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Meet our Professionals
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Tom Oppedisano
PGA Head Golf Professional at Orchard Creek Golf
Club
2008 marks the 5th season for Tom Oppedisano at
Orchard Creek Golf Club. During that time, Tom has
accumulated some impressive credentials including:
NENY PGA Teacher of the Year, NENY PGA Horton Smith
Award for contributions to education (PGA of America
National Finalist), US Kids Top 50 Teachers - Honorable
Mention, Bauer International PGA Dream Golf Shop
Merchandiser Representative, and Tom currently serves
the NENY PGA as a director on the Board of Directors
where he has chaired the Marketing Committee, the
Education Committee and the Awards Committee. These
credentials also helped Orchard Creek GC earn the
honor of being named the "New York State Golf
Course of the Year" as awarded by the National
Golf Course Owners Association.
It is worth noting that Tom was the first PGA Member
to be Certified in all six areas of the PGA Certified
Professional Program earning the respect of his
peers for being a "Renaissance Golf Professional"
and one of the elite golf managers in the PGA of
America
Tom came to Orchard Creek in the Spring of 2004
already with a great deal of diverse experience.
Originally from Amsterdam and growing up through
the Ballston Spa CC Junior Program, Tom had an impressive
junior resume including 1984 New York State Junior
Boys Semi - Finalist, 1986 NENY Junior Champion,
and four-time Big Ten Conference all star.
Tom then went to Clemson University in South Carolina
on an Air Force ROTC scholarship and graduated in
1992 with a BS in Management and Economics. Summers
while attending school, Tom worked on the grounds
crew at Ballston Spa CC learning the "grass
roots" side of the business. Tom also worked
one summer as a shop assistant under Mike Shpur.
After college, Tom entered the assistant ranks in
1993 by working at Oneonta CC under Dan Spooner.
That winter, Tom went to Cocoa Beach, Florida to
compete on the Tommy Armour Tour and the North Florida
Tour. Spring of 1994 found Tom at Pinehaven CC for
a three year tour under Head Pro, Randy Duncan and
alongside current Pinehaven CC Head Pro, Scott Warren.
During this time, Tom served as Treasurer for the
NENY Assistant's Association.
In 1997, Tom worked one season at McGregor Links
CC, once again under Mike Shpur, where he made a
connection to the Philadelphia area and went to
work at the prestigious Commonwealth National GC.
Tom went from Assistant Pro to Head Professional
in just 20 months and was then promoted to Head
Professional at Woodlake Golf & CC, a sister
club under the Matrix Golf & Hospitality umbrella,
located on the Central New Jersey shore. Tom successfully
rejuvenated a very busy operation and after three
seasons, decided to pursue a new challenge.
Tom has given thousands of lessons to all levels
of abilities and looks forward to continue helping
golfers improve their games. Tom is also an accomplished
club fitter and can fit any player to any brand.
In the spring of 2001, Tom attended a formal USGA
Rules workshop in Far Hills, NJ and is very proficient
in the rules.
Finally, Tom is a family man and his wife, Heather
(Morrison) Oppedisano, is a Broadcast Meteorologist
for Capital News 9 here in Albany. The family is
completed by sons Tommy (5) and Vincent (3).
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