Kate Heffernan’s Mentor Spotlight: Jim Salinetti of Winchester Country Club
Jim Salinetti and Kate Heffernan
By working at Winchester Country Club, Kate Heffernan was mentored by the Head Golf Professional, Jim Salinetti. She took a moment to share how this has positively impacted her life.
When I was 12 years old, I began caddying at Salem Country Club. While it was somewhat intimidating being the only girl, I was grateful for the support of my older brother. I worked under two different caddie masters, both of whom made a positive impact on my time in the pit. Paul Boretti fostered a no-nonsense culture and inspired me to work harder. Phil Cross, Paul’s predecessor, taught me the fundamentals of caddying and instilled a sense of professionalism that I still carry with me today.
In 2011, I graduated from high school and had a desire to broaden my experience within the golf industry. I heard news that Winchester Country Club hired a new head golf professional named Jim Salinetti. When I reached out to Jim about seasonal employment, he explained that he was still evaluating his staffing needs as a new leader, but encouraged me to keep in touch.
In 2012, when I returned from my freshman year at college, I reconnected with Jim who expressed a need for outside operations staff. I accepted the opportunity without hesitation and soon learned that this would turn into a golf shop associate position. At the time, I didn’t realize the significance of working inside the shop or the fact that Jim trusted me to do so. Jim knew exactly what he was doing. He sees what people are capable of before they do. Jim is enthusiastic about what the future holds - for himself and his team. I remember working my first big tournament at the club and we all wore matching outfits. I thought to myself - this must be a special occasion - I was wrong. We matched for every single tournament and the outfits promoted a sense of team spirit and belonging that I will never forget.
Those who know Jim, know he is an accomplished golfer. Jim’s amateur accolades include three Mass Amateur titles and two New England Amateur titles. In spite of his achievements, Jim is incredibly humble and maintains an approachable and enthusiastic demeanor to help spread the game he loves. When I worked in the golf shop, Jim kept a two week calendar on the wall to track shifts. Jim carefully color coordinated each staff member’s row with their school colors - mine was red and white for Fairfield. In addition, Jim would add notes on our days off if he knew it was for something special like a vacation or a golf tournament. He knows how to pump people up. Young or old, male or female, experienced or new to the game, Jim found a way to celebrate every single golfer he interacted with.
As a leader, Jim was often faced with challenges, but he never added to the stress. He is exceptionally patient during periods of change. I recall having difficulty transferring calls from the front office phone to Jim’s office and while I’m sure he wasn’t pleased that I hung up on several members, Jim remained calm and reinforced his faith in my ability to do the job. Thankfully, this phase of mine didn’t last long! To Jim, everything that happens is an opportunity, not a problem. Over the course of three and a half summers, Jim helped me to build confidence in myself and others around me. He reminded me to celebrate the wins and learn from the losses. My time at Winchester Country Club was not merely a summer job. I met the best mentor I’ve ever had. Nearly eight years later, I still keep in touch with Jim and his family. I saved the card that Jim and his wife Hillary gave me after my college graduation. The cover reads “Follow Your Dreams”. Inside they offered congratulatory wishes and the last sentence is hard to forget - “we know you will do great things in life!”. Like I said, Jim knew what I was capable of before I did. He believed in me, which helped me believe in myself. Jim, I cannot thank you enough for your continuous support. You’re the man, pro.
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