Kurt Kitayama’s Parents, Rumiko and Clifford, Once Questioned If Golf Was a Real Job, Now Proudly Celebrate Their Youngest Son’s Rise, Including Wins at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the 2025 3M Open

Kurt Kitayama's best World Amateur Golf Ranking was 47th.

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Kurt Kitayama, an American professional golfer, recently won his second PGA Tour victory at the 3M Open, making his parents and loved ones proud.

On Sunday, July 27, 2025, Kurt Kitayama beat Sam Stevens in the final round, earning a spot in the top 70 in the FedEx Cup Standings and in the FedEx Cup Playoffs.

As soon as he won the title, Kurt Kitayama spent time with his parents to express his happiness.

Kurt Shun Kitayama was born on January 14, 1993, in Chico, California, as the youngest son of Japanese parents, Clifford and Rumiko Kitayama.

His father, Clifford, grew up in Redwood City, California, and his mother, Rumiko, was born and raised in Japan.

While Cliff and Rumiko have been Kurt Kitayama’s constant supporters in his golf journey, it wasn’t the same initially.

His parents, especially his mother, Rumiko, didn’t think a golf professional was a real job and wanted both Kurt and his elder brother, Daniel, to finish their college instead.”I used to think that golf professional was not a real job,“ recalled Rumiko.

However, she revealed that her mother-in-law, Cliff’s mother, changed her thoughts and told her to support her son’s career.


Now, Rumiko feels grateful that golf has provided joy and satisfaction for both her sons and proudly shares their achievements.

Despite being the parents of renowned golfer Kurt Kitayama, Clifford and Rumiko prefer to maintain a low profile and are not active on social media.

Kurt Kitayama’s Father, Clifford Kitayama, is an Agricultural Consultant and Businessman

While very little information about his mother is available, Rumiko’s professional life is available, and his father is excelling in his career.

Clifford Kitayama owns and has been successfully operating Kitayama Ag Services, LLC, an agricultural consultant business in Chico, California, since 2015.

Kitayama Ag Services provides monitoring of insects, disease, and weeds and makes recommendations as necessary to produce an optimal crop with minimal risk and cost, according to his LinkedIn.

For over 10 years, Clifford ‘Cliff’ has been serving as an independent agricultural consultant who specializes in tree crops.

Before establishing his own business, Clifford served as an Entomologist and co-owned Scientific Methods, Inc., an agricultural consulting company in northern California for 35 years from 1980 to 2014.

In Case You Didn’t Know

  • Kurt Kitayama’s elder brother, Dnaiel Kitayama, played at Hawaii-Hilo for two years and currently serves as a professional caddie.
  • Kurt graduated from Chico High School, where he was the senior co-captain and starting point guard on the basketball team, leading his team to a 27-2 record and the 2011 California Northern Section Title.
Suruchi
Suruchi
Suruchi is a business management student with a strong passion for writing, particularly when it comes to sports. She loves creating articles and blogs that explore various aspects of the sports world. With a curious mind and a love for both academics and creativity, she constantly seeks to expand her knowledge and share her insights through her writing.

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