AJGA connections run deep this week at The Golf Club of
New England as former AJGA staff member Greg Sanfilippo takes on the U.S.
Junior Amateur Championship as tournament director. Sanfilippo, who joined the
USGA in February after a successful career at the AJGA will conduct his first
USGA national championship in Stratham, N.H.
Sanfilippos career in the golf industry began at the
AJGA. Sanfilippo served two summer internships (2005-2006) with the AJGA before
joining the full-time staff as a tournament director in January 2007. Known for
his professionalism and always being prepared for the next step, Sanfilippo was
promoted to Director of Tournament Operations, a post he served from November
2009 to March 2012.
When you think of golf administration, it really does
require a lot of talents and not all are golf-course related, Sanfilippo said.
The job incorporates professionalism, customer service, critical thinking,
teamwork, the ability to work under pressure and problem solving abilities. The
AJGA has provided me with the opportunity, the responsibility and the
experience in these essential and concrete foundations to serve as a golf
administrator for the United States Golf Association.
Several of the AJGAs current programs and policies are
results of Sanfilippos critical thinking. He helped improve the AJGA
internship program by encouraging year-round training and helping to implement
the Continuous Education Program, a series of exercises for spring and summer
interns to help improve the execution of AJGA policies and standards.
Since the AJGAs inception, the organization has seen 27
members win the U.S. Junior Amateur including reigning champion and two-time
winner Jordan Spieth, as well as Cory Whitsett, Hunter Mahan, Willie Wood and three-time
champion Tiger Woods.
Sanfilippo will also be the tournament director at the Senior Amateur Championship at Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, N.J., Sept. 29-Oct. 4.