Will Reece III

Wissahickon Golf Course Superintendent at the Philadelphia Cricket Club • Penn State Two-Year Program ‘23 • Augustana College ‘21

[Alex Stuedemann CGCS @AlexJStuedemann]

Two hard weeks of battling oppressive heat and humidity did not faze @TPCDeereRunAGR in producing excellent tournament conditions for the @JDCLASSIC. @PGATOURAgronomy is appreciative of the passion and dedication of the team lead by @J___Graham.

[Will Reece III @will_reece_iii]

@bloom_golf @seniorpgachamp Tee divot plugs! Love it!

[Fried Egg Golf @fried_egg_golf]

"My final lasting takeaway is the delight of a new — and in this case, architecturally-significant —  venue appearing on the PGA Tour, even if only temporarily. New courses infuse a fresh air of intrigue and anticipation in the lead-up to a tournament. Once play commences, people update their opinions, debate, and learn. The tournament takes on more life.

"Introducing new venues may not align with the Tour’s goal of making every event as repeatable and efficient as possible, but it should align with the Tour’s goal of making every event the best it can be. TPC Marriotts get the job done, but every once in a while it’s nice to visit a place with a little bit of soul."

- @JosephLaMagna reflecting on the Truist Championship at Philadelphia Cricket Club in today's newsletter

(Photo credit: @TruistChamp)

[The Golfer's Journal @GolfersJournal]

It started with a roaming crew of cricket players. Penn grads with English roots who in 1854 borrowed their team colors from a cricket club in England: I Zingari, or “the gypsies” who, like their counterparts in America, wandered from pitch to pitch, a team without a home field.

Those colors of black, red, and yellow are born of the motto, “Out of darkness, through fire, into light,” and today they still wave over the Philadelphia Cricket Club. Those original cricketers eventually settled in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, and in time golf would join tennis and cricket as club pastimes. Two US Opens followed, in 1907 and 1910, the first of which was lost when Scotsman Alex Campbell’s new inflated golf ball exploded, forcing him to finish with its largest remaining piece and costing him the tournament.

A few holes from those Opens remain at the nine-hole St. Martin’s course in town, but further afield sits the course we think about when we think Philly Cricket: The Wissahickon, designed by Cricket Club member A.W. Tillinghast, who so loved the area that his ashes were spread into the Wissahickon Creek. A plaque on 18 explains as much, not far from another plaque by the clubhouse that lists his architectural achievements: Newport, Winged Foot, San Francisco GC, and Baltusrol among others.

The pros have come to Tilly’s home course this week, and they’ve brought with them clubs and swings and golf balls he could never have imagined. There are grandstands and hospitality tents and crowds he might find difficult to comprehend. His name is on hats and t-shirts. And yet it’s all still golf. It still works. Watching the modern game collide with a classic can feel peculiar, but firm fairways and pitched greens and five-footers for par cut across eras with ease. Someone this week will win a trophy for going around in the fewest strokes, and even Tillinghast would find that familiar and tip his cap. For a club without a home to now have one that looks like this…it's a great week for golf, but an entirely unimaginable one for a wandering band of batsmen.

Words by @coynewriter

[Truist Championship @TruistChamp]

A champion's prize.

Introducing the 2025 Truist Championship at The Philadelphia Cricket Club trophy.

#TruistChampionship

[Superintendent Network @TheGCSNetwork]

Giveaway time! Before they hit the store, we're going to give away one of our new SN/@turftoday @LevelwearGolf hoodies. This one's easy...simply follow us and retweet this post to be entered in the drawing. Contest ends Friday, Feb 14th at 12pm (EST).

[Will Reece III @will_reece_iii]

@dcleghorn73 @chadmark614 Congratulations Drake!

[LinksGems @LinksGems]

Friday Night Lights: 🏏 edition

In honor of Philadelphia Cricket Club’s triumphant and overdue return to the U.S. Top 100 Courses list, here are a few sunset shots of the Wissahickon, Philly native A.W. Tillinghast’s pride and joy restored lovingly by Keith Foster.

[Pat Jones @PatJonesTweets]

Hey assistant superintendents, AITs and other aspiring agronomy pros!

I’m pleased to announce that @bloom_golf and I are collaborating on a new study to learn more about how you view working in this business, what you like and what you don’t, and what you hope to get from a career in turf.

We need your help. If you’re an assistant or AIT, please take a few minutes right now to complete our survey and make sure to express yourself in the comment boxes throughout.

Thanks in advance for your help with the 2025 Flagstick-Bloom Assistant Superintendent Employment Report. https://t.co/HFgXi9rd7o

[LinksGems @LinksGems]

Congrats to Philadelphia Cricket Club on its well-deserved and perhaps overdue return to the Golf Magazine Top 100 Courses in the U.S. list.

Philly Cricket (98) joins Pine Valley (1), Merion (8) and Aronimink (84) as one of four Philadelphia-area clubs on the list.

Congrats to the outstanding professional staff and the terrific membership and this venerable Philly institution.

[Will Reece III @will_reece_iii]

@AndrewCooper_32 Keep moving that needle!

[Brandon Reese @brandonleereese]

Here we go! 2025 Volunteer Form is out. Seed is down, build is happening and there are some major changes in progress for the 2025 event. Lots of excitement in Scottsdale!
https://t.co/2i8RDxHdBq

[Michael Breuer @farmerofgrass]

For young turf professionals, I interned at Black Butte Ranch. Accepted an assistant super job at a 9 hole golf course called Highlands Golf Club. Both courses you’ve never heard of. Sent Ken Nice an email at Bandon Dunes. Was a greenkeeper at Old Mac.

[Scott Furlong @SfurlongScott]

These 3 are great. Remember their names because you will see them again! Any club would be luck to have them as their superintendent. Chase Garvey, Cooper Derks, and Michael Cook. All-stars in my book!

[John Kaminski, Ph.D. @iTweetTurf]

A strong group of .@PSUTurf 2-year students and honorary alumnus .@SfurlongScott at the #SolheimCup this week. Congrats to all on the success and to team @SolheimCupUSA on the W!

[GCSAA TV @GCSAATV]

The maintenance crew at Robert Trent Jones GC have been busy getting @TheSolheimCup course ready. They shared what it’s been like working alongside Scott Furlong, CGCS. #gcsaa #gcsaatv #JohnDeere #SolheimCup

📽️ sponsored by: @JohnDeere

Full video ➡️ https://t.co/p64V3L1MLJ

[Truist Championship @TruistChamp]

📌 Philadelphia Cricket Club
🗓️ May 7-11, 2025

Be the first to know when tickets go on sale!

🔗 https://t.co/LsezqmzE5I

#TruistChampionship | @PGATOUR

[Dan Rapaport @Daniel_Rapaport]

A signature event at Philly Cricket will be 🤌🤌🤌

[Jack Hirsh @JR_HIRSHey]

NEW: The @PGATOUR has announced the Wells Fargo Championship will be renamed the Truist Championship and for 2025, while Quail hollow hosts the PGA Championship, it will be played at @pcc1854's Wissahickon Course.

The PGA Tour is returning to Philly!