Welcome to
McGregor Links
Dear McGregor Members,
I am pleased and excited to announce my return to McGregor Links CC as your PGA Head Golf Professional. Many of you know me from my travels around the capital region over the years or you may remember my year as an assistant at McGregor in 1997 - hard to believe that was 13 years ago!
Here is what I have been up to. When I left McGregor in 1997, I entered the corporate golf world working for Matrix Golf & Hospitality. I spent four years at Commonwealth National Golf Club in Philadelphia and three years at Woodlake Golf & Country Club on the Jersey Shore, both Head Professional positions at private clubs. From 2004 - 2008, I was Head Golf Professional at Orchard Creek in nearby Altamont and most recently I have been a retail manager and instructor at Golf Galaxy in Albany. Prior to 1997, I worked as an Assistant at Oneonta CC and Pinehaven CC. I grew up playing out of Ballston Spa CC where I worked on both the grounds crew and in the pro shop while in college, starting my golf career.
After I gained PGA Membership, I wanted to find a way to advance myself and began my adventure in the PGA Education system. I became the first person to become certified in all six career paths of the PGA Certified Professional Program which include: Golf Operations, General Management, Instruction, Retail, Executive Management and Ownership & Leasing. I was dubbed a "Renaissance PGA Professional" and became the voice of the program which earned me a place on the PGA National Education Committee.
Locally, I have served on the Board of Directors for the NENY PGA for three years and have chaired the Education Committee and the Media & Marketing Committee. I have been honored twice with the Horton Smith Award for contributions to education including being a national finalist. I was recognized as Teacher of the Year in 2007 and named to the US Kids Top 50 honorable mention list three times.
I am also coming off my most successful year as a player, including making the cut at the NY State Open at Bethpage Black and being an alternate for the 2010 PGA National Championship in French Lick, Indiana, which I have high hopes of getting in.
Of course, all of this is just the foundation for what is yet to come and for me being able to serve the golfing needs of the McGregor Links Membership. Dean, Erinn and I are already hard at work to get ready for the 2010 season and we would like to hear from you. What would you like to see at McGregor Links in 2010?
On a personal note, I am married to Heather Morrison Oppedisano, who you may see on Capital News 9 Weather. Heather and I actually met at McGregor when she bartended here in 1994 while she was putting herself through college. We now have two boys, Tommy Jr. who will be 7 this spring and Vincent, who is 4.
I very much look forward to being able to serve any and all of your golfing needs and becoming a part of your golfing life. Please do not hesitate to ask about anything. Spring will be here before you know it, so let’s get ready for a great year of golf! I can't wait to see a lot of old friends and make even more new ones.
See you soon!!
Respectfully,
Tom Oppedisano
PGA Certified Golf Professional