meet bob bigonette
Bob Bigonette has been a golf pro for 25 years and became the head golf pro at H. Smith Richardson Golf Course at the start of 2021. As the former golf pro at Michael Breed Academy in the Bronx, he used to drive an hour to work, but now he’s brought his golf expertise home to Fairfield.
His passion and favorite part about his job is the ability to encourage and train kids who want to start playing golf. “I believe kids are the future of the game, and my goal with every child I meet is to create a lifelong golfer,” he said. Bob even has a motto, “Make it fun, and they will come!” He’s excited to focus on and improve the Junior Golf Program at Smith Richardson. He has dramatically increased the learning golf programs, and he’s proud to report that programs like Introduction to Golf for ages 4-8 and Junior Golf One Week Clinics for ages 8-14 have been unbelievably well-received and selling out.
“I believe kids are the future of the game, and my goal with every child I meet is to create a lifelong golfer.”
Bob himself was introduced to the sport of golf early in life. He grew up in Lincoln, Rhode Island, and started playing golf when he was eight years old. He fell in love with the sport right away, and he’s been playing ever since, a total of 43 years spent on the links. What keeps him coming back year after year? “I love the challenge, the comradery, and being able to be outside.”
Bob started working and caddying at the Kirkbrae Country Club at just ten years old. The head golf professional there, Stan Baluik, was Bob’s first exposure to a PGA professional. “I could not believe you could have a job as a golf professional. He taught me that it's an easy job if you do it with a smile,” he said.
Bob has lived and raised a family in Fairfield for 22 years. He has three kids, two in college and one in high school. His favorite activities in Fairfield are playing golf, going to the beach, and watching the sunset at Sasco Beach. He loves that it’s a family-oriented community.
Bob’s favorite hole at Smith Richardson is number 7 because it’s “strategic and challenging.” His parting advice for all golfers is, “Enjoy your time playing and always remember you play for fun. The game of golf is the ultimate puzzle that can never be solved.”
For more information about Smith Richardson, including the Junior Golf Programs, check out:
H.Smith Richardson Golf Course: https://www.fairfieldct.org/golf
Junior Golf Lessons: https://www.fairfieldct.org/H-Smith-Richardson-Jr-Golf-Lessons