Alum to Lead Great River Golf Club

Edward Kennedy brings leadership, guest-experience, and community vision to University-owned club

Key Highlights

• Sacred Heart University named Edward Kennedy ’12, MBA ’14 as executive director of Great River Golf Club, overseeing all club operations and member/guest experience
• Great River Golf Club is an SHU-owned, 18-hole championship course in Milford designed by Tom Fazio II and consistently ranked among Connecticut’s top golf courses
• Kennedy will focus on strengthening ties between Great River and the SHU community through alumni events, hospitality, weddings, tournaments, and community engagement initiatives

Sacred Heart University has named Edward Kennedy ’12, MBA ’14, executive director at Great River Golf Club, where he will oversee club operations. He will continue to support efforts to strengthen the connection between the club and the University community while elevating the overall experience for members and guests at one of Connecticut’s premier golf destinations.

Great River Golf Club, which SHU purchased in 2016, is an 18-hole championship golf course in nearby Milford. Built in 2001 by renown golf architect Tom Fazio II, the course offers a “modern architectural design” with a “balanced mix of links and parkland playing characteristics,” according to the club’s website. Great River is consistently ranked among the top courses in Connecticut by respected publications such as Golf Digest, Golfweek, and JourneyJunket. These accolades reflect the club’s strong reputation for exceptional course conditions, outstanding service, and first-class amenities.

In his new role, Kennedy will work collaboratively with the Great River leadership team across all operations to enhance the overall member and guest golf experience while advancing the club as a destination for community engagement, alumni events, weddings, hospitality, and more. An avid golfer who played club golf during his time at SHU, Kennedy brings both a personal connection to the University and extensive operational leadership experience to the position.

Kennedy completed his bachelor’s degree in marketing and sport management at Sacred Heart and then went on to earn his MBA at SHU. The Airmont, NY, native previously worked in Sacred Heart’s undergraduate admissions office, where he helped lead student engagement initiatives and large-scale campus events.

Most recently, Kennedy served as an asset protection business partner with Target, overseeing operational strategy and financial protection initiatives across 12 locations throughout New York and New England. Over more than a decade in leadership roles, he developed expertise in team management, operational planning, customer service, budgeting, and strategic oversight.

“Eddie brings a unique combination of operational leadership and a deep personal connection to Sacred Heart,” said Marc Izzo, vice president of construction & facilities management. “As a two-time graduate who began his career here, he understands our community and what makes it special. His experience managing complex, multi-unit operations and developing high-performing teams will be instrumental. He has a proven track record of leading teams, managing operations at scale, and delivering results. Eddie is the right person to help guide the club forward while continuing to enhance the experience our members have come to expect."

In a question-and-answer interview, Kennedy talked about returning to SHU and his plans for the golf club.

Why did you pick Sacred Heart for your undergraduate and graduate education?

I picked SHU for my undergraduate for a few reasons. First, when touring the campus, I had an easy time envisioning myself being a student here. I vividly remember students holding the door for the tour guides while touring campus and everyone being friendly and approachable. Additionally, I knew I wanted to be involved in extracurricular activities, and SHU offered so many clubs and other options.

For me, two selling points were the Habitat for Humanity chapter, which I was involved in all six years as an undergraduate and graduate student, and golf. I started playing golf when I was six years old. Continuing the sport in college was something I was interested in, so being part of the club team was a no-brainer for me.

I decided to stay at SHU for my graduate education because during my four years of undergrad, SHU became my home. I was so involved with being a residential assistant, orientation leader, and student ambassador that I lived at SHU almost year round. When the opportunity arose for me to continue my education and earn my MBA here, it was an easy choice.

Then, moving onto a job in undergraduate admissions and leading the student ambassador program was seamless. I really enjoyed helping families discover their love of SHU and telling them all that the University had done for my own growth and development.

What are some key takeaways from your time at SHU?

SHU instilled in me the conviction to always treat others with kindness. You never know what someone else is going through or experiencing in life. Lending an ear or a helping hand can go a long way for anyone struggling. I have brought that conviction with me in life, checking in on those who report to me to ensure they feel supported both professionally and personally.

Sacred Heart also made me realize how true it is that you get out what you put in. When I first entered SHU, I was more of an introvert. Challenging myself to get involved in so many different clubs and organizations enabled me to grow as a more social and confident individual. This translated into me growing in those clubs and organizations and taking on leadership roles.

That experience and growth paved the way to the graduate assistant position that helped me earn my MBA, which then helped me land my first job outside of SHU. Now it’s coming full circle with this fantastic chance to rejoin the SHU community, where I will be able to help move both the University and Great River forward to the next chapter.

What attracted you to this role and the opportunity to lead a Great River Golf Club?

I was excited to rejoin the SHU community in a position that I feel was made for me. How often do you get to combine your alma mater with a sport you have been playing for more than 30 years? Combining golf and SHU—this is my dream job.

What are your top priorities for enhancing the experience for students, alumni, and the broader community at Great River?

One of my top priorities is ensuring the students, faculty, and alumni are aware of all the incredible amenities Great River offers. I truly believe that everything about Great River sells itself, from the course to Monty’s River Grille to the pro shop. It’s truly stunning.

At the same time, it’s essential that we continue delivering, and finding ways to elevate, the high-quality experience that our members expect every day. Great River has built a strong reputation, and my focus is on listening closely to members and identifying opportunities to make that experience even better.

For the students, I think creating events at Great River specifically for them will make them feel welcome. This will help build a connection to the course and its amenities, and that positive experience will keep them coming back as students and then as alumni.

For the alumni, it’s about fostering that connection they once had with SHU and ensuring we create reasons for them to continue coming back. Whether that’s alumni events, golf tournaments, different receptions that tap into the nostalgia of being a Pioneer, Great River can be a powerful touchpoint for maintaining the alumni relationship with SHU. My job will be to make sure the experience is consistently high quality and worth returning for.

For the broader community at Great River, I would like to make it feel like more than a golf course for them. It’s important to fully understand what the Great River members are looking for so we can give them everything they want and ensure that the club is a real asset in their lives. That means being responsive, attentive and proactive in continuing to refine every aspect of the club experience.

As an active golfer yourself, how will your personal passion for the game shape your approach to leading the club and engaging its members?

Golf is a social sport, so being an active participant and a golfer instead of being viewed only as “management” can make conversations more natural, especially when those conversations and experiences take place on the course. Whether it’s during casual rounds, conversations struck up at the driving range, at different events, or time around the clubhouse, the interactions I have with members will hopefully build trust and generate unfiltered feedback that I can use to enhance Great River.

Having the experience of playing golf for many years can also help me guide the course in the right direction. If the members want to see a change in something like practice facilities, tee time accessibility, or course conditions, as a golfer myself, I will be very attuned to understanding what’s going great and what we could improve.