockey as a kid and won recognition as a high school basketball star. It wasn’t until her college days at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, that she started to play golf seriously. It was then that she realized her chosen career course – to become a lawyer – was not the right path for an athlete. So, she got a job as an assistant golf pro in Northern Michigan and studied to become a Class A PGA Professional, which requires many months of golf course experience. Since Northern Michigan summers are painfully short, she moved to Coral Gables to golf year-round, working first as an assistant golf pro at Trump Doral. In 2008, she became an assistant golf pro at the Biltmore, then head pro in 2013, and finally director of golf in 2020, responsible for all aspects of the Biltmore’s program.

Latest Accomplishment 

Pavlov ran the event on Nov. 23 to honor a century of golf at the Biltmore. She was joined by Vaughn Halyard, president of the Donald Ross Society, who presented the Biltmore with a commemorative plaque, welcoming it into the elite set of centenary courses designed by Donald Ross and acknowledging the care to preserve his legacy. The event included a member’s only tournament (120 players golfed). Mixing things up, on each of the par 3 holes (holes two, eight, 12, and 14), players used balls and clubs from the 1920’s, commonly called Hickory Sticks. The ceremony began with a bagpiper, followed by remarks from Biltmore President Tom Prescott, former Mayor Don Slesnick, Mayor Vince Lago, Commissioner Richard Lara, and Vaughan Halyard.

What She Says

“I loved sports, and still love all sports, and this [being golf pro and director] was a way to be in the industry all the time. And it’s a way to be outside, to not be stuck in an office all day,” says Pavlov. As for the November event: “Not a lot of people get to do a 100 anniversary [for a golf course]. It was pretty special.” She is also particularly proud of creating a members-only area with lounge, locker room, and more. Next? “I would like to redo the driving range, to make it a permanent structure so people can come in and hit in bad weather,” she says. – J.P. Faber

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