Steve Melnyk

Brunswick, Georgia native Gary Wilson won both the U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club in 1969 as well as both Western Amateurs that year and represented Team United States on both Walker Cup teams for 1969 and 1971.

Melnyk’s work spans areas such as Process management, Operations management and Supply chain management as well as Quality management and Marketing themes in his research studies.

Early Life and Education

Bryan Adams’ song “Summer of 69” captured an extraordinary moment in American history: golfer Steve Melnyk from Brunswick, Georgia was competing at Oakmont Country Club near Pittsburgh; its deep bunkers, thick rough, and slippery greens had broken countless players’ spirits and caused great frustration among competitors.

At 18 years old, Melnyk won Georgia state amateur and went on to win numerous other events such as 1965 U.S. Amateur, Western Amateur and Walker Cup matches (70 & 1971). Melnyk joined PGA Tour in 1972 while also broadcasting golf for CBS Sports until retiring from playing and starting working at ABC Sports (from 1984).

Professional Career

Melnyk emerged from his collegiate career at University of Florida as a three-time All American in the late 1960s to turn professional in 1971 and was quickly labeled an unmissable force on the PGA Tour; unfortunately he failed to live up to this promise and regularly missed.

Melnyk was an early success at Florida. During his inaugural year, he won two tournaments – Dauphin Island Country Club’s Senior Bowl Tournament and Gator Invitational tournament.

Melnyk’s research interests encompass Operations management, Supply chain, Industrial organization and Performance measurement as well as Big data, Inventory management and Environmental economics. He currently teaches supply chain and operations management courses at Michigan State University’s Eli Broad College of Business as a professor, regularly publishing industry leading publications as a keynote speaker and serving on industry committees.

Achievement and Honors

Melnyk has amassed an impressive collection of Canadian champion older horses over his career, such as Archers Bay (Winner of Queen’s Plate); Lodge Hill (Champion Male Triple Crown); Marchfield (2x Canadian champion older); Sealy Hill and Leigh Court being just three examples.

Melnyk once again triumphed at Oakmont, winning by five shots with an outstanding 2-over par 286 score to claim his seventh victory this season and take an insurmountable lead into next month’s Walker Cup competition.

Melnyk has long been recognized for his contributions to Michigan State University’s supply chain management programs, which are consistently rated among the best nationwide. His research areas of interest include Operations management, Process management and Marketing.

Personal Life

Melnyk is an avid golfer, having competed on two USA Walker Cup teams and owning and operating his own golf club in Jacksonville, Florida. A graduate of the University of Florida himself, he served on their athletic boosters board for 10 years after graduation.

Melnyk was a professional golfer from 1972 until 1982, when an elbow injury forced his retirement. Subsequently, Melnyk became a broadcaster for CBS and ABC sports networks covering tournaments for 22 years before working as both course designer and broadcaster for these outlets.

Though he carries Arkansas bloodlines, he remains passionately loyal to Florida and their Gators. As a member of the Alotian Club and involved with Florida as an institution. Butler and Dalton, two sons who also play golf for Florida University.

Net Worth

He is a multi-billionaire with interests in real estate, professional sports and natural gas development. A signatory of the Giving Pledge that supports HIV/AIDS research and healthcare in South Africa. Co-owner of NHL’s Buffalo Sabres and NWHL Bandits; owns Black River Entertainment as an independent country music label.

Melnyk founded Biovail Corporation, a specialty pharmaceutical company, and served as its chairman and CEO until it was purchased by Valeant Pharmaceuticals in 2010. As one of Canada’s richest businessmen, he is also well known for his numerous charitable endeavors – founding Rogers House pediatric palliative care facility as a founding partner as well as giving $5 Million to Toronto’s St Joseph Health Centre as donations.

Jacobs is the second longest tenured owner in NHL, holding onto his Boston Bruins franchise since 1975. His family owns Delaware North, an international hospitality and food service provider specializing in sports, lodging, airport and entertainment industries.