Travis Williams – Assistant Athletics Director, Golf Course and Turf Sciences
Phone: (309) 438-2616
Email: tswill3@ilstu.edu
Travis Williams joined the Illinois State Athletics staff in April 2015, as the Weibring Golf Club Superintendent. Williams brings a wealth of knowledge to the position and 14 years’ experience.
Under his leadership, Weibring Golf Club course has continued to see elevated course conditions to meet the standards of the games best players. He has helped create a long range plan with the golf course architects, DA Weibring and Steve Wolfard, that includes additional tees, new bunkers, and a complete tree care program to improve safety, agronomy, and aesthetics. ISU Golf’s practice facility, the Mounier Golf and Training Center, has also continued to develop with the addition of an 11,000 sq ft. putting green and surrounding fairway and tee chipping complex. Weibring Golf Course has also been designated as a Certified Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International, during Williams’ tenure here at ISU.
Prior to Illinois State, Williams worked as the golf course superintendent at The Oaks Golf Course in Springfield, Illinois, for nine years. At the Oaks Golf Course, Williams worked to improve playing conditions on a yearly basis by implementing a combination of cultural practice programs. Williams also has two years’ experience as an assistant golf superintendent at two private clubs in the Chicago area to go along with ground maintenance and landscape experience.
Williams earned a degree in horticulture with a specialization in Turfgrass management from Illinois in 2004. He holds the classification of Certified Golf Course Superintendent from the Golf Course Superintendent Association of America, is on the Board of Directors of the Central Illinois Golf Course Superintendent’s Association and is a member of the Midwest Association of Golf Course Superintendents, and is a licensed State of Illinois Applicator.
Tom Szymoniak – Head PGA Professional
Phone: (309) 438-8912
Email: tjszymo@ilstu.edu
Tom Szymoniak was named the PGA Head Golf Professional at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in December 2019. Szymoniak comes to Illinois State after spending a year-plus as a director of operations in the athletic department at the University of Illinois. Prior to joining the athletics staff at Illinois, he spent six years at Stone Creek Golf Club in Urbana, serving as the club’s general manager in his last two years there. During his time at Stone Creek, Szymoniak managed club programming, financial performance, team leadership and day-to-day operations at the course.
Prior to his role at Stone Creek, he spent seven years in the Atlanta area with positions at Sequoia Golf and the Atlanta Athletic Club. These roles provided great experience in athletics operations and business management. Szymoniak is originally from the Chicago area and graduated from Northeastern Illinois University as a marketing major in 2003.
Corey Wisher – Assistant Golf Course Superintendent
Phone: (309) 438-2616
Email: cwisher@ilstu.edu
Corey Wisher joined the staff at Weibring Golf Club as the Assistant Superintendent in May of 2016. During his few short years at Weibring he has been involved in elevating golf course conditions year after year, raising the conditions of the Mounier Golf Training Center as well as the new short game addition to the training center. Wisher also played a large role in receiving the designation of Certified Sanctuary through Audubon International at Weibring Golf Club and informing the public about what Weibring is doing to help the environment at Illinois State University’s Sustainability Showcase.
Before starting full time at Weibring Golf Club, Wisher worked at Clinton Country Club in Clinton, Illinois for 4 years where he found the love for golf course maintenance. After his time in Clinton he joined the Weibring staff as a part time student worker for 2 years while studying at Illinois State University. He also did a summer internship at Weibring Golf Club that allowed him to expand his knowledge with hands on experience.
Wisher received a Bachelor of Science with a specialization in Horticulture and Landscape Management from Illinois State University in May of 2016. He is also a member of the Central Illinois Golf Course Superintendent Association and is a licensed State of Illinois Pesticide Applicator.