Kammy Maxfeldt‘s retirement at the end of last season, after 21 years as Birchwood Country Club‘s head pro, left huge golf shoes to fill.
Kammy Maxfeldt
She was a beloved teacher, a great golfer, and a wonderful friend to all.
After an exhaustive search, Birchwood has found its woman.
After 19 years as the lead assistant at Fenway Golf Club in Scarsdale, New York, Wendy Modic will take over here.
She never expected to make the move. She says:
“The reality is, it’s more challenging to be a female head professional than it is to be a male just because it is what it is. I always thought that I didn’t really want the headache. I love teaching. I love doing what I’m doing. I like being a #2.”
She was already doing many of a head pro’s jobs, and enjoyed them — especially mentoring. But then Wendy went to Kammy’s retirement party, in October.
She was “taken aback and impressed” by the support in the room. She wished she had applied — but the process was already underway.
Wendy Modic
A PGA consultant advised her to send in her resume. Wendy’s accomplishments — including 4-time Metropolitan PGA Women’s Player of the Year and the 2020 Met PGA’s Women’s Championship — were impressive.
So was her inclusion on Golf Digest’s Best Teachers in Every State list.
Wendy looks forward to teaching, owning the golf shop — and more.
Only 2 other women — Angela Aulenti at Sterling Farms in Stamford and Kelley Brooke at Bethpage State Park and Montauk Downs State Park Golf Course on Long Island – are head pros/directors of golf among all tri-state Metropolitan Golf Association clubs.
Those are public courses. Wendy is the only female head pro at a private club.
But that’s nothing new for Birchwood members. As they wish Kammy Maxfeldt well in retirement after more than 2 decades in charge, they welcome Wendy Modic to stay the course.
(For more information from the Metropolitan Golf Association, click here.)
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Assuming that you know Angela Aulenti (Sterling Farms pro) is born and raised in Westport…
Dave: is Angela the younger sister of John Aulenti (who played on that fabulous Bedford Jr High basketball team)? Thanks.
Hi Fred and Dan..She is the daughter of John Aulenti (from that team). She is year or two younger than we are.
No – I did not know that. Thanks, Dave!
Am I the only one who always reads it as “Bushwood Country Club?”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=phagxOal7_A?si=Sfwso1rRrmu6q3vD&w=560&h=315%5D