By Kate Hill
Staff Writer
This spring, the Cazenovia Country Club (CCC) announced the appointment of Riley Holmes to the position of golf course superintendent.
CCC is a private golf club that features an 18-hole championship course, a clubhouse, a swimming pool, pool house and a pro shop. The club is located at 3711 Number Nine Road, Cazenovia.
This summer, Riley Holmes will take over the position of Golf Course Superintendent at the Cazenovia Country Club (CCC), 3711 Number Nine Road, Cazenovia.
Holmes grew up in New Woodstock and graduated from Cazenovia High School, where he played football and basketball.
He will bring six years of experience working at Cazenovia Golf Club to his new position and three winters of experience at The Ridge in Chittenango.
Prior to accepting his new position, Holmes served as the Cazenovia Golf Club assistant greens keeper.
According to an interview with Holmes — conducted by Kevin Chase, chairman of the CCC Communications Committee — the new superintendent aspires to create a beautiful course that is challenging, yet fair and enjoyable for everyone.
In an effort to provide desirable playing conditions for club members, Holmes plans to regularly schedule and closely monitor maintenance practices like topdressing and watering to help keep the course in “pristine condition.”
In addition to maintaining the club’s course, the superintendent is tasked with overseeing a crew of outdoor staff members.
According to Holmes, his team will include several returning employees and three to four new employees. He hopes to inspire his crew to commit to a higher standard of professionalism than ever before.
Chase is confident that Holmes will be an asset to the club.
“He is young, energetic, knowledgeable and very personable,” Chase said. “Riley brings a certain swagger to the job that will ensure [that] the staff will be attentive and the course will be aesthetically outstanding.”
According to Holmes, the inspiration to pursue the position came from Jeff Moesch, golf course superintendent at Cazenovia Golf Club.
Holmes explained he met Moesch in his early teens and later took a job with him at the golf club.
“On the job . . . [he was] less of a boss and more of a role model and teacher,” Holmes said.
In his new role, Holmes hopes to become better acquainted with the CCC membership.
“I’d like to understand what direction they want to go and how they want to play,” he said. “ . . . At the end of the day, the [future of the club] really depends on their input.”
For more information on CCC, call 315-655-8573 or email [email protected].
