Online Reporter
Zimpapers Sports Hub
TIZAYI isn’t your typical export story. The Zimbabwean greenkeeper is quietly making a name for himself in the United States, where his work on golf courses has just been spotlighted in Greenkeeping International, one of the world’s top turf management magazines.
The feature, published by the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association (BIGGA), traces Sithole’s rise from humble beginnings to the fairways of Connecticut, where he now works as assistant superintendent at The Country Club of New Canaan.
“I’m from Zimbabwe, and now I’m working in the USA as an assistant superintendent. I’m proud to call myself a greenkeeping professional,” said Sithole.
“I’ve been studying online with SRUC Elmwood Campus for my HNC and HND in Golf Course Management under the REA Greenkeepers scholarship.”
Before his current post, he held the same role at Oak Hills Golf Course, also in the US. It’s a big leap from where his journey started, and he credits his academic training for opening doors in a field few Zimbabweans consider.
“Thanks to my qualifications from SRUC, I’m now more confident in my turf management skills. I can walk into interviews prepared, and
I see a lot more opportunities in the turf industry that weren’t available before,” he said.
Sithole has also volunteered at major tournaments, including three PGA Tour events across South Africa and the US, part of his mission to raise awareness about turf management as a serious profession.
“Greenkeeping is a science. It’s a life career,” he said. “I’ve managed to inspire some youngsters from back home, and I’m proud to say they’re now working too, some even overseas. It shows that with the right training, this path can change lives.”
Back in New Canaan, he’s earned a reputation for precision and dedication, tending to the greens, bunkers, and irrigation systems at one of Connecticut’s premier golf resorts.
“The work is tough, the days are long, but Sithole says he’s exactly where he wants to be.
