Category: Quaker Ridge Golf Club Fellows Program

By Lydia Dawit and Luis Gonzalez

Being a part of the Quaker Ridge tennis shop was a great way to spend our summer.

Everyone’s friendly attitude contributed to our experience, and we learned a lot while working with the members and the staff. In addition to our work, we got to learn how to play tennis and pickleball, and watching the matches at the club was almost as much fun as playing.

On July 10th, the club hosted a ”Breakfast at Wimbledon” event in which members were served a beautiful spread from Chef Joe and watched the Wimbledon finals while playing their own matches. We had a great turnout and everyone was excited to watch and play. This event, like all of the special events at the club, required a lot of behind-the-scenes work. We spent quite a while getting the TV connected to the cable box, and the cleanup was significant, with lots of leftovers and tables that needed to be moved back into the clubhouse. Despite the work involved, we really enjoyed interacting with the members on these special occasions.

By Darrin Greaves II

As a returning fellow, I expected my experience this summer to be similar to last year, but it was even better.

This year we played a more pivotal role in the golf shop and became familiar with the advanced technology around the course.

My days usually started around 8 o’clock. We prepared bags for the early tee times and greeted the members as they arrived. After meeting and having conversations with so many members, I started to feel welcome in the Quaker Ridge community. Many remembered me from last year, and it was nice to catch up with the people who first welcomed me last summer.

By Amitra Brown

My experience as a Quaker Ridge fellow was amazing.

I worked for Mario Guerra, the head golf pro. He and his staff were very welcoming, as were the members. I learned a lot on the job and had fun doing it.

Momentum Wednesdays, our weekly sessions run by Nancy Degnan, the program supervisor, and Brittney Benjamin, the program coordinator, were the highlight of every week. The guest speakers we had on these Wednesdays were amazing, and their advice was life-changing.

By Alexander Ciriaco

My days at Quaker Ridge started early in the morning. I would arrive at the maintenance building by 6:30am ready to work on the course.

My job was to help keep the course looking good. I enjoyed the still mornings because of the occasional wildlife sighting. I saw deer, hawks and rabbits and in general enjoyed the scenery while I worked. I filled divots, watered, raked bunkers and even learned how to use a leaf blower to keep tees and greens clear of debris.

Sometimes a maintenance emergency would require the attention of the supervisors. On the Saturday of my first week, for example, I helped fix a water leak on the fifth hole. We dug up the pipe and I learned a lot about PVC and plumbing. 

This was my second year in the program, and it was extremely exciting. I met club members, employees and managers, and I reconnected with returning fellows and met the new ones. 

By Nia Gooden

Being a Quaker Ridge Golf Club Fellow was a deeply rewarding and truly educational experience.

I learned so much about the way a golf club and golf shop operate. The members – who are kind, respectful, and welcoming – are a big reason it was such a pleasant and motivating experience.

Working in outside operations and in the golf shop taught me how to adjust to unique situations, a skill that can be applied in many other workplaces.

By Brittney Benjamin

First days always have a surreal feeling to them, don’t they?

Whether it’s the first day of school or the first day at a new job, they always seem to bring a familiar, stomach-twisting mix of excitement and nerves. That’s how I felt driving through the gates at Quaker Ridge and taking in the beautiful green landscape.

It was not my first day at the club, but it was my first day there as the Program Coordinator and a Momentum alumnus. (I worked with Chef Joe last summer as part of the inaugural class.) As nervous as the new Fellows might have been, I think I was about five times as nervous. I wanted everything to flow as smoothly as the plan that I put together with Nancy Degnan, my supervisor and mentor.

By Ellis Renwick-Archibold

This Fellowship has been a great experience. I can confidently say that I learned several lessons in ways that I didn’t expect. 

One of the most important lessons was patience. In the kitchen you always have something to do and everything is always moving. Despite the frenzied environment, you’ve got to be patient with what you’re doing and not always rush.