Celebrating Black History Month
Friends For Life
Twins Daryl and Derek Crawford Team Up at Papago Golf Club
On a bustling Thursday morning at Papago Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz., Daryl and Derek Crawford are busy making sure everything runs smoothly.
The identical twin brothers are general manager (Daryl) and tournament director (Derek), respectively, for the popular municipal course.
On this particular day, a 140-player tournament had just teed off, a 135-person breakfast gathering had just finished in the club’s pavilion while the food and beverage staff was preparing for the post-tournament lunch, a clinic was taking place on the driving range, and the afternoon tee sheet was filled.
In other words, it was a typical Thursday at one of the state’s most popular courses.
For the even-keeled Crawford brothers, it was business as usual.
“We’ve been in golf our whole lives,” said Daryl. “As kids, we fell in love with the game. Our parents took us to the golf course and let us hang out all day. At least they knew where we were!”
Together, they played junior golf, high school golf, and college golf, ending up on the team at Arizona State University (ASU).
“As we got older, we thought we’d be professional golfers or golf professionals,” Daryl said.
“As twins, we’ve been together through school and for much of our careers,” Derek said.
Indeed, as youths both worked in the bag room at Orange Tree Golf Resort in Scottsdale and later at PING, where they both served as tour reps, Derek on the PGA TOUR and Daryl on the European Tour. More recently, Derek has led the operation at several clubs throughout the Phoenix area, including serving as general manager of Raven Golf Club, ASU Karsten Golf Course, and Coldwater Golf Club.
Any issues now that Daryl is the boss at Papago?
“No,” Derek said, smiling. “He’s definitely the boss, but there’s just a special connection between us. It’s basically having a best friend for life.”
Though no one else in their family played golf, the lessons they learned from both their mother and father were invaluable. “They were responsible in shaping our values and instilling the importance of service to others,” Daryl shared. “Our mother spent time working with Urban League, an organization that provides resources to under-served communities. Our father was also in the service industry as a Sky Cap with TWA.”
Those life lessons were reinforced when, in 2019, the brothers were awarded the Ed Updegraff Award from the Arizona Golf Association. It reads, “In recognition of those who, by their actions or accomplishments, exemplify the spirit of the game.”
“That was our biggest highlight in golf for sure,” Daryl said.
One gets a sense that Papago is one big extended family for the Crawford twins.
“When you look around this place,” Daryl said, “there’s so much going on. Aside from the golf course and all the tournaments, Lou’s Bar & Grill and Evie’s Pavilion (named after Lou and Evie Grubb and opened in 2018) have added greatly to what we offer out here. Our guests now view Papago in a different way. It’s a community hub where families can enjoy the views and great food while their children participate in our First Tee program or roam the grassy playground area that surrounds the patio.”
And if you’re curious why it all works so seamlessly, look no further than Daryl and Derek Crawford and their hardworking colleagues at Papago Golf Club.
“We’re stuck together,” they said almost simultaneously, “but in a VERY GOOD way!”
— George Fuller
