Each year, Jason Cannata, superintendent at Cromwell, Conn.’s TPC River Highlands, challenges himself and his agronomy team members to exceed their prior achievements, as they prepare to host the annual Travelers Championship.
While reaching “for new heights,” they tend to overcome one significant challenge more than any other: time.
“Our pursuit of perfection often leaves us racing against the clock,” he says.
To achieve their lofty goals despite their time constraints, Cannata ensures he and his team members are focused on three particular aspects for consistent success — communication, organization and teamwork — regardless of how large or small a task may be.
“Amidst the endless lists of tasks, which are meticulously organized and prioritized on spreadsheets and job boards, we remain vigilant not to overlook the significance of the smaller details and their timing,” Cannata says. “This, along with constant communication, oversight and coordination among team members, are essential throughout the progression of our tournament preparations.”
Based on his past experiences, Cannata is certainly prepared for virtually any task. After all, he’s been involved in 13 of the last 14 Travelers Championships, while serving in numerous capacities. He has also worked for other courses and clubs, which have prepared him for his current position while transitioning between TPC River Highlands, The Golf Club of Avon and New Haven Country Club.
“Each opportunity has offered unique agronomic and management approaches that have contributed to the foundation of my career,” he reflects.
This year, he will be involved with his second Travelers Championship as TPC River Highlands’ superintendent, a role he acquired a few weeks before the 2023 edition of the tournament.
No. 13 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell, Conn., made headlines in 2021 after a 75-foot-deep sinkhole opened in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. (Photo: Jason Cannata)
As Cannata prepares for yet another Travelers Championship, he is fully embracing the opportunity this time around, as he has had time to become more comfortable with — and confident in — his role. He is also thankful for each of his team members, whom he believes will assist him with many successful Travelers Championships down the road.
“I’m incredibly fortunate to lead an exceptional team, comprised of seasoned professionals in assistant superintendent roles,” he says. “I also have promising newcomers who are eager to apply their classroom knowledge to their budding careers.”
There is no doubt about it. Without the efforts of several volunteers, Cannata and his agronomy team simply wouldn’t be able to achieve the level of success they’ve had in recent years. Renowned for their dedication to TPC River Highlands, the Travelers Championship and Cannata and his team, a “core group of volunteers,” as Cannata calls them, have been available for over a decade.
“Year after year, they return to support us,” he says. “The longevity of this core group is remarkable.”
Offering enthusiasm that is “infectious,” Cannata adds that the volunteers are often so eager to be involved that they actually compete with each other, to see who can submit their volunteer applications back to TPC River Highlands first.
One of the course’s more dangerous holes for golfers, the par-4 No. 15 at TPC River Highlands requires a careful approach. (Photo: Jason Cannata)
“Like most stops on the PGA Tour, our volunteer count typically lands in the 40 to 60 range, far less than the triple-digit numbers a major championship may draw,” he states. “However, the story is more about the commitment of our core volunteers than the sheer number of volunteers. Their unwavering support is crucial to our event’s success.”
As he looks ahead to the future, Cannata continues to welcome more volunteers. Simply put, the more, the better, as their influence is undeniable.
“Every year we strive to enhance our volunteer program to maintain local engagement and interest,” he says. “The camaraderie and support within our volunteer community exemplify our industry’s spirit and highlight our work’s rewarding nature.”
Along with his team members and a core group of volunteers, Cannata collaborates with various PGA Tour and Travelers Championship employees. While collaborating with them, Cannata and other staff members began to enhance TPC River Highlands last fall, as they sought to elevate its overall playability and infrastructure.
“Through this joint initiative and several small adjustments, we have altered TPC River Highlands to challenge PGA Tour members more, especially when it comes to their accuracy,” he says.
Due to these alterations, fans will also be closer to the tournament’s action than they’ve ever been before.
“These enhancements promise to inject an extra dose of excitement into the week,” Cannata says, “while providing an improved fan experience, too.”
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