If you had told the kid sweating through 18 holes with a rake in hand that he’d someday be writing a column for a golf association as a full-time staff member, he probably would’ve laughed — or asked for water. But that’s exactly where this journey began for me: as a bunker boy at my local municipal golf course. I’m grateful for the chance to reflect on how that experience set things in motion, how my path to the CDGA has shaped me professionally and why working around the game of golf means so much to me.
As I think back, I realize my connection to the game started even earlier than I once thought.
My name is Damian Rodriguez. I’m 21 years old and have been with the CDGA for the past 16 months as the Manager of Championship Operations. I grew up in Amsterdam, a small town in upstate New York about 45 minutes west of Albany. Like many kids, I bounced between different sports — soccer, basketball — but it wasn’t until 2013 that I first picked up a golf club, thanks to my aunt Lindsay, who took me out to a local course.
Over the next several summers, we’d play occasionally, but it wasn’t until seven years later that the game really took hold. At 16, I joined the grounds crew at that same course and began what would become both a career and a true love for the game. Waking up at 4:30 a.m. on summer weekends to spin and rake bunkers might not sound appealing, but watching the sunrise over the rolling hills of upstate New York, hands in the dirt at the break of dawn — that unlocked something in me I hadn’t felt before.
That fall, I stepped away from varsity soccer to join my school’s golf team. I wanted to see the game from both sides — inside the ropes and outside of them.
While I worked in golf and played regularly throughout high school, I still hadn’t considered it as a long-term career. What I did know was that I wanted to work in sports. So after earning early college credits, I enrolled in the Sport Management program at SUNY Cortland with the goal of graduating early and gaining a head start in the industry.
It wasn’t until senior year, when we needed a summer internship to finish our credits, that I realized a career in golf was exactly what I wanted. That opportunity came through the New York State Golf Association, where I was selected as one of four USGA P.J. Boatwright Interns in the summer of 2023. I learned under some of the best in the game — Andrew Hickey, Jack Travers and Dan Thompson — and came out of that season with a clear sense of purpose. I wanted to keep going.
That fall, I applied for full-time positions and internships with Allied Golf Associations (AGAs) across the country. While most didn’t pan out, the Carolinas Golf Association took a chance on me. I spent five months in Pinehurst as a tournament operations intern, developing a more focused skill set thanks to the leadership of Maggie Watts and Chris Zeh.
That experience led me to where I am today. After interviewing with several CDGA staff members, including my now-supervisor Colin Wadelin, I landed a full-time position here — and I haven’t looked back.
At the CDGA, my primary role as Manager of Championship Operations is to assist in the administration of all CDGA and Illinois State Championships and qualifiers, as well as USGA qualifiers throughout the region. The most rewarding part of the job has been working alongside dedicated colleagues both within and beyond our department. While I’ve been fortunate to learn from many talented tournament professionals, the level of focus and commitment I see here — especially from Wadelin and Will Cawthon — sets a standard I strive to meet every day.
I feel incredibly fortunate to have found a path that combines my love for sports, my respect for the game and a deep appreciation for the people who make it all happen. I’m reminded of how far I’ve come — and how excited I am for what’s ahead.
Damian Rodriguez is the CDGA’s Manager of Championship Operations. He has been with the Association since 2024.
