For Immediate Release
Contact: Daniel Wackershauser, Marketing Specialist
Phone: 608.822.2303
Mail: 1800 Bronson Blvd., Fennimore, WI 53809
Date of Release: March 19, 2024
Smith makes mark as youngest golf course superintendent
Fennimore -The youngest golf course superintendent in the history of the Chicago Golf Club is a Southwest Wisconsin Technical College alumnus. Craig Smith, 30, from Richland Center, Wisconsin, was hired at the prestigious golf course when he was 26 years old. “It shows that they’ve had a lot of faith in me,” said Smith. “It was humbling when I got hired. I’ve had a lot of really good mentors throughout the years.”
Smith’s path to his current role has been a scenic one. He graduated from Richland Center High School in 2011 and from Southwest Tech in 2014 with a degree in golf course management. After graduation from Southwest Tech, he moved to New Jersey where he earned a certificate in turf management from Rutgers University. His travels then took him to various golf courses across the country, including in Chicago, Florida, New York, Wisconsin, Chicago again, Los Angeles, and then back to his current role in Chicago in 2018.
While at Southwest Tech, Smith took advantage of the hands-on experience he received in the program. “The classes were excellent,” he said. “It showed me what I needed to work on. I’m most grateful for the launch pad that it put me on; well-rounded in everything. It sparked my desire.”
In addition, Smith enjoyed the hospitality courses he took in conjunction with the program. It was a great learning experience as he entered the workforce. “Where I am now, I have a better understanding of what each department goes through,” he said.
Working at the Chicago Golf Club as the golf course superintendent is a pinnacle in the profession, according to Smith. “I love it,” he said. “I really enjoy the team aspect of it. I get to coach everyone and establish the culture, set the tone and the expectations. It’s very rewarding for me.”
Smith supervises a group of 42 employees, including the course mechanic. “I’m very happy here,” he said. “I have a very supportive membership.”
The Chicago Golf Club is a private golf club in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago. The oldest 18-hole course in North America, it was one of the five founding clubs of the United States Golf Association in 1894.
| Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, is one of 16 institutions that comprise the Wisconsin Technical College System. Southwest Tech offers more than 60 programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Courses are offered on campus, online, HyFlex and in a blended format. The college provides apprenticeship, certificate, technical diploma, and associate degree programs that respond to district workforce needs and prepare student for family-sustaining jobs and career advancement. |