Biography

I was born and raised in Marlborough, Massachusetts. After graduating high school I played junior hockey before going to college. In the off-season I started working for the grounds crew at Marlborough Country Club. Working for the grounds crew always reminded me of being part of sports team which has been a big part of my life. I worked at Marlborough CC during the summers of playing juniors and throughout college.

Upon graduation from Framingham State University I decided I wanted to take my career in a different path than the major I chose. I attended Umass Amherst’s Winter School and got a certificate of Turfgrass Management. I decided to choose a career in Turf Management because I love working outside and with a team. On a golf course there is a schedule to follow but no day is the same, overcoming challenges and problem solving always keeps you on your toes.

After Winter School I started working at Nashawtuc Country Club in 2014 as a second assistant. Through years of education and hard work I moved up to Senior Assistant Superintendent and was an Assistant Superintendent for five years. I decided to go back to school and earn a Master’s Degree in Turfgrass Management through Penn State. Going back to school and working in the turf management industry was definitely a challenge. I learned time management very quickly with long hours at the golf course followed by school work at night. Getting my Master’s Degree gave me the turf education I was lacking. I had a good amount of field experience but learning from others that have been in the industry a long time was valuable not only from a turf perspective but a leadership one as well.

During my time at Nashawtuc Country Club in addition to managing a large staff and producing superior conditions I oversaw a 2.6 million dollar bunker renovation designed by Rees Jones Group.

I am always striving to be a better superintendent and was selected as one of fifty Assistant Superintendents for Green Start Academy. Green Start Academy is a program through John Deere and Bayer for North America’s leading Assistant Superintendents to learn from the best in the industry.

I also completed the Assistant Superintendent Certification Series through the GCSAA. I was the first person in Massachusetts and the 13th in the nation to fully complete the series and earn the certification. The certification is composed of key golf course competency areas; Agronomy, Business, Environmental Management/Best Management Practices, Leadership and Communication.

I have been the Superintendent at The Haven Country Club in Boylston, Ma since 2021. I became a Class A Superintendent through the GCSAA in 2023. It has been a great pleasure building a strong team that provides the best conditions possible on a daily basis. When I took over, the course had been neglected due to budget cuts for many years. The soil is made from heavy clay and does not drain well. We put forth a successful agronomic plan that is really starting to shine this past season. Drainage, top dressing, aeration, nutrition and tree work all playing major roles.

During my three years at The Haven we completed a full course bunker renovation, converted three acres of unused area to fescue for aesthetics and wildlife benefits. Oversaw construction of a 320 foot stone wall from rocks we collected around the property. Installed over 4,000 feet of in-house drainage. Oversaw the reconstruction to the back of a green that has been a problem for years. We have grown two greens back to health from major winter damage and removed over 500 trees for improved turf conditions and aesthetics.

My goal as a golf course Superintendent is to provide golfers with a great experience every time they come to the course. I played golf in high school so not only do I have the knowledge of what is good for the turf’s health but also the conditions golfers are looking for when they play. I started in this industry at the bottom working my way up so I know every aspect that goes into creating and maintaining great course conditions.

My wife is very supportive of my goals and knows the long hours it takes to be successful in this industry. My wife and I have a six year old daughter, a four year old son and a ten month old daughter: family is the most important thing in my life and this career is how I plan to provide for them. My family knows that being a Superintendent is not just a job but a lifestyle, one that we have all adapted to very well.

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Build the Right Team

In my sixteen years of working in the golf course industry I have learned a lot about turf and what it takes to create great conditions. The key to providing superior conditions on a daily basis is building and leading a team of people to all work together. I believe in surrounding myself with good people both inside and outside the organization. If I don’t have an immediate solution to a problem, I have built a support network of trusted people to find that solution quickly. Creating a healthy and open work atmosphere where employees are respected and motivated to accomplish the goals that are set is essential for the golf courses success.

Leadership is something that one can always keep learning about. For years I have attended leadership training, taken courses and read books on leadership. I am always trying to improve myself in this aspect of management because success starts with leadership. There is not a Superintendent in the world that can be successful without the team around him. My philosophy is show up, work hard, treat people with respect and kindness and build a team that does the same.

Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series

The Assistant Superintendent Certificate Series is composed of certificates covering key competency areas of:

Projects

Green Start Academy