One last time in Rochester
Matthew Delly did not anticipate a future at the Monroe Golf Club in Pittsford, N.Y., when his brother got him a high school summer job. But, as fate would have it, nearly 20 years later Delly is now the superintendent and preparing to host the final LPGA Wegmans Championship Tournament in the Rochester area.
Delly always enjoyed the type of work he did at the golf course each summer, but after high school he chose a different route. While at Harvard, he started out studying pre-med, but he soon discovered that it was not for him. He graduated with a four-year degree in geology and added a two-year turf degree at State University of New York at Delhi. Delly interned at various courses, but eventually followed his feet back home to Monroe GC.
“I have always liked landscape and lawn care, it is such a special job to be able to work at a golf course and Monroe is a magnificent golf course,” Delly says. “The whole course is architecturally beautiful.”
After a long winter, and with a lot of winter injury, Delly and his crew worked hard to prepare the course for the last LPGA Wegmans Championship Tournament.
Wegmans, a supermarket chain, has been the title sponsor for 17 years and the Rochester area has been the home of the tournament for 38 years, but that will all change next year. Starting in 2015 the tournament will be held in the New York City area and the LPGA will no longer be in charge. The PGA of America will be responsible for the tournament and KPMG, a large accounting firm, will be the new title sponsor. Potential locations for future tournaments include Shinnecock Hills and Winged Foot Golf Club, both outside of New York.
After 37 years at Locust Hills Country Club, this will be the first time the tournament has been hosted at the Monroe GC. The tournament will be a wonderful fit. Each hole meets the requirements for LPGA standards giving Delly and his crew more time to concentrate on maintaining the course.
“We welcome the LPGA with open arms and we are going to do our best to make it a very nice finish in Rochester,” Delly says.
The tournament, originally scheduled for June, is being held this week (August 11-17).
“We want to exemplify what Monroe has to offer and send the tournament off on a really nice note and exceed anyone’s expectations,” Delly says. “We hope it stands up as a test to some of the best female golfers in the world.”