My passion for golf started early when my grandfather introduced me to the sport, and I feel truly fortunate that my life’s work involves the game I love. When I took my first job on a golf course, I never realized it would lead me down a path towards a career. That entry-level position in course maintenance gave me an up-close look at how a golf course works, and how it is cared for. In hindsight it also let me see on a daily basis how golf course maintenance is affected by golf course design and construction.

While attending the University of Massachusetts for degrees in Plant and Soil Science, and Finance I furthered my maintenance education interning at Westchester CC in Rye, NY, and the Stanwich Club in Greenwich, CT. After graduating I spent two years as the assistant superintendent at Garden City CC, in Long Island, NY. A suggestion from my previous boss at the Stanwich Club to continue developing my education led me to apply as a construction foreman for the Nicklaus organization. After four years of performing nearly every aspect of golf course construction with my own two hands, on various projects throughout the country, and working closely with Jack Nicklaus and his design associates on the in-field design issues, I had developed from a foreman to a project manager. While managing a green renovation project for Nicklaus at Shoal Creek in Birmingham, AL, I met former U.S. Open champion Jerry Pate who offered me a position project managing his newest design, Limestone Springs located outside Birmingham. After the success of Limestone Springs Jerry offered me his next project, Rancho La Quinta in Palm Springs, CA. It was during that project I suggested to Jerry I would like to shape full time instead of project managing. This was one of the last aspects of construction I felt I needed to learn, and as any good shaper will tell you, the only way to truly understand the “art” of shaping is to get “seat time."

At this point I felt my development was well rounded, and my passion for golf course design had only grown deeper, but I wanted to have my base of operation closer to my home in Massachusetts. This is where I was truly fortunate to cross paths with Roger who had just opened his office a few years earlier an hour from my home. I began with the Firm as a project manager/shaper at Fox-Hopyard G. C. in East Haddam, CT. After all my years working for many different designers and associates, I found something very different working with Roger. He designed in a truly classic style, developing the concept in the office, but letting the true “art” happen in the field in close collaboration with the shaping team. After a very short time I knew this was a terrific fit for me and I was honored the Firm felt the same way, offering me a partner position during the next two years.

Over the last several years with the Firm, working on some of the best projects of my career I have been able to utilize all of my experiences, from the university to the in-field schooling. I continue to be directly involved with all of our construction projects and spend 25% of my time on a bulldozer shaping with Roger. With my expanded role in the Group my remaining time is spent working with Roger as his design associate, and also running our business operations in conjunction with Marshall. Our firm maintains a relationship more similar to a family than a business association, and I feel this translates directly to our clients.