#ThankASuper Spotlight Series: Eric McCrate

At KemperSports, we know that the beauty and playability of golf courses and the overall golf experience wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of superintendents and their maintenance teams. In honor of International “Thank A Golf Course Superintendent Day,” we’re proud to once again present our #ThankASuper Spotlight Series—a celebration of the hardworking men and women who care for our courses and ensure our guests enjoy the opportunity to play the game they love.

Eric McCrate
Director of Agronomy
Cantigny Golf (Wheaton, IL)

# of years worked at current course: Five months
Total years worked in the industry: 11 years

How did you get into the golf maintenance industry?
I got into this industry going into my sophomore year of college at Ohio State University, working a summer job as a greenskeeper. I was simultaneously picking up the game of golf with my friends, and I was captivated by all the applied sciences that go into golf maintenance. It was at that point I promptly focused my studies on agronomy/turf science.

What’s your favorite part of the job?
I truly love almost everything this job has to offer, but team camaraderie and bringing everyone together over hard work and the fulfillment that success brings to the team is at the top of the list. Starting the day before the sun comes up and giving 100 percent effort to make the course perfect every day is fun to me, and I feel very passionate about it.

What’s the most misunderstood part of the job?
We don’t just mow grass all day, contrary to what the general public sees and believes. The golf course is a vast ecosystem, and each input we put into it has an equal effect on another area of said ecosystem. It is up to us to be stewards of our environment and make educated agronomic decisions.

What advice would you give to your younger self or younger superintendents just starting out?
Being a younger superintendent just starting out, I would tell my younger self to keep working hard, keep asking questions and keep being passionate. Even as a superintendent, I still learn every day from my golf course and teammates. Ever evolving knowledge is important to be able to put our facilities in the best position for success.

What are a few accomplishments you are most proud of at your course/in your career?
I am most proud of our team’s ability to take on our large renovation project this spring against adversity in the form of cold weather and have the course ready by June 1. We are redoing each of our nine-hole courses over the course of three years, and what we have accomplished as a team in my short time here makes me very proud.

This past year, have you and your team worked/completed any exciting construction/renovation projects? If so, what was your team responsible for and how will it enhance the golf course/facility?
Last summer, we broke ground on our three-year renovation of all three courses. First was the Hillside Nine, which closed June 2024 and reopened this past June. Currently, we are in the thick of the renovation of our Lakeside Nine. Our team is responsible for working with Wadsworth Golf Construction and Quitno Design to grow in the golf courses. Todd Quitno’s modern day architecture and awesome features will cement Cantigny as a premium golf experience for decades to come.

What insight do you have about the future of the industry? Are there any innovative practices you’re helping lead to benefit the environment/your facility?
I am a believer that the future of our industry is in technology and data to make our operations as efficient as possible. The introduction of robotics in our industry will not take labor away but rather reprioritize it into other useful areas. As a facility, we are thinking holistically about how we will introduce these new innovations into our operations.

What are some of the most helpful forward-thinking practices that have benefitted your facility?
There are many forward-thinking practices we implement at Cantigny. The first one that comes to mind is technology. GPS sprayers heighten the efficiency of chemical purchasing and pesticide application, I had never seen firsthand the impact that has until I started at Cantigny. Another would be our labor tracking model. We use software to track how every labor hour is spent, and at the conclusion of the season we will use this data to make decisions about how to make our operation as efficient as possible.

What does the game of golf mean to you and how has that helped fuel the passion you have for your career?
Personally, my experience with golf has brought me closer to my friends and family. Back home in Columbus, some of my fondest memories growing up with my friends are on a golf course spending quality time together. It makes me happy to be the one to help create these experiences for people and bring people together.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?
I feel lucky to have been afforded the opportunity to be the golf course superintendent at Cantigny, I love the challenge every day brings. This is a truly amazing facility full of amazing professionals in every department. I very much look forward to our trajectory and how we can make an already amazing golf experience the best through improvements by learning and always striving to be better.