Father and son Scott Furlong, CGCS (left) and his son Hayden shared a week together prepping for the Solheim Cup at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va. Photo by Howard Richman
When his father walked onto the golf course, Hayden Furlong did a double take.
Their meetup played out at a familiar spot. Scott Furlong, CGCS, a 27-year GCSAA member, has made Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Gainesville, Va., his home away from home since 1994. Hayden Furlong, a college student, spent many a day at the club watching his dad’s every move.
On this one-time-only occasion — as Scott exited a board meeting all dressed up and came directly outside to show his son a thing or two about watering a green — it still was quite a sight for the younger Furlong.
“He comes out in a suit and tie and starts hand-watering the greens,” Hayden says. “He will do anything it takes.”
More recently, the Furlongs shared a truly magical week working together. Robert Trent Jones GC hosted the 19th Solheim Cup, matching the United States against a team from Europe. While the U.S. walked away winners on Sept. 15, the Furlongs (with Hayden as a volunteer) shared in the triumph for the maintenance staff and volunteers for a job well done.
Whether this is the last time they work together remains to be seen.
Hayden is on track to complete his two-year certificate in the Penn State Golf Course Turfgrass Management Program next spring. He’s a former student at Old Dominion University who had thoughts of a career in sports marketing or teaching physical education — before he spent three years as a seasonal worker under his father from 2018-21. That’s when it hit home. “This is my calling,” he says.
Hayden’s redirected path led to an internship from January to June 2023 at Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., where he helped prepare for the Masters. He followed up that experience this year at Seminole Golf Club in Juno Beach, Fla., where he served as an intern from March until September before heading to the Solheim Cup.
Learning how things are done elsewhere under Brad Owen and Brent Seyer at Augusta and Nelson Caron and Ryan Montgomery at Seminole adds to Hayden’s knowledge of what it could take to keep on trucking in this industry. Having a father who has done it for decades established a solid base.
“He’s a nice person. And he’s my mentor, the best teacher I could ever ask for,” says Hayden, a first-year GCSAA member. “He gets along with everybody, and he wants his team to enjoy what they’re doing. In this industry, networking is important, taking chances. You’ve got to communicate with people, and your crew, to be successful. I’ve tried to soak up everything I have learned from him.”
Hayden isn’t sure where he where he’ll go next after college, but he knows one thing.
“I’m a son of a superintendent. People know my father in this industry, what he has done and been able to accomplish. In this business, I hope and will strive to do the same,” he says. “I still have a long way to go, but without him and other superintendents I know and have worked for, I wouldn’t be where I am at in this industry today, and I am truly thankful and blessed.”
For his part, Scott Furlong says that he and many others will cheer Hayden on no matter what happens next. “We’re excited — our family, the club, the members, as to where he is going to go. I hope he finds a place where it’s enjoyable to go to work just as I have,” Scott says.
Hayden says the week of the Solheim Cup week was one he will never forget. “I grew up on RTJ. It will forever be special and a second home for me,” Hayden says. “The tournament is a perfect closure to the next chapter in my life, my career.”
Howard Richman is GCM’s associate editor