(January 10, 2021) – Bill Cremins was elected as the 62nd President of the Connecticut State Golf Association in December at the 2020 Annual Meeting. Cremins, a CSGA volunteer for over twenty years, will succeed Jim Healey Jr. who served as president from 2019-2020.
A member of the Country Club of Waterbury since 1975, Cremins’ goals for his tenure are straight forward, “continue with the growth of the game. Continue to put on excellent events. Continue to help all of the clubs in the state and to continue to monitor the situation with Covid so that golf can remain open.”
Cremins was introduced to the CSGA by former president Jeff Witherwax (2011-2012) while the two worked together at the Naugatuck Glass Company. Beginning as a spotter at events, Cremins eventually became a Rules Official and official starter, before being elected to the Executive Committee seven years ago as Secretary. Following two-years as Secretary, Cremins served a two-year term as Treasurer, one year as Chairman of the Hall of Fame Committee, and most recently as Vice President of Competitions.
“I volunteer for [the CSGA] out of respect for the game. I have been playing golf since I was about 12-years-old. I started as a caddy at Chase Country Club, which is now Farmingbury Hills Golf Course [in Wolcott] and I also caddied at the Country Club of Waterbury. The pro shop manager at Chase Country Club gave me an old set of wooden shafted clubs and I just started playing at the municipal courses, mostly East Mountain Golf Course, in Waterbury,” said Cremins who served on the bench of the Waterbury Superior Court for 20-years. “I used to walk to the golf course pretty much on a daily basis [as a kid]. It was a bit of trek; we didn’t have a car and I would play golf all day. It was 45 cents to play golf all day. There were probably 8-12 kids that were in a group that played on a regular basis.”
Cremins was good enough to play collegiate golf from 1968-1969 while attending the University of Connecticut. His name appears multiple times on all the champion’s boards at the Country Club of Waterbury where he has won everything including the Club Championship and Senior Club Championship. He still plays competively, often playing in the Chris Cote’s One Day Series. In 2013 Cremins captured the CSGA’s Super Senior Net Division title at Heritage Village Country Club.
Serving alongside Cremins on the Executive Committee are a mix of returning and new committee members. The new members joining the Executive Committee are Secretary Bruce Kraczkowsky and Treasurer Ray Underwood. Both Kraczkowsky and Underwood are decorated players and will bring an additional perspective to the committee.
“For me seeing what the CSGA does for Connecticut golf and all the clubs throughout the state, I wanted to help support that,” said Underwood, a CSGA volunteer since 2000. “I believe in the CSGA’s mission and being the state’s leader in golf for competitions, the clubs, and in times like these during the pandemic.”
Underwood, who has won multiple CSGA events including the 2018 Senior Amateur, didn’t pick up a golf club until his 30’s. Always an athlete, Underwood played baseball and eventually softball. However, after visiting a driving range in Florida he decided he wanted to become the first person in his family to pick up golf. Competitive by nature, Underwood struggled to break 150 when he first began, but over time steadly improved until in the middle to late 1990’s he entered his first CSGA event, “I’m 67,” said Underwood. “There aren’t that many things that make me feel alive but I am a competitor and when I am in the hunt the juices get flowing and I feel alive.”
Joining Cremins, Kraczkowsky, and Underwood on the Executive Committee are returnees Fred Fawcett (Vice President, Competitions), Ed Detmer (Vice President, Club Relations), Bill Wallace (Vice President, Hall of Fame), Judy Smith (Special Advisor), and Jack Bracken (Special Advisor & Legal Affairs).
“I am most excited about working with the rest of the Executive Committee, volunteers, and staff,” Cremins said. “I am to be of assistance to all the other Executive Committee members and coordinate the functions. I don’t think it is my responsibility to tell anyone how to do their job. But to be there as a sounding board and to give advice. I am not a micromanager. It is basically here is what we would like you to do and then get out of there way and give assistance when needed.”
2021-2022 Connecticut State Golf Association Executive Committee
President: Bill Cremins, CC of Waterbury – Cremins sits on all the CSGA committees and can weigh in on all issues related to the organization. As the president Cremins is in regular communication with Executive Director, Mike Moraghan.
Vice President, Competitions: Fred Fawcett, Orange Hills CC – Fawcett will serve as the Chairman of the Competition Committee. The committee reviews all matters related to the tournaments that the CSGA conducts. The Chairman of the Competition Committee works most directly with Ryan Hoffman, the CSGA’s Director, Operations, Rules & Competitions .
Vice President, Club Relations: Ed Detmer, Madison CC – Detmer will focus on issues related to all CSGA member golf club operations, and will work largely with Director of Member Services, Bill Bigler.
Vice President: Bill Wallace, Brooklawn CC – Wallace will serve as the Chairmen of the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame Committee. As chairman Wallace oversees an 11-member committee that makes nominations for the Connecticut Golf Hall of Fame. Wallace also continues as Managing Director of the CSGA Scholarship Fund in Honor of Widdy Neale.
Secretary: Bruce Kraczkowsky, Blue Fox Run GC – As Secretary, Kraczkowsky records the Minutes of CSGA Executive Committee meetings, as well as those of the Mid-Year and Annual Meeting of the CSGA Board of Directors.
Treasurer: Ray Underwood, Torrington CC & The Washington Club – In reviewing and reporting on the CSGA’s financial matters,Underwood will work most closely with CSGA Controller, Dave Seaman, as well as Executive Director, Mike Moraghan.
Special Advisor: Judy Smith, Orange Hills CC – As a Special Advisor, Smith brings the perspective of an owner/operator of a public golf course. Orange Hills CC, built by Smith’s father, is a family-owned club, where Smith runs day to day operations along with her brother who is the golf course superintendant. Smith is a full voting member of the Executive Committee, and continues to serve on the CSGA’s Women’s Golf Committee.
Special Advisor & Legal Counsel: Jack Bracken, Hartford GC – As a Special Advisor, Bracken brings the experience of a high level competitor who has played in countless CSGA championships as well as numerous USGA championships. A retired attorney, Bracken also serves as a legal consultant as needed by the CSGA. Bracken is also a member of the Competitions and Connecticut Golf Hall of Game committees, and like Smith is a full voting member of the Committee.
The Executive Committee meets in person four times each year, and is comprised entirely of volunteers. The various sub-committees meet as called by chairpersons.
