The owner of Magnolia Meadows golf course in Columbiana was found shot Wednesday on the 18th hole, the victim of an apparent suicide.

A worker at the public golf course found the body of Jeff Falkner early Wednesday morning, said Mayor Allan Lowe.

Shelby County Coroner Diana Hawkins declined to comment, saying the death was still under investigation.

Falkner was a State Farm Insurance agent in Columbiana for 33 years.

He was also heavily involved in real estate. In 1978, he co-founded Town Creek Apartments and later built Jason&8217;s Marine, Paradise Point Marina, Paradise Point subdivision and Magnolia Park subdivision.

Falkner was also a member of the South Shelby Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors and a member of the First Baptist Church of Columbiana.

An avid golfer, he celebrated a long-time dream when Magnolia Meadows golf course opened in 2001.