Konnor Erdige (center) with Russell Bolarinho (left) and Steven Page. Erdige, a volunteer, has befriended Bolarinho and Page, two assistant superintendents at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., site of this week’s U.S. Open. Photo by Howard Richman
They could be classified as a band of brothers. The youngest, Konnor Erdige, has no issue hanging out with the two older ones of the group.
On the home turf of Steven Page and Russell Bolarinho, Erdige is in their territory. He’s among the throng of volunteers under the guidance of Jon Jennings, CGCS, who oversees Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y., site of this week’s 126th U.S. Open.
“I think these guys have done a lot for me. To help Steven and Russell out here means a lot,” says Erdige, a six-year GCSAA member.
The three of them connected a couple years ago. Erdige, currently an assistant superintendent at Bethpage Black Golf Course at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y., was interning two years ago at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort when he met Page and Bolarinho. They volunteered in North Carolina to help prep work for that year’s U.S. Open.
Erdige has quickly made acquaintances and tackled the industry with vigor. This 24-year-old isn’t wasting time. It helps he didn’t have to go far for a mentor. His father, Kyle Erdige, is a former golf course superintendent who oversaw Jack Nicklaus-designed Timber Banks in Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Konnor attended SUNY Delhi in Delhi, N.Y., where he was part of the Collegiate Turf Bowl Team that placed second in 2022 at the GCSAA Conference and Trade Show. He went on to take a job at Leatherstocking Golf Course in Cooperstown, N.Y., an Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary. Leatherstocking GC is where Erdige extended his learning of the fundamentals of his profession. He went on to intern for his father at Lubbock Country Club in Lubbock, Texas, then spent nine months at Pinehurst.
Erdige’s journey has featured numerous mentors who’ve schooled him. His father. John Jeffreys at Pinehurst. Andrew Wilson at Bethpage. Currently, Jon Jennings, Page and Bolarinho.
“He has positive energy and he works at this,” says Page, an eight-year GCSAA member. Bolarinho, a seven-year association member added, “He always asks what he can do next, what he can do to get better. That’s an admirable trait.”
While Erdige continues his career path, his focus now is at Shinnecock Hills, and he’s enjoying the ride. In rest time, he’s keeping an eye on The World Cup. Otherwise, it’s all about ensuring that Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler and many other stellar golfers are being tested on the turf that he, other volunteers and Shinnecock staff including Page and Bolarinho have prepared.
“This place has so much history (this is its sixth U.S. Open). It’s an honor to be working with them,” says Erdige.
As for his future, Erdige isn’t sure where it takes him. Right now, he enjoys what he’s doing and that’s enough. “I like the grind,” Erdige says.
Howard Richman is GCM’s associate editor.