Editor’s Note: The PGA Tour returns to TPC River Highlands in Connecticut for the 2025 Travelers Championship, which begins Thursday, June 19, and ends on June 22. Positioned just after the U.S. Open, the Travelers serves as the final Signature Event of the season. The field is stacked with top talent, including World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele, Collin Morikawa, and newly crowned U.S. Open winner J.J. Spaun. Among those taking part behind the scenes is Craig Kirby, founder of Golf. My Future. My Game., who is working the tournament as a greenskeeper through the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Kirby’s journey to this role began earlier this year in San Diego while attending the GCSAA Conference. During a session where course superintendents were sharing their insights, Kirby was struck by the idea that he could better support young people by firsthand experience.
“You can’t teach what you don’t know and you can’t lead where you don’t go,” said Kirby. “That afternoon, I decided I wanted to work a tournament so I could honestly share with our kids the opportunities within GCSAA.” After sharing the idea with Marc Weston, then newly elected Secretary/Treasurer of the GCSAA Board, Kirby was quickly connected with the chance to be part of the grounds crew for this prestigious PGA Tour event. On a call earlier that week with colleagues, Kirby shared news of his involvement, prompting a suggestion from AAGD Executive Editor Jim Beatty that he keep a journal of his experience. Inspired by the idea, Kirby will share a series of articles of his firsthand perspective with readers of African American Golfer’s Digest and others in the golf community. Through his writings, Kirby hopes to inspire young people to explore the often-overlooked career pathways in golf maintenance and course operations. Kirby’s first article is below.
READ Article: DAY 1 – Wednesday, June 18 (BELOW)
READ Article: DAY 2 – Thursday, June 19
READ Article: DAY 3 – Friday, June 20
READ Article: DAY 4 – Saturday, June 21
DATE: Wednesday, June 18, 2025
Day 1 experience as a Golf Course Superintendent (Groundscrew) at the PGA Tour’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut, a suburb of Hartford was amazing.
I was picked up at Bradley International Airport by Gilberto Perez, an executive with Dunning Industries, headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. We had a pregame session with current and former superintendents, including Kevin Doyle (New Hampshire); Kevin Collins, CGCS (Connecticut); Scott Ramsey, CGCS (Connecticut); and Mark Jordan, CSCG (Ohio).
Afterward, we headed to TPC River Highlands Golf Course, which was in spectacular condition. Upon arriving at the course, I met Jason Cannata, Golf Course Superintendent, who is in his third year of leading the agronomy team at this championship. Jason’s focus on communication, organization, and teamwork is incredible, as he creates an infectious enthusiasm among the family of volunteers making a tremendous impact.
Following my brief conversation with Jason, I happily enjoyed a meal prepared for the groundskeeping crew: fried fish, fried shrimp, French fries, sweet potato fries, coleslaw, potato salad, and of course, a variety of cookies.
After dinner, at around 6:30pm, I had a chance to address the 100+ volunteers. I shared with them a line from an earlier Travelers Championship commercial: “There is only one Travelers Championship where champions walk and birdies fly.” I told this audience they were the ones who consistently prepare the way for those champions to walk and for birdies to fly.
After my remarks, my partner Mark Jordan, CSCG and a former GCSAA Board President, and I spent about 2.5 hours raking bunkers on the front nine holes. We left knowing they would be ready for the tournament’s start on Thursday morning, June 19.
The tournament begins tomorrow, and I’ll be on-site at 4:15 a.m. I’m excited to share more updates throughout the week!
