Widgi Creek Golf Club head pro Taylor Giacomini hits a driver on the range at the course in Bend.

Fred Giacomini has been playing golf in Central Oregon for as long as he can remember. When his son, Taylor, turned 5, Fred began taking him to the driving range and out on the course for the occasional round. While the younger Giacomini’s true passion was baseball through his formative years, golf was never far behind.

As his baseball career came to an end, Giacomini’s love and acumen for both the game of golf and the business blossomed. At the age of 16, he began working in outside services at Sunriver Resort.

After completing two degrees through OSU-Cascades, Giacomini was left with a difficult decision of whether to pursue a job in the golf industry or put his education to use elsewhere. He chose the former and set his eyes on Bend’s Widgi Creek Golf Club as a facility that would provide not only a place to learn, but opportunities to grow professionally as well. Fast forward a few years, and Giacomini now holds the title of head golf professional.

“Since day one at Widgi, both owner Barry Helm and general manager Brad Hudspeth have fully supported my desire to grow. I am very blessed to be where I am today and have Barry and Brad to thank for a lot of that,” says Giacomini of Widgi Creek’s two most senior staff members.

In his role as head golf professional, Taylor wears numerous hats on a daily basis. During the busy season, he says, “I usually get to the course around 6 a.m., make sure staff and the tee sheet are set up for success, and plan my day around my teaching schedule.”

In addition to running the day-to-day operation, Giacomini also oversees outside events, club tournaments, and player development.

While he enjoys the variety of his duties, it’s teaching that he loves the most.

“Teaching the game I love to others and building relationships never gets old,” Giacomini says. “There is nothing quite like golf that really brings people together.”

For those seeking to improve their game in 2024, there won’t be any shortage of opportunities this year. Giacomini will continue offering private instruction along with teaching professional Richard Clifton and assistant professional Kyle Peterson.

However, it’s Widgi Creek’s Operation 36 instructional program that Giacomini remains most excited about. This year marks the program’s fourth year at Widgi Creek. It provides a structured framework for men, ladies, and juniors to learn the game of golf in a group environment. Giacomini was named one of the Top 50 Coaches in the Country by the program last year and he hopes to increase enrollment to more than 60 participants this season.

When asked what single piece of advice he would give beginning golfers, Giacomini stresses the importance of keeping things simple.

“Stay off of YouTube, ignore the instructional articles in Golf Digest,” he says. “Instead, seek out some instruction from a PGA Professional to learn the basics. While it’s easier said than done, the number one reason I see beginners struggle is because they take in too much information and become lost in the process. Keeping it simple from the beginning will serve beginners best in the long run.”

With the 2024 season well underway, Giacomini is excited for what lies ahead at Widgi Creek. The narrow, tree-lined course southwest of Bend came out of winter in outstanding condition and mild weather has the season off to a busy start.

Among some improvements golfers can expect to see at Widgi Creek this year are a flatter driving range deck and smoother cart paths, which are scheduled to be resurfaced in October.

While 2024 has all the signs of being another banner year at Widgi Creek, Giacomini has his sights set on the future. In addition to increasing his knowledge as a teacher and becoming more involved with the junior golf community in Central Oregon, he hopes to complete level three of the PGA PGM Executive Management Program and earn Class A membership.

As courses continue to green up and the days continue to get longer, the golf season looks to be full of promise for 2024. At Widgi Creek, head golf professional Taylor Giacomini is doing everything he can to see that through and enjoying every minute along the way.

And whenever the chance to get in a round with his father presents itself, he won’t be turning it down.