It all started for me at a young age while working summers at Salem Golf Club. When it was time to head to college, I took courses in computer networking but really missed the golf course and felt drawn to a life on the course. After speaking with an assistant superintendent at the time he gave me guidance to pursue turf management at Rutgers University. I made my move and have never looked back.

In between semesters at Rutgers I was granted the opportunity to intern at the Apawamis Club. Learning as much as possible while there,  I was also given the chance to volunteer for the Barclays Classic at Westchester CC as well as the US Open at Winged Foot in 2006. After being astonished of the level of perfection there,  I knew that was the direction I needed to go in order for career advancement.

Upon graduation from Rutgers University I was hired at Winged Foot as a Second Assistant. During my tenure, I was fortunate enough to serve under such noted superintendents as Eric Greytok, Paul Ramina, and Matthew Burrows. I would always volunteer myself to help in any and every project we had going on--trying to improve my knowledge of the industry day by day. After a short period of time I was promoted to the Irrigation Technician position. Overseeing the heart of the operation with well over 5,500 sprinkler heads and miles of pipe, this role allowed direct work with the superintendent on planning future projects as well as purchasing and inventories. One year later, I was promoted again to Assistant Superintendent of the West Course.

After a few years at Winged Foot, I felt it was beneficial to make another career move, and at the same time started an interest in golf architecture. I had already gained experience in a parkland-style course, so I wanted to broaden my knowledge and went for a lateral movement to The Creek Club -- a well-known links layout. I was hired by Adam Wilkins, who had previously been an Assistant at the famous Pine Valley.  The Creek Club exposed me to many different agronomic factors that were never an issue at other courses I had worked prior. Upon arrival, we had broken ground on an in-house construction project which was to recapture the original green complex on the tenth hole, under the guidance of Gil Hanse.

After being involved in the implementation of the Master Plan at The Creek Club, I still felt a need to gain a new perspective on the industry before running my own operation. An opportunity for a world-class grow-in arose -- Trump Ferry Point. I started employment with the Trump organization in July of 2012 when the first seed hit the ground. From that point in time I was exposed to every aspect of golf course construction. The site had drastically changed from year one to year two and by the third growing season the course was complete and has prospects of hosting a major tournament.

With both parkland and links-style golf knowledge and the addition of a grow-in on my resume, I feel I have prepared myself for almost all agronomic scenarios possible and look forward for the next great opportunity this industry presents to me.

 

 

PROFILE

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY

Certificate of Turfgrass Management

GPA: 3.52

 

THE COLLEGE OF WESTCHESTER

A.S. in Applied Science - Computer Networking

GPA: 3.40

 

NY DEC COMMERCIAL PESTICIDE APPLICATOR

 

GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

 

LONG ISLAND GCSA

 

METROPOLITAN GOLF ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

 

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY RALPH GEIGER SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

 

Metropolitan Golf Course Superintendents Association

EDUCATION & AFFILIATIONS