Edgewood Valley Country Club (EVCC or Edgewood Valley) named Mike Pariso, PGA, as its new Head Golf Professional, effective January 1, 2023. Pariso was an assistant at Edgewood Valley for nine years prior to his promotion as co-Head Professional in September 2022.
For Pariso, being in the golf business was a natural progression that grew out of his passion for the game and strong connections he made on the greens. The Elmwood Park native and Fenwick High School alumnus was introduced to the game of golf at a very young age by his father, an avid golfer who loved to play.
“I started playing golf with my dad as soon as I could walk,” said Pariso. “By the time I was two- or three-years-old, I was going out on the course to practice putting and chipping.”
It wasn’t long before his father would regularly take him to play 18 holes. When he was 14-years-old, Pariso started his first job as a bag room attendant at Oak Park Country Club (OPCC). First hired as a caddie, when he heard working in the bag room came with golf privileges, he quickly switched roles.
While his father was the one who ignited his interest in golf, Pariso credits his job at OPCC and its staff as the catalyst that led him to his selected career.
“The golf professionals there took me under their wing even though I was just a bag room kid,” said Pariso. “I played a lot of golf and spent a lot of time with them, learning everything I could.”
While he worked at OPCC, Pariso was named captain of the golf team at Fenwick and went on to serve the same role at Millikin University. After college, he worked as a fitter for Titleist before becoming an assistant at Hawthorn Woods Country Club. In 2014, Pariso was hired as an assistant at Edgewood Valley. During the same year, he qualified for the National Assistant PGA Professional Championship, which he would repeat in 2016.
In his new role, Pariso replaces his mentor of nine years, former Head Golf Professional Chuck Kletcke, PGA, who retired on Dec. 31, 2022, after 29 years of service at Edgewood Valley.
“Chuck was a great mentor, teacher and friend,” said Pariso. “Watching him interact with members and seeing his patience and dedication for the job really helped me along the way.”
Pariso said his favorite part of being a golf professional at a private club is developing relationships with members and their families – oftentimes teaching multiple generations of the same family. He looks forward to serving in more of an operations role and running the day-to-day golf program at Edgewood Valley. As Head Golf Professional, he will also oversee the golf shop, simulator, three assistants, a part-time merchandiser, the caddie program and all associated staff and equipment.
“We are extremely excited for Mike to begin his first year as Head Golf Professional at Edgewood Valley,” said EVCC Golf Chairman Brian Spears. “I can’t think of anybody better to lead our golf program into the future and know he will bring innovative ideas and a culture that welcomes all golfers, helping members to be the best they can be.”
Pariso said anyone who is new to golf should focus on having fun and not on the technical side of the game.
“Golf can be intimidating when you’re looking at it from the outside in,” said Pariso. “But once you break the ice, it gets easier and easier. I would encourage new golfers to start with something fun and enjoy the beauty of the golf course.”
While he knows the course like the back of his hand, Pariso said he still likes hearing members and guests refer to Edgewood Valley as a “hidden gem” – a longstanding nickname for the golf course.
“People who play here for the first time absolutely love it,” said Pariso. “And I love that once you’re on the property, it feels very secluded.”
When he is not at Edgewood Valley or playing golf, Pariso enjoys spending time with his wife, Colleen, and daughters Abby and Maddie – who now enjoy going out on the course with their father.