On Course Podcast: U.S. Challenge Cup’s Dave Adamonis

Dave Adamonis, center, of the U.S. Challenge Cup with Josiah Hakala, left, and Ryan Downes.

On this week’s episode of New England Golf Journal’s “On Course” podcast, hosts Sean Melia and Jim McCabe were joined by Dave Adamonis, the director of the U.S. Challenge Cup.

Over the last 30 years, the Adamonis family has been deeply connected with the game of golf. The term “grow the game” is tossed around frequently in discourse about professional golf, but the U.S. Challenge Cup is what truly helps brings new people into the game. The series of tournaments for junior golfers in New England and beyond was started by Dave Adamonis Sr. Following in his father’s footsteps, Dave Adamonis has kept the flame lit.

The U.S. Challenge Cup isn’t jU.S.t about setting up events, Adamonis prides himself on being an honest sounding board for families who have children who want to pursue golf in college. Golf is a sport that has a foggy, and often expensive, pathway for junior golfers. The U.S. Challenge Cup is built to give clarity to kids and their families and at the same time let players test themselves against the best players in the region.

What started as a way for Admonis Sr. to give his two sons, Dave and Brad, a chance to play organized, competitive golf developed into a program that cultivates junior golf talent and can boast alumni like major winner Keegan Bradley.

Watch/listen to the episode here

Highlights of the pod

Admonis on providing players with pathways to college: We run an excellent regional program. I’m obvioU.S.ly biased, but I think it’s one of the best ones in the entire country. And our goal is that these kids get to college and they U.S.e golf as a vehicle to go to college. Hopefully, they either get into a college they otherwise might not have been able to get into, or they get some sort of financial package and scholarship. We jU.S.t had some kids that jU.S.t verbally committed to places. As much as I love the competitive piece of it, I love the people piece of it even more. And I love to be part of their journey with all these kids and their families.

Admonis on generations of players helping each other: That’s the one thing that I’ve really thought was an important part of what we do as an organization. We stay connected to those past players. The guidance and the support that they have for the kids are exponential becaU.S.e they’ve been there, they’ve done that. Oftentimes for the kids to hear from somebody outside of their parents is really beneficial. The parent could say the same exact thing that I say to a kid or one of these guys that are playing in a group with them. With the parent, it’s in one ear and out the other. JU.S.t to be a part of that whole process, I feel like we’re one big family out there, even though all these kids are trying to win tournaments and whatnot, when they go to other events, we’re always rooting for one another and, we’re always hoping that the other guys are going to end up being successful

Listen to On Course wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple, Spotify, YouTube and all major podcast platforms.