Rainaud back to defend Connecticut Open

Adam Rainaud was more than satisfied to remain as an assistant golf pro at the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme for another year and wait for an opportunity to be a head pro somewhere.

So now, Rainaud, 31, works at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York.

Winged Foot is a part of the Met Section so Rainaud now plays in those events and the Connecticut Section PGA lost its top golfer.

But Rainaud does return to play in two events the Connecticut Open next week at Ellington Ridge CC and the Connecticut PGA Championship Aug.

A Chester resident, Rainaud sometimes takes the commute home when he is working at Winged Foot.

He got married in March and he also qualified for the PGA Championship for the second time by finishing in the top 20 in the PGA Professional Championship last month in Oregon.

“This is bigger than making the PGA Championship,” Rainaud said about the PGA Cup.

“Those two weeks, I’ll play Keney Park and Ellington Ridge, stay at home in Chester and it will feel totally normal,” said Rainaud, who has played Ellington Ridge CC about a half-dozen times.

Rainaud said the only time it changes is if its the final nine holes and he needs to be aggressive – like last year’s Open.

“Playing Winged Foot a few times a week, the course is so tough, it’s helped my game,” Rainaud said.