About Us

Meet the Team

LaBar Golf is a premier golf course construction and renovation company based in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Operating primarily in the Northeast, LaBar Golf also works on select projects across the United States. The company touts an expert management team with over 100 years combined experience and outstanding labor crews. With an exceptional track record for timeliness, thoroughness, and dedication, LaBar Golf brings an unparalleled level of excellence to every project.

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Rich LaBar

Founder/CEO

Rich LaBar

Founder and CEO, Rich has had a passion for golf since his first golf swing at the age of 14. With more than 30 years of experience in golf course construction & renovations, Rich brings an unparalleled level of expertise and dedication to his clients’ projects.  LaBar Golf was started in June 2012, and through Rich’s vision and leadership, the company has grown rapidly and is today ranked as a top U.S. golf renovation and restoration company.

Prior to 2012, Rich spent 8 years working to develop business and manage projects with a regional golf course renovation company. During this tenure highlighted by a 36-hole renovation of the world-famous Baltusrol Golf Club, Rich played a major role in more than 25 successful projects at some of the United States’ most exclusive private golf courses. Rich began his career during college summers as part of the team responsible for building Crystal Springs Golf Course in Hamburg, New Jersey. Working as a crewmember, Rich honed his craft, absorbing the fundamentals of basic golf course construction, including drainage, irrigation, and grow-in.

In 1993, at the age of 24, Rich was named Assistant Superintendent at Bowling Green Golf Club in Oak Ridge, New Jersey. Within two years, he was named construction & grow in superintendent for Black Bear Golf Course in Franklin, New Jersey, making him one of the youngest managers in the business at that time. His rapid rise in the industry continued with the oversight, planning, development and construction of Ballyowen Golf Course and Wild Turkey Golf Course, both designed by Roger Rulewich. Rich graduated from Rutgers University in 1991 with a Bachelors of Science in Economics and Business. In 1993, he completed the Rutgers Turf Management Program. He lives in Harding Township, New Jersey with his wife Bridget, son Philip, daughter Anne, and two dogs Lily Belle and Finn.
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Todd Saganiec

Director of Operations

Todd Saganiec

As Director of Operations, Todd supports the Owner and President all facets of the business, including interfacing with project managers and the company’s vast labor force to help facilitate the success of construction projects across the country. Todd also oversees specific projects, such as the new Jack Nicklaus designed golf course in South Jersey, set to kick off in April 2022.

Todd joined LaBar Golf in 2012 after working with owner, Rich LaBar in the late-90’s in the construction and maintenance of multiple golf courses at the Crystal Springs Golf Resort, where he served as an Assistant Superintendent at Wild Turkey Golf Club. He also worked as Assistant Superintendent at the Green Brook Country Club in North Caldwell NJ. During his time at LaBar Golf, Todd managed projects at many top clubs in the U.S.,including Pinehurst No.4, Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, The Colleton River Club, Westchester Country Club, Fenway Golf Club, Quaker Ridge Golf Club, Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster NJ, Savannah Golf Club and Washington Golf & Country Club, and most recently a complete golf course renovation at Raleigh Country Club.

Todd graduated in 1998 from the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management Program. He resides in Absecon, NJ with his wife Emily and 4 boys Ryan, Dylan, Deacon, and Owen. In his free time, Todd enjoys surfing, golfing, skiing, or traveling with his family.

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Mark Smith

Project Manager

Mark Smith

Mark joined LaBar Golf in 2012 after working with Rich LaBar on a variety of projects since the late-80s. He brings more than 40 years of experience in the golf course construction industry. Mark has handled project management for a variety of clients, such as Echo Lake Country Club, Rockaway River Country Club, Rumson Country Club, Burning Tree Country Club, Century Country Club, and Montammy Country Club.
 
Prior to 2012, Mark and Rich LaBar worked together at a regional golf course renovation company where Mark served as project manager at several of the top courses the New York metro area. During this period, Mark executed a 36-hole renovation project of the famed Upper and Lower courses at Baltusrol Golf Club (Springfield, NJ).
 
Earlier in his career, Mark worked alongside Rich LaBar on the construction of the Crystal Springs Golf Club in Hamburg, New Jersey. From there, Mark worked with Rich in many roles such as head shaper, construction supervisor & irrigation installation manager at Black Bear Golf Club, Ballyowen Golf Club and at Wild Turkey Golf Club – all in Northern New Jersey.
 
Mark started his career in 1980 working in Fort Myers, FL as maintenance and construction lead at Fiddlesticks Country Club and Vine’s Country Club. He moved to New Jersey in 1989 and started his focus in golf course construction.
 
Mark resides in Andover, New Jersey with wife Cathy and daughter Sara.
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Chris Walick

Project Manager

Chris Walick

With more than twenty years of experience in golf course maintenance and construction, Chris joined LaBar Golf Renovations in March of 2015. Chris combines strong leadership and planning skills with attention to detail required by top golf clubs across the United States. Chris' broad knowledge of architectural course styles aids him in providing the best possible project results for clubs.

Chris was project manager for a major renovation at Sunningdale Country Club (Scarsdale, NY), and assistant project manager at Siwanoy Country Club (Bronxville, NY), and Burning Tree Country Club (Greenwich, CT) in 2015. Currently, Chris serves as assistant project manager for the south course renovation at the prestigious Los Angeles Country Club (Los Angeles, CA). Currently, Chris is overseeing work at Rolling Hills Country Club in Wilton, CT.

Chris graduated from the University of Dayton with a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration, and also holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture from Ohio State University.

In his spare time, Chris is an avid golfer and diehard Cleveland Browns and OSU Buckeyes fan. He resides in Elizabeth, NJ with his wife Maria and daughter, Abby and son, CJ.  

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Peter Sensbach

Project Manager

Peter Sensbach

Pete joined LaBar Golf Renovations in 2012 with more than 16 years in the golf industry. He is a project manager and handled the renovation work at Siwanoy Country Club (Bronxville, NY), San Gabriel Country Club (San Gabriel, CA) and is currently managing the west course bunker renovation at Westchester Country Club (Rye, NY).

Prior to 2012, Pete worked with Rich LaBar on golf course renovation projects in the New York Metro area. Earlier in his career he assisted Rich LaBar in the construction of Wild Turkey Golf Course in Hamburg, NJ.

Pete resides in Vernon, New Jersey and has three children, Morgan, Connor and Collin.

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Oscar Lazaro

Project Manager

Oscar Lazaro

Oscar Lazaro joined LaBar Golf in 2012 and currently serves as Project Manager. Early on, he was an integral part of the renovation team working at Winged Foot Golf Club in preparation for the 2020 U.S. Open. Oscar has also worked at Quaker Ridge Golf Club, Virginia Country Club, LA Country Club, Dallas National Golf Club, Shoal Creek Club, El Dorado Country Club, Brook Hollow Golf Club, Oakland Hills Golf Club, and Bloomfield Hills Golf Club. Oscar attended school in Paterson, NJ and currently resides in Lyndhurst, NJ.

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Andrew Burke

Project Manager

Andrew Burke

Andrew joined LaBar Golf Renovations in 2019. As Assistant Project Manager, Andrew specializes in greens construction, specifically grade control through the use of survey equipment including total station, scanning and GPS data collecting. He has assisted on several high profile renovation projects such as Muirfield Village Golf Club, Oak Hill Country Club, Brook Hollow Golf Club, Blind Brook Club, Oklahoma City Golf & Country Club, and Wee Burn Country Club. In the two years since Andrew has joined LaBar Golf, he has constructed over 100 greens complexes.
Prior to 2019, Andrew worked as a design associate for Keith Foster Golf Architect (based in Kentucky), and before that, worked on the turf team at Morris County Golf Club, Convent Station, NJ. Before entering the golf industry in 2018, Andrew worked as a consultant in the small business division of Automatic Data Processing, Inc. (ADP) for more than four years, based in Parsippany, NJ. 

Early on, Andrew surrounded himself with the game of golf and caddied at Glen Head Country Club on Long Island for 8 years to support his college tuition. He attended Fairleigh Dickinson University and graduated in 2013 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Management. He was also captain of the school’s golf team.

Andrew is originally from and currently resides in Oyster Bay, New York.

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Eric Kelley

Project Manager

Eric Kelley

Bio coming soon.

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Clayton Cupples

Equipment Manager

Clayton Cupples

With more than twenty years of experience in equipment management, Clayton joined LaBar Golf in 2013 after previously working with Rich LaBar in various New York Metro area projects.

Prior to that, Clayton served 10 years as an equipment operator, mechanic, and job foreman for a local construction company. Clayton honed his skills early on when he served in the 82nd Airborne and was a 62echo Combat Engineer, Heavy Equipment Operator, and Explosives Expert for 4 years.

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Jason Semaya

Controller

Jason Semaya

Bringing over 20 years of multi-industry financial experience to LaBar Golf, Jason handles the day-to-day financial needs with impeccable attention-to-detail. Prior to contributing his talents to LaBar Golf, Jason served as a controller for a large elevator consulting company for over 15 years. He also worked 3 years in the construction management industry, where he handled all aspects of accounting and learned the ins-and-outs of construction management.

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Kerri Ercole

Human Resources Manager

Kerri Ercole

Kerri Ercole brings 15 years of invaluable experience to her role as the LaBar Golf Human Resources Manager. Thorough and informative, Kerri is the administrator of all benefit plans as well as the onboarding of employees, mobility needs, and payroll. Her impressive background includes working for Blackstone for 9 years in the Benefits and Expatriate/Mobility divisions, and 4 years in the Citigroup Alternative Investment division.

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