Retired GCSAA superintendent Justin VanLanduit participated this week in the USGA’s U.S. Adaptive Open. Here he is at the course at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Md., along with his wife Eriin and daughter Rourke at his side and from bottom left, daughters Raynor and Ryker. Photo courtesy of Justin VanLanduit
Justin VanLanduit did not win the USGA’s U.S. Adaptive Open this week. In many other ways, though, he has triumphed.
A former golf course superintendent, VanLanduit participated in his first U.S. Adaptive Open, which took place at Woodmont Country Club’s South Course in Rockville, Md.
Although he missed making the cut Tuesday, VanLanduit was thrilled to give it a go. The Muscular Dystrophy diagnosis that 12 years ago curtailed his golf passion and eventually thwarted his career certainly hasn’t knocked him out.
“Overall, the experience exceeded my expectations. You go in with thoughts on how the tourney will be run, and it was great,” says VanLanduit, a 22-year GCSAA retired member, who was in the championship’s Coordination Impairment category. “Woodmont was such a generous host and went all out to be sure we felt comfortable and had what we needed. The USGA goes to all lengths to give us the experience of an Open.” VanLanduit was touched that during his practice round, Woodmont’s Ryan Severidt, CGCS, greeted him on the third tee.
VanLanduit’s life in the golf industry includes superintendent at Briarwood Country Club in Deerfield, Ill., starting in 2008. He replaced longtime superintendent and Illinois Golf Hall of Famer Paul Voykin, who oversaw Briarwood CC for 47 years. VanLanduit still relishes the opportunity he had to manage Briarwood. “To become a superintendent at age 28 at a private club on the north side of Chicago. …” VanLanduit doesn’t need to elaborate on the job’s magnitude any further.
VanLanduit was a stellar youth golfer who at age 14 shot a 3-under-par 69 for 18 holes and later played junior college golf before choosing to attend the University of Illinois to study horticulture and turfgrass management. In 2013, Muscular Dystrophy affected his health, eventually including lower back surgery in 2018. Unfortunately, the surgery failed and back pain, along with leg pain and muscle loss, derailed his efforts at work. “Things I enjoyed, like cutting cups, became hard to do,” he says.
VanLanduit retired in 2019 at age 40, choosing to focus on health and family. He now resides in Minnesota with his wife Erin and daughters Rourke, Raynor and Ryker. He enjoys visiting with superintendents, sharing his experiences and knowledge. He calls his rehabilitation therapist “a magician.”
VanLanduit is also is exceling in golf again; his .4 handicap is evidence. No matter the results at the U.S. Adaptive Open, VanLanduit remains strongminded in his life. “I can still compete,” he says.
Read more about VanLanduit’s journey in a future issue of GCM.
Howard Richman is GCM's associate editor