Fresh Pond Golf Course Welcomes New Golf Director Jo-Anna Krupa

Jo-Anna Krupa became the Golf Director of Fresh Pond Golf Course, also known as the Thomas P. O'Neill, Jr. Municipal Golf Course,in December 2023. A Certified Professional Golf Associate (PGA), 2020 New England PGA Assistant Professional of the Year, and former golf course architect, Jo-Anna brings a variety of golf experience, a commitment to community engagement, and a passion for the sport to her new role.

With Fresh Pond Golf Course now open for the 2024 season (book a tee time here), we asked Jo-Anna about her path to Golf Director and her vision for Fresh Pond Golf Course. Read the interview below to learn more about Jo-Anna’s take on municipal golf courses, her favorite hole to play at Fresh Pond, and more!

How many years have you played golf? Why do you love the sport?

 I have been playing golf for 25 years now. I am from central Connecticut, and funny enough my basketball coach pushed me to take up the game and I instantly fell in love with the sport. In college, I was fortunate enough to play on a golf scholarship at the University of Hartford and then played on the University of Edinburgh’s team in Scotland while obtaining my master’s degree in Golf Course Architecture.

Golf is an incredible sport in how it can bring people together from every walk of life - you never know who you can meet. And unlike other team sports, golf is completely up to you. Golf teaches you to be humble and to be patient, all while doing it in a beautiful setting.

What roles and experiences led you to becoming Golf Director at Fresh Pond Golf Course?

I’ve been very fortunate in my career to have incredible mentors, including Hall of Fame Golf Professional Tony Rowe and American golf course designer Pete Dye. My education in golf course architecture also helped me to better understand the design, playability, and the amazing network of systems needed to build and operate a course well. After getting my master’s in Golf Course Architecture, I worked for the Dye family, building golf courses all over the world, for 4 years. Tony Rowe then encouraged me to become a golf pro, and I moved home to Connecticut to begin my career as a golf professional working for him.

My first job in the Boston area was as an assistant golf professional at Charles River Country Club in Newton, MA, where I learned how to manage an extremely busy golf course with no tee times and 150 events a year while managing a successful golf shop. Time management was essential to survive at a club as busy as Charles River. In 2013, we co-hosted the US Amateur at the Country Club, which was an absolutely incredible experience.

After 6 years at Charles River, I moved on to Belmont Country Club in Belmont, MA as the lead assistant golf professional. That experience allowed me to grow as an instructor and highlighted the importance of customer service. While there, I attained certification through the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) related to body mechanics, injury prevention, and mobility and stability issues. I love being able to teach people the golf swing in a way that works for each person's body, creating the best results pain free. Through these certifications and involvement with the New England PGA Foundation, I have become heavily involved with PGA Reach Programs. Through PGA Reach Programs, we aim to diversify golf participation, with a focus on increasing access for youth, women, and military service members. In 2022, we started the 3rd female-only veteran program in the country.

I have served on several committees for the New England PGA Foundation and currently reside on the Education Committee, Women’s Growth of the Game Committee, and the Foundation Board. These committees have been invaluable for me in learning how to work with people who want to make a difference and grow access to the game.

As a player and now Golf Director, what is it about Fresh Pond Golf Course that appeals to you?

For me, to see that such a beautiful course can exist in an urban setting is exciting. The course itself is a great mix of holes, types of shots, and design. Fresh Pond Golf Course is an amazing facility run by Cambridge Recreation (within the Department of Human Service Programs). We work in conjunction with so many partners in the City, including the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Water Department.

From the design perspective and respect for the environment, this course is extremely special. The planning and thoughtfulness behind drainage, environmental areas, and respect for Fresh Pond are amazing to see. There is also great respect for the history of the area, and the Fresh Pond Reservation.

What’s your favorite hole to play on the course?

This is a tough question. I think Hole 2 is a fun, short Par 4 visually and strategically. You have to estimate the position of your tee shot length extremely well to set yourself up for an easier shot into this elevated green. It is hard to beat the view of the tee shots on Holes 3 and 8. They are just stunning with Fresh Pond in the distance, both being incredible par 3s.

From your perspective, what makes municipal courses special?

Municipal courses provide affordable golf opportunities for people of various ages and economic backgrounds to be exposed to golf. They also serve as community hubs for recreation, events, and gatherings that bring together people from all walks of life.

Most people begin their journey at courses like Fresh Pond, including myself. I grew up in central Connecticut playing courses very similar to Fresh Pond. The people I met, especially the staff, shaped the person I am today. They gave me confidence to go onto the course with people I never met, which led to many lasting friendships and a professional network.

Are there changes you plan to implement to make Fresh Pond Golf Course more accessible and inclusive?

This was one of the exciting aspects of taking on this role at Fresh Pond Golf Course. Cambridge has an incredible network of amazing people making a difference in the lives of residents and community members. I plan to draw on my experience at the New England PGA Foundation to expand access to women, veterans, youth, and people of color through player development programs at this spectacular gem of a golf course.

I hope to work closely with City staff, particularly at the Department of Human Service Programs, to create opportunities to expose more people to the game. For example, this coming fall, we have secured equipment that we can bring into Youth Centers and schools to expose young people to golf. Getting a plastic club into a child's hands who may not have otherwise had an opportunity to experience golf is exciting to me. Once we create that spark in our community for this special game, we can expand course programming to include opportunities from clinics to fun, quick formats they can play on the course, and more.

For more information about Fresh Pond Golf Course, visit freshpondgolf.com.