OGSA ONCourse April 2024

Perry Brazeau

Gregor Kowalski

Kyle Johnston

Joey Losito

Jason

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Superintendents are Essential to Golf

As the OGSA celebrates its 100th year as an association, I am proud to serve as your president and be a part of this historical year. This is a time to celebrate our members and recognize past boards who forged the OGSA into the successful, professional association that it is today. This is also a time to look to the future and envision what the next century of golf might look like and how superintendents will continue to help shape the game.

The 2024 OGSA Turfgrass Management Conference, held in Niagara Falls, launched our centennial celebrations. The three-day conference brought together 450 OGSA members to celebrate our association. We welcomed special guests from the GCSAA, Golf Canada, Golf Ontario, CGSA, and many past presidents to celebrate with us. The message was clear, superintendents are essential to golf.

It’s almost unimaginable that our actions today will become the foundation for those who follow. The admirable efforts made by forefathers William J Sansom, C.L. Knuth, Fred Hawkins, Stanley Thompson, and Col. John Morley, to name a few, are greatly appreciated. We carry on their legacy with equal dedication; each year that we come together to learn, embrace new technology, adapt to new policy, and grow as professionals, is key to the continued success of our industry. Today we stand on the precipice of significant change as we focus on environmental protection, recruitment challenges, and the sustainability of the game.

As we lay this foundation, it is important that we embrace the Ontario Best

Management Practices (BMP) document launched at the OGSA Turfgrass Management Conference this year. We are excited to be the first province in Canada to develop and produce provincial BMP guidelines. This initiative, championed by the GCSAA, is critical to our industry, and it now provides all Ontario golf course superintendents with the tools required to further demonstrate our commitment to environmental sustainability and the health of the game. It is a clear indication to legislators and the community that golf course superintendents are environmental stewards.

Our goal is to continue growing our association. Inspiring not only young turf professionals but young workers to get involved in turfgrass management.

We also need to think about recruitment. Our goal is to continue growing our association. Inspiring not only young turf professionals but young workers to get involved in turfgrass management. This will be one of our biggest challenges as a group, and as we continue to dedicate ourselves to becoming more diverse and inclusive, we hope to bring a new generation of individuals to the industry.

These issues are at the top of this

association’s agenda this year. The board of directors will come together on March 27th & 28th to lay out a plan to help address these topics and find ways to further elevate superintendents and their teams as vital contributors to the success of golf.

I look forward to working with Kevin Collier and Andrew Nieder as new members of the executive team, as well as fellow board members, Paul Snider, Brad Hutchinson, Ryan Scott (past president), and newly elected members Greg Brown and Jason Crawford, to provide our members with opportunities for education, networking, and the tools to succeed in the industry. Be sure to mark your calendars for the upcoming OGSA events.

I want to take a moment to thank Owen Russell, immediate past president, for his excellent leadership and dedication to the OGSA. His service to the board and its members has without a doubt elevated our association in the community and we are incredibly fortunate to continue to lean on Owen and his vast knowledge and experience as he continues to serve as our immediate past president.

One final note, I would like to take the opportunity to thank the sponsors for their support during the conference and over the past year. Without it, we could not provide the excellent education, and numerous golf events for our members to enjoy. You are an important part of this association’s success, and we thank you for this continued support.

Have a great start to the 2024 season everyone. ■

Ian McQueen, OGSA President, Superintendent at St. George’s Golf & Country Club.

Big thank you to the ONCourse committee! We are excited to share this historical issue with you as we celebrate the OGSA’s 100th year!

Welcome back Lisa! We’re pleased to have you back on the committee. Enjoy the issue, everyone!

OGSA CELEBRATES 100 YEARS

The OGSA has had 68 Presidents in it’s 100 years. As we celebrate this milestone, it is my sincerest pleasure to pay homage to the leaders who stood up and said, I will serve. Because of your dedication to your profession and your association, the OGSA is a strong and exciting association. This is never more evident than when we come together.

On June 5, 2023, in honor of the upcoming centennial year, we hosted a luncheon to celebrate our past presidents, and to commemorate their service to the OGSA. The photo of this event is on the cover. We thank each of you for being there.

Front Row (L-R): William Hynd (1972); James Wyllie (1973); Paul Dermott (1975-76); Robert T. Heron (1974); Pelino Scenna (1978); Bob Brewster (1982); Barry Endicott (1986); Thom Charters (1988); Rhod Trainor (1992);

John Taylor (1995); Alex La Belle (1996); Simon George (1997); Ian Bowen (1998); John Gravett (2001). Back Row (L-R): James Flett (2002); Rob Ackermann (2004); Paul Scenna (2005); Jeff Stauffer (2008); Randy Booker (2009); Jeff Alexander (2010); Doug Breen (2012); Rob Gatto (2013); Phil Scully (2014); Mark Prieur (2016); Cory Janzen (2017-18); Jason Boyce (2019); Tim Muys (2020); Al Schwemler (2021); Ryan L. Scott (2022); Owen Russell (2023); Ian McQueen (2024).

I also want to acknowledge the past presidents who are no longer with us or could not attend the event for other reasons:

William J. Sansom (1924-32); Fred Hawkins (1933-41); John Austin (1942-47); D. Homewood (1948-49); J. Abbott (195052); Alex McClumpha (1953-56); Lloyd Reilly (1957-58); David Moote (1959-

60); Bill Bluett (1961-62); Tom Unsworth (1963); Art Dodson (1964); George Darou (1965); Keith Nisbet (1966); Robert Moote (1967); David S. Gourlay Sr. (1968); Allen Jones (1969); John Grightmire (1970); John Arends (1971); Alan Beeney (1977); Stuart Mills (1979); Paul White (1980); Ken Nelson (1981); Rusty Warkman (1983); Al Draper (1984); Hugh Kirkpatrick (1985); Robert Kennedy (1987); Neil Acton (1989); Gord Nimmo (1990); Mark Hagen (1991); David Gourlay (1993); Bruce Burger (1994); Ian Bowen (1998-99); Keith Bartlett (2000); Mark Piccolo (2003); Robert Burrows (2006); Sean Desilva (2007); Chris Andrejicka (2011); John McLinden (2015).

Thank you for helping to build a thriving association for golf course superintendents across Ontario. ■

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WHAT’S NEW

#TODAYINONTARIO

We’ve hit the reset button! We are looking forward to seeing what kind of submissions the 2024 year will bring. The calendar was awesome, and we hope you enjoyed seeing the top submissions. Be sure to use hashtag #TodayInOntario and tag @OntarioGSA to submit! Have fun out there!

James Corry Galt CC.

Cody Fair Goodwood GC

2024 TURFGRASS SHORT COURSE AWARDS

Congratulations to James Corry from Galt Country Club and Cody Fair from Goodwood Golf Club who both earned top marks in the Turfgrass Management Short Course and winning this year’s OGSA Turfgrass Short Course Award! To win this award, the recipients must

work at an Ontario golf course, and earn the highest score in this group. Cody and James will each receive $1000 plus a 1-year OGSA membership to contribute to their professional development! Congratulations on your success! ■

WELCOME to Our New Members

Stuart Martin CLASS F Clublink Corporation

Jared Dewar CLASS S University of Guelph

Frank Csakvary CLASS C Beechwood Golf & Social House

John McLellan CLASS D Ballantrae GC

David Kaminsky CLASS B Pine Knot G&CC

Jim Caldwell CLASS F Quarry GC

Kyle Rasmus CLASS F Quarry GC

Nick Morocco CLASS B Cardinal Lakes Golf Group Inc.

Tyler Cundle CLASS F Brock GC

Calum Tilley CLASS C Elmira GC

Jake Boere CLASS B Twin Streams GC

Taylor McVey CLASS C

Piper’s Heath GC

Kristopher Kruczek CLASS B Simoro Golf Links

John Sill CLASS C Deer Ridge GC

Thomas Steinmann CLASS C Highland CC

Michael Hubley CLASS C Donalda Club

James Myerscough CLASS A Sturgeon Point GC

Joshua De Leeuw CLASS C Deerhurst Resort

April 29, 2024

CAN/AM Tournament

Essex G&CC

August 12, 2024

OGSA Assistants’ Tournament

St. Thomas G&CC

September 23 & 24, 2024

OGSA Championship Muskoka

Member since 2006

Steve Wilkinson

ABOUT THE COMPANY

With experience in irrigation systems and a well-rounded apprenticeship with Commercial Pump in London, Ontario, Steve Wilkinson found an interest in the use of pumps within the golf industry.

The opportunity to start his own business arose and in 1993, Steve founded Pumps Plus. Servicing approximately 50 Commercial Pump customers, he quickly became one of the best ‘Pump Guys’ in the business.

Pumps Plus is now serving over 350 pump stations across Ontario!

President & Founder, Pumps Plus

The words of Sherri Wilkinson say it all: “I thank my lucky stars for him.”

To have the opportunity to highlight Steve Wilkinson and the team surrounding him at Pumps Plus is an honour. Many have heard those words of “I will get you water today” through our challenges to irrigate during the heat of the summer. Although, from a working perspective, we hope not to see Steve when the drought sets in, we know that his team will do anything to get us irrigating again, should we have to call on him for help.

Steve started the business as Steve Wilkinson and Associates many years ago and incorporated Pumps Plus in 1993. Sherri shared the following tidbits with me: “It’s always been about doing a good job for his many customers; he truly does go above and beyond. Steve’s consistent hard work over the years has been demonstrated, just look at what he has accomplished in 30 years. He started out with a mere 50 golf courses back in 1993. We had been married for a couple of years and he took a chance. We were scared for a little while.

Written by: Kevin Collier, OGSA Vice President & Superintendent, RiverBend Golf Community. Photos provided by: Steve & Sherri Wilkinson, Pumps Plus.

Steve Wilkinson, President & Founder, Pumps Plus.

IN THE HOT SEAT

Q: Favourite golf tournament?

A: Masters

Q: Favourite piece of turf equipment?

A: Pump Station (of course)

He saw the potential of what was needed in the industry and came up with the name Pumps Plus because he could do other stuff; he built birdhouses, yardage markers, and supported the industry in many other ways. The company started with Steve, and Al Blackburn joined the team working out of our tiny garage. We rented storage to support the overflow, and when we moved to Stayner, I joined the team. As the company continued to thrive, Chris Shade joined the team too, and the company has grown to over 400 clients.” Listening to the way Sherri talks about Steve and his company is consistent with others within the industry who know him.

Steve truly values the importance of relationships between his team, the suppliers who support his business, and the golf courses he supports. Speaking on behalf of other golf course superintendents, when we are in trouble and require Steve’s assistance, we have to be honest and ensure he knows how bad the situation really is. I, and many others, have personally had some difficult times with water supply and have ensured that he knows the severity of the situation. Steve likes to prioritize those who are in dire need of assistance first, and those in nonemergency situations second, and appreciates when his customers are honest. With that in mind, Al Blackburn made a great statement regarding Steve, “he is honest to a fault” and it relates to how he interacts with all of his customers. This goes hand-in-hand with Steve’s favourite quote from Henry Ford: “Quality is doing the same job if no one is noticing.” He guarantees full transparency in what he is doing and always completes what is required. He provides insights that allow superintendents to be proactive from his knowledge and assessments of the infrastructure we are responsible for. How many superintendents have provided keys to their pump stations to Steve and his team (you know who you are)? Many, I know. I heard of a time when a colleague called him when the chips were on the table and left a message stating that he hadn’t come to fix

Q: Favourite golf course?

A: Bigwin Island Golf Course

Q: Ultimate foursome?

A: Henry Ford, Dave Kinding, Tony Esposito

Q: Favourite Movie?

A: Smokey and the Bandit

Q: Lowest round and where?

A: 107 at Batteaux Creek

their problems. The response was, “I was there last night and you’re good to go.”

Steve’s successes and enjoyment each day include solving problems and leaving a site with the water flowing. This isn’t always the easiest job, and he takes each challenge with patience to ensure a positive result. The biggest daily challenge he works with is the increase in technology and the impact computers have on each pump station, and the various documentation they can provide. He started in the business with an 8-pin relay start and now phones and remote technology are operating the stations he maintains. When these challenges present themselves, Steve takes them head-on with the team around him; Chris Shade has been an intricate part of the process as his IT abilities have supported Pumps Plus throughout the years.

The only thing that can potentially slow

Steve down is the presence of a snake. He knows his fear, and we know too! If he has ever declined a service call, a snake has been in the way. I know that Al has saved many golf courses by scooping the odd snake out of a well prior to (often without Steve even knowing) just to keep the job rolling.

Steve’s team is so dedicated to him and the service he provides. We cannot imagine the miles he drives during the summer along with the work that he completes in the winter to prepare and support the industry for the upcoming season. In speaking with Sherri, she laughed when a call came to talk about the “off-season” – there is no off-season for Steve and Pumps Plus. It was great to hear over a dinner conversation with Sherri, that despite Steve’s year-round busy schedule, he decided to travel south with some friends to disconnect and enjoy a well-deserved vacation. Steve, you need to keep these trips going!

“It’s always been about doing a good job for his many customers; he truly does go above and beyond.”

– Sherri Wilkinson

(L-R) Chris Shade, Al Blackburn, & Steve Wilkinson

Steve has now retired from being a dedicated goaltender for the Northern Ontario superintendents’ hockey team after taking lessons to perfect his craft. He enjoyed many years participating in the sport including supporting minor hockey practices by lacing up the pads for scrimmages and, in his words after playing with some tykes, “they popped 4-5 goals on me quickly and called me mister, at least they called me that.” He laughed telling me this story. Although “Mister” (Steve) is formally retired from hockey, he explained that he will always keep moving and doing something. Many can agree that Steve has created one of the best businesses to support the industry in Pumps Plus, and he provides great service and great customer experiences. Many superintendents have

“I will get you water today!”

– Steve Wilkinson, President, Pumps Plus

used the following traits to describe his character: patient, genuine, honest, respectful, and a class-A man. If we could all be like Steve, the world would be a better place.

in which they support each other and their clients, every day.

Steve wants to thank those who have supported him along the way. His parents provided for him and taught him the work ethic he possesses along with the drive to reach his goals. But his team, the tight-knit group that they are, has played an equally significant role in his success with the

ways

When talking with Steve, his eyes went dusty as he called it, and stated that he couldn’t do anything without Sherri including the latenight conversations about the challenges and successes of each day. Many of our irrigation trials and tribulations have made it to Steve’s dinner table as he is passionate about what he does. I guess the story goes back to the start, we, as an industry, should thank our lucky stars for Steve. ■

This 1956 Ford Pick Up – Steve’s skills for mechanics and passion for restoring and building vehicles are his foundation.

Vacation Steve enjoying a formal evening on a cruise.

OGSA Centennial Celebration

“As we look towards the next 100 years, let us renew our commitment to serving our members, advancing our profession, and enriching the quality of golf and its environment.”

- Owen Russell, OGSA

president.

100 years ago, C.L. Knuth, secretary-manager at Weston GC, invited Ontario greenkeepers to a meeting with the sole purpose of making the case that a superintendents’ association was necessary for the success of golf in Ontario. On October 4, 1924, 15 men attended this meeting, including William J. Sansom and Fred Hawkins who immediately

“We are proud to tell the story that the most played sport in our country, more than hockey, more than soccer, is thriving. Our game is in such great hands right now because of you. So, on behalf of all golfers, in Ontario – I’ve been all around the world; I’ve been to 60 countries and seen golf in all of them, and this place is an epicentre – thank you for all that you do. To the next 100 years; I salute all of you.”

stepped up to lead the association not only for the next couple of meetings but for the next 15 years.

On January 16, 2024, at the Annual OGSA Turfgrass Management Conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario, we gathered in record numbers. 450 superintendents, assistant superintendents, equipment managers, golf course technicians, suppliers, and industry guests came together to celebrate the significant contributions that we have made to the game of golf; representatives from the GCSAA, Golf Canada, CGSA, Golf Ontario, and OTRF joined us in commemoration at the OGSA Awards Luncheon and at the Centennial Celebration held at the Niagara Parks Power Station. The falls were literally lit up with OGSA colours as we raised a glass at the evening event. There is no question that those responsible

- Laurence Applebaum CEO, Golf Canada

for establishing the OGSA would be proud not only of how far we’ve come as an association but with how well we have championed their vision. As president,

Owen Russell took the stage to welcome the group and stated: “Today, we stand on the threshold of history, marking the glorious beginning of our 100th anniversary. This momentous occasion signifies a century of dedication, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to the greenkeeping profession.” Little did those pioneers know that their vision would grow to 1 million in assets, with 68 presidents and nearly 900 members—a testament to the enduring strength of our association.

We were also honoured to welcome Rhett Evans, CEO of the GCSAA and Laurence Applebaum, CEO of Golf Canada to the stage to say a few words.

We thank everyone who joined us to celebrate this significant milestone and we look forward to continuing the celebration at our summer events and on social media. ■

“As we all sit here and reflect on those 100 years, we all should be extremely grateful for those individuals who raised their hands. Who stood up and said “call on me, I’ll serve. I’ll be the one to mentor the assistant, and I’ll be the one to serve on a board.” Each one of us owe a great deal to those who have gone before us. They’ve created an opportunity for us to be recognized for what we do for the game of golf. We’re essential to it.”

- Rhett Evans, CEO, GCSAA

(L-R) Kevin Doyle, GCSAA Field Staff, North East Region; Kevin Breen, GCSAA President, La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos, Calif; Kevin Collier, OGSA Director, Riverbend Golf Community; Ryan Scott, OGSA Past President & Director, Oakville GC; Brad Hutchinson, OGSA Director, Warkworth GC; Paul Snider, OGSA Director, Blue Mountain G&CC; Al Schwemler, OGSA Past President, Retired Superintendent; Owen Russell, OGSA President, Markland Wood GC; Andrew Neider, OGSA Director, Deerhurst Resort; Ian McQueen, OGSA Vice President, St. George’s G&CC; Laurence Applebaum, Golf Canada CEO; Jeff White, GCSAA Vice President, Indian Hills Country Club in Mission Hills, Kan.

2024 TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE Education Sessions

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SYNGENTA

This year’s Turfgrass Management Conference will go down in OGSA history; 450+ industry leaders came together to learn, network, and celebrate our association’s 100th year! As always, we love to see our attendees enthusiastic to connect with one another and eager to learn from the stellar lineup of speakers. We’d like to extend a big thank you to this year’s speakers for taking the time to share their insights with impeccable delivery. Another big thank you goes to Syngenta for their unwavering support as our Education Sponsor

Networking

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH TURF CARE

Once again, the conference’s day 2 education series was followed by an eventful evening of networking with food and drink, hosted by Turf Care. With opportunities like this one, conference attendees are able to dissect the day’s learnings and share anecdotes while establishing or strengthening professional relationships with fellow industry members. ■

OGSA Future Leaders Program

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BRETT YOUNG

The OGSA is committed to broadening knowledge through formal education channels and by exchanging experiences and ideas with fellow members. One of the avenues through which we achieve this is providing as much support to our student members as possible. This includes opportunities like attending our Turfgrass Management Conferences through the Future Leaders program in partnership with BrettYoung. This is an incredible way to stimulate professional development, to practice networking, and to learn in a new and exciting, hands-on environment. Thank you to everyone who made our up-and-coming future leaders feel welcome. ■

“Attending the 2024 OGSA TGM Conference was extremely beneficial to my development as a future turf manager.”

- Owen Singer, University of Guelph

“Getting to network with friends and industry professionals is always something I look forward to. This, along with the education series, is so valuable to us aspiring superintendents.”

- Connor Brown, University of Guelph

“Attending the OGSA Centennial Conference as a graduating student of the DTM program offers irreplaceable opportunities for networking and learning. Interacting with industry suppliers and professionals allows us students to build strong connections before making the jump to the real world. Truly an unforgettable experience.”

- Brooks Schaefer, University of Guelph

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OGSA Awards Luncheon

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ENVU

In 1924, Sansom and Hawkins established a set of rules for our association which included a key point: for the OGSA to provide “competitions and prizes for essays and drawings of greens and bunkers.”

For the past century, the OGSA has honoured that commitment by establishing robust scholarship and awards programs, providing our membership with deserving financial aid, professional development opportunities and

support, and recognition for achievements. Those who attend our awards know to expect a crowd of supportive and enthusiastic industry members who proudly congratulate their award-winning colleagues through applause and standing ovations. In partnership with Envu, the 2024 Awards Luncheon was no exception. Thank you, Envu, for your continued support. Congratulations award winners!

Editorial Awards

ONCourse is primarily comprised of original articles that have been written and submitted by our members. We love celebrating these contributions through our Editorial Awards! As most of you may know by now, we have eliminated the Photo of the Year award, and replaced it with a second Article of the Year award and asked YOU to vote for your favourite ONCourse article in 2023!

BARRY ENDICOTT ARTICLE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

The first-place award was co-written by Joel Johnston, West Haven G&CC and Chris Lecour, Sr. Turf Sales Rep, BASF.

Congratulations on the article Building Quality Relationships Between Suppliers and Supers in the March issue. The second-place article is awarded to Andrew Marsan, Plant Products, for writing Data Collection – What’s All the Fuss About? in the August issue.

(L-R)

Milestone Members

Thank you for your tenure and support of your industry!

Regretfully, we missed two, 25-Year Member recognitions in the past: Blair Rennie, Whitevale GC (now celebrating 35 years of membership), and OGSA Immediate Past President Owen Russell, Markland Wood GC (now celebrating 27 years of membership).

(L-R) Owen Russell, Markland Wood GC; Ian McQueen, OGSA VP; and Blair Rennie, Whitevale GC.

50-Year Member

Recognizing Class E member, G.C. Duke Equipment for 50 years of membership!

On behalf of G.C. Duke, Jason D’Andrea (L) accepts recognition plaque from Ian McQueen, OGSA VP (R).

25-Year Member

(L-R) Greig Barker, Highland CC; Mark Prieur, James Dick Construction & OGSA Past President; Cory Janzen, Westmount G&CC; United Agri Products rep Jeff Crowley; Todd Doering, Kitchener, Rockway, & DoonValley GCs; Ian McQueen, OGSA VP. Missing from photo: Greg Smith, Albert Stok, Don Campbell, Douglas Davidson, Don Heinmiller, Douglas Erwin, & Clayton Switzer.

Joel Johnston, West Haven G&CC; Chris Lecour, BASF; & Kevin Collier, OGSA Director.

Ryan Beauchamp, Envu representative.

Scholarship Awards

Each year, the OGSA awards over $13,000 to support members, their families, and turfgrass students. For more information on our scholarship and awards program, please visit ogsa.ca/scholarships.

Congratulations to our 2023 award winners!

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT BURSARY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SYNGENTA.

In memory of Huge Kirkpatrick.

TURFGRASS EDUCATION AWARD

PAUL BROWN INTERNSHIP AWARD

Funded by G.C. Duke

#TodayInOntario Photo Contest

The new and improved #TodayInOntario contest has been reset for the year ahead!

Check out the What’s New section in this issue for the polished set of rules and criteria for this contest. Good luck members, we can’t wait to see your submissions!

Thank you to all who voted for last year’s top 3.

1st Place: “Boo says H20” submitted by Danny Wiechers, RiverEdge GC.

2nd Place: “Duncan’s morning Audit.” submitted by Andrea Gelinas, Islington GC.

3rd Place: “Sunrises are the best” submitted by Ashley Binkle, Dundee CC.

HERITAGE AWARDS

Unfortunately, neither of our Heritage Award winners were able to make it to the conference to accept their plaques. Congratulations to Camryn Harris, daughter of Jason Harris, and Julie Beausoleil, daughter of Perry Beausoleil.

TURF MANAGER’S SHORT COURSE AWARD

(L-R) Andrea Gelinas, Islington GC; Paul Snider, OGSA Director, & Ashley Binkle, Dundee CC. Missing: Danny Wiechers, RiverEdge GC.

(L-R) Mike Banton, U of G; Ryan Scott, OGSA Past President; & Luka Turkovich, U of G.

(L-R) Greg Brown, Maple City CC; award winner Matty Rodrigue; Paul Snider, OGSA Director; & Jason D’Andrea, G.C. Duke.

(L-R) Mark Peters, Islington GC & Brad Hutchinson, OGSA Director.

(L-R) Ashlee Lawrence, Assistant Superintendent, Cobble Beach Golf Links; Bryce Allan, Syngenta; Al Schwemler, OGSA Past President; & Ken Malcolmson, Assistant Superintendent, Mississaugua G&CC.

WILLIAM SANSOM DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Al

Schwemler

RETIRED SUPERINTENDENT & OGSA PAST PRESIDENT

Written by: Madeleine White, Member Services & Marketing Advisor, OGSA

The William Sansom Distinguished Service Award is the most esteemed honour in the OGSA. It’s given to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to advancing the golf course superintendent’s profession. This year, we proudly announced the 13th award recipient. Congratulations, Al Schwemler!

The OGSA created this award in the name of our first president, William Sansom, whose legacy stems from his contributions to the formation of the OGSA, the GCSAA, and his dedication to promoting the unity of superintendents across Ontario and the United States. It is fitting that 100 years later, we celebrate an individual who has spent his career demonstrating the same dedication to our industry and its associations..

Al formally began his journey in the industry in 1985 by enrolling in the Bachelor of Science in Agriculture program at the

“Al is a strong advocate for policies and regulations that promote the ethical and responsible practice of the profession. He has made significant contributions to the field through his commitment to developing new techniques, tools, and technologies that have improved the efficiency and effectiveness of the work. His openness to innovative ideas and solutions have helped to improve processes and increase productivity, saving time and resources for our organizationts.”

- David J. Kuypers, P.Ag. Head, Data & Commercial Operations, Syngenta CA

University of Guelph. Upon graduating in 1987, he commenced his career at several prestigious clubs across Ontario including Essex, Westmount, Board of Trade, and York Downs, before planting his roots at the Toronto Golf Club.

It is no question that Al’s achievements throughout his career have been notable. In 2009, Al led the transformation of one of Canada’s most historic clubs, Toronto Golf Club, into a world-class facility with a distinctive European look. In the process, Al developed alternative construction and management programs that are still widely used, including grassing schemes, propagating from cores on a massive scale, water management, and developing new techniques to manage fescue.

Aside from his professional accomplishments, Al is revered for his approachable demeanor and mentorship skills. As a former teacher of turfgrass management at Humber College, his insights and ability to share them have shaped the careers of many. In the words of William T. Green, Superintendent at Cutten

(L-R) Owen Russell, OGSA President congratulates Al Schwemler, Retried Superintendent & OGSA Past President & Director, for winning the William Sansom Distinguished Service Award.

Fields GC, “Al never failed to recognize the value of a team and valued each individual that made up the team. Al had numerous employees whose careers at Toronto Golf Club spanned 20-30 years. Their longterm employment illustrates an exceptional commitment to Al and the club, which speaks to his leadership and ability to motivate.”

Al’s remarkable contributions to the OGSA have not gone unnoticed and have resonated strongly with our past and present board members. Al has been an OGSA member for 36 years, served on the board of directors for eight years, and was named president in 2021. He was an active participant on the We Are Golf committee during the pandemic, relaying the necessary protocols to our members, and leading the membership through unprecedented times.

Eagle Eye Al has maintained his position on the ONCourse Editorial Committee for 6, going on 7 years, and most recently, with unwavering enthusiasm, he championed the development of the Ontario Best Management Practices (BMP) document with the support from the GCSAA and R.J. Burnside. As Owen Russell pointed out during the awards luncheon, “developing

this tool took two years and countless hours of vetting, meetings, editing, and reaching out to the industry for peer reviews to see the document come to fruition. This is one of the most important tools the OGSA has developed for its members.”

Upon winning this award, Al acknowledged the efforts of those around him who played a significant part in providing him with the space to accomplish all he has accomplished: “All my successes throughout my career and all my contributions to the advancement of the golf course superintendent’s profession have been completely driven and supported by the teams that I have been associated with; the board of directors, the ONCourse and BMP committees, the We Are Golf community, and last but certainly not least, every one of the turf teams that I have been part of. This award was a team effort.”

Through visionary leadership and ability to push the boundaries of conventional practices, Al has served as a guiding light within the industry and for the OGSA. He has raised the bar for the profession and helped shape the trajectory of the future generations. ■

Best Management Practices (BMP) FOR ONTARIO GOLF COURSES

Written by: Al Schwemler, Retired Superintendent, OGSA Past President. Photos taken by: Meg Matera, Meg Matera Photography.

The OGSA released their long-awaited Best Management Practices document at the Ontario Turfgrass Management Conference in Niagara Falls on January 16, 2024, during an introductory talk by Kevin Doyle (Field Staff – Northeast Region GCSAA) and Al Schwemler (Retired Superintendent, OGSA Past President and Director).

The creation of the Ontario BMP document is part of an initiative from the Golf Course Superintendents’ Association of America (GCSAA) to develop Golf Course Best Management Practices for all 50 States by 2020. The OGSA, a founding chapter of the GCSAA, was approached to commence the production of a provincial document during a strategic planning session with GCSAA staff. The onset of Covid delayed production until February of 2022, and the document was officially published on January 11, 2024.

Best management practices are vital to provide the critical tools required to maintain golf course properties while complying with local, provincial, and federal regulations. They show a professional commitment to environmental sustainability, sound water usage and improved water quality, enhanced wildlife habitat, IPM, and act as a reference to science-based research/guidelines. BMPs will benefit golf course superintendents, golf course owners/decision makers, legislators and regulators, and community stakeholders. This document is what superintendents do!

Producing the BMP Document included the following processes:

• Introductory and logistics meetings with GCSAA staff

• Secure funding (GCSAA) and budgeting (OGSA)

• Formation of a BMP Steering Committee

• Hiring a project manager to facilitate the completion of the document

• Internal edits of the GCSAA BMP Planning Guide and Template (incorporating Provincial and Federal regulations and Canadian/Ontario content)

• Peer reviews from Ontario based experts and regulatory agencies

• Final edits and review by the Steering Committee

• Complete all inputs into the GCSAA BMP tool

• Publishing the document

The GCSAA BMP Planning Guide and Template was funded in part by the USGA and PGA Tour, through the GCSAA Foundation (formerly the Environmental Institute for Golf).

THE NEXT STEP –FACILITY BMP MANUALS

The Ontario BMP document, in addition to all 50 State BMPs, can be viewed on the GCSAA website. All provincial and state documents are open to public viewing on the GCSAA website, so outreach regarding our environmental efforts is key.

The next initiative is to produce a Facility Best Management Practices Manual. This document will be unique to individual facilities. The Provincial BMP guidelines provide the template to create facility manuals. Not all properties have the same infrastructure, maintenance procedures, water features, or environmentally sensitive areas; the facility BMP document can be customised to your specific property.

The Provincial BMP is a comprehensive guide covering:

• Planning, Design, and Construction

• Irrigation

• Surface Water Management

• Water Quality Monitoring and Management

• Nutrient Management

• Cultural Practices

• Integrated Pest Management

• Pesticide Management

• Pollinator Protection

• Maintenance Operations

• Landscape

• Energy

*Including live links to regulatory items!

(L-R) Kevin Doyle, Field Staff – Northeast Region GCSAA, & Al Schwemler, Retired Superintendent, OGSA Past President & Director discussing the Ontario BMPs at the 2024 Turfgrass Management Conference.

The GCSAA has recently enhanced the BMP Planning Guide to streamline facility manual creation. NOTE: You must be a GCSAA Member to access the Facility BMP Tool.

As stated by Rhett Evans, CEO of the GCSAA, “golf courses are important community assets, and facility BMP manuals are a key element in demonstrating to legislators, regulators, and community members that the golf course industry is committed to environmental stewardship.”

Creating facility BMP manuals is imperative to the success of the GCSAA BMP program and their initiatives. The groundwork has been completed by the OGSA; the responsibility to complete the facility manual is now on YOU!

A special thanks is in order for the hard work of the Steering Committee, R.J. Burnside & Assoc. Ltd., Peer Reviewers/OGSA Associate Members, and the GCSAA for their funding, support and guidance.

For more information or assistance, contact the OGSA office or Kevin Doyle: Kevin Doyle, Field Staff, Northeast Region GCSAA kdoyle@gcsaa.org ■

ACCESS THE ONTARIO BMP MANUAL

TO GET STARTED:

1. Go to gcsaa.org /bmp This is where you can access the Ontario BMP Guide (under “Find your state’s BMP manual” then click “Canadian Province BMPs”), FAQs, How-to-Videos, Webinars, etc. It is highly recommended to review the Provincial BMP Document and watch the How to Videos and/or Webinars before starting your Facility BMP manual.

2. Click on “Access the Facility BMP tool.”

3. You will be prompted to login with your GCSAA username and password.

4. Once logged in, you will find the Ontario manual and you can begin to customise it to your specific facility, including adding photos related to your property.

ACCESS THE FACILITY BMP TOOL

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What’s Your Score?

GRADING YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP WITH FRANK ROSSI, PH.D.

Written by: Lisa Marie Guilfoyle, Assistant Superintendent, Oakville GC. Photos taken by: Meg Matera, Meg Matera Photography.

BMPs - A hot topic and acronym we as turf managers have been hearing much more of lately. Best. Management. Practices. Three words that when strung together encourage us to be mindful in order to protect our natural environment, continue to expand our knowledge, and even manage our finances. These daily practices benefit you and your golf course as a whole, all while specifically monitoring impacts on the sustainability triangle. Environment. Social. Economic.

Dr. Frank Rossi (Associate Professor, Integrated Plant Science at Cornell University) joined us at the 2024 Turfgrass Management Conference - taking the stage with enthusiasm immediately after the OGSA’s announcement of the official Ontario Golf Course BMPs document launch in partnership with the GCSAA, made public by Al Schwemler (Retired Superintendent, OGSA Past President & Director) and Kevin Doyle (Field Staff-Northeast Region GCSAA). Rossi congratulated the association for being progressive and linked the two presentations seamlessly.

As explained by Frank, having these documents is (our) way to codify and say to people, “this is our stake in the ground.” When we are governed by environmental resources (i.e., water, soils, pollinators, etc.), we want to arrange according to a plan for the things that matter most. He promises, “there are practices in every industry that would eventually pollute something that

would also have regulations against them.” This reassures us that we are not alone, even though it seems that golf courses get much of the scrutiny. BMPs is a shared language. It is not unheard of to have these standards, Rossi reiterates. “In this case, they are voluntary environmental programs.” Although, in his

“The BMPs for Ontario Golf Courses document can become a vital building block to communicate and elevate your environmentally positive efforts to stakeholders including those in golf, within your community, and the regulatory arena.”

- OGSA

experience, he has found that the easiest way to get people to change their ways is to pass a law. “If you pass a law, everyone has to change their behaviour. When educating and asking people to voluntarily change their behaviours, you’re up to the parallels of individualism.” Which has the possibility to be a challenge in many ways, including convincing those less concerned with where their money is being spent. As long as they are spending it, their budgets are (typically) never minimized.

During the last three years, Rossi and his

team have conducted research in the US and abroad focusing on sustainability practices and key aspects of environmental stewardship that everyone can adopt. Reminding us that the heavy lifting has already been done for us, all we have to do is implement it. In their findings, they came to recognize that public golf courses seem to naturally fit the mold of best management practices due to their staff and budget sizes. It is often the case that they do not have the same highperformance standards as a private club and already use less water, treat fewer areas, and have less (wo)manpower, etc., but there is still room for improvement. Rossi shares that their research has proven that, “if you want true environmental responsibility, don’t put as much stuff on as much land. Period… Manage less area as intensely as you can.”

Your score comes into play with an approach that, as Rossi explains, has been ratified in the educational process to meet people where they are at. He believes “you all should be shooting par.” He, along with his team at Cornell and New York State Pollution Prevention Institute, cultivated a handbook with three general ways that you can get involved and aim for your best score. This handbook was developed to encourage improvement in your approach, practices, solutions, and strategies. Here is how the scoring is set up:

Par: Perfect for the beginner; with low friction and adoption at high rates. Easy to implement, laying the foundation for advancement in your practice of sustainability.

Birdie: The intermediate approach with moderate friction and adoption rates. Taking the time to plan in detail while delivering

bigger results. Bringing your basic (par) practices to the next level.

Eagle: The Best Practices; an advanced program designed to bring your sustainability practices to the top tier with high friction and low adoption rates. Integrating operations based on science and data collection.

Considering the birth of BMPs was to address water pollution and consumption, a simple, yet great example for all three approaches is water usage. A simple Par scoring would remind you to “let nature do the work” and watch for timely rainfalls. Putting for Birdie? Grab a moisture meter and “find your number.” The elusive Eagle prompts us to monitor our evapotranspiration rates to determine our watering needs by “let(ting) data tell the story.”

As the presentation wrapped up, Dr. Rossi touched on point-source pollution and was adamant that not only should we be looking at our golf courses, but we must hone in on our maintenance facilities. It has been said that these sites are the location where the risk of potential pollution and contamination is the highest; a place where we store and handle our chemicals and fertilizers, and

wash our equipment at the end of the day. Rossi asks us to evolve on how we manage our wash pads, as “these point-source issues are the biggest ones we face. What is being rinsed down that drain? Where is that water going? Have you considered these things?” Here are some strategies to give thought to in order to step up your environmental stewardship and achieve those desired scores within your facility pertaining to your water usage:

• Use as little water as possible - research shows that if equipment is blown off, away from your wash pad, water usage is cut by 50% (Par)

• Install a low-flow nozzle to your hosecutting water usage another 50%, if used in conjunction with compressed air (Birdie)

• Install a water flow meter - collecting data on how much water is actually being used (Birdie)

• Get involved in a water recycling systemsite specific and engineered based off water usage data (Eagle)

We continue to be at the forefront of information and research and its findings

within the industry. A big thanks to Dr. Frank Rossi for allocating his passion and research for all of us to utilize as well as implement. It really is our time to take the stand; showing up for mother nature, the future of golf, and how we as turf managers can make an impact, sustainably.

For more information and a copy of the Golf Course Sustainability Handbook visit www.rit.edu/affiliate/nysp2i/golf. Stay tuned for Dr. Rossi’s next collaboration of a Washpad Guidance Handbook - available in the next three months.

Don’t forget to head over to www.ogsa. ca/bmp to view and utilize the Ontario Golf Course BMPs document today! This is where you will also find a link to the GCSAA site to build your own site specific BMP catalog. ■

Negotiating Your Contract WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Written by: Chris Lecour, Senior Turf Sales Representative. Photos taken by: Meg Matera, Meg Matera Photography.

At the recent OGSA Turfgrass Management Conference in Niagara Falls, attendees were fortunate to gain valuable employment agreement and contract advice from Ernest Coetzee. Coetzee is a highly respected lawyer focusing on labour and employment law with RZCS Law Firm LLP, based in Mississauga. With extensive experience in various areas of law such as collective bargaining, Ontario labour relations and complaints, employment standards branch complaints, pay equity complaints, preparation and negotiation of employment contracts, and wrongful dismissal litigation, he’s known for his dedication to justice and client advocacy. Coetzee’s background includes a robust education in law and a track record of successful cases, making him a trusted figure in the Canadian legal community.

An employment contract or agreement is like a roadmap that lays out the rules and expectations between an employer and an employee. It’s crucial because it helps avoid misunderstandings and protects both parties’ rights. For the employer, having a contract ensures that the employee knows their responsibilities, like work hours, job duties, and compensation. It also sets boundaries on things like confidentiality and intellectual property, safeguarding the company’s interests. Plus, it can outline terms of termination, protecting the employer from potential legal issues down the line. On the employee’s side, a contract provides security and clarity. It spells out their job duties, pay, benefits, and any other perks they’re entitled to. It also outlines the procedures for grievances or disputes, giving the employee a sense of fairness and recourse if something goes wrong. Moreover, it can provide protection against unfair dismissal or mistreatment.

Ultimately, having an employment contract benefits both parties by creating a clear understanding of expectations, rights, and responsibilities, which fosters a more stable and productive working relationship. Without one, disputes and uncertainties can arise, leading to potential legal problems and damaged trust between employer and employee.

Key employees, otherwise known as primary employees, at any large organization in today’s world would often be subject to lengthy employment agreements. A successful and fair employment contract should include terms and items such as:

• Job Title and Description - Clearly outline the position the employee is being hired for, including duties and responsibilities. Your Direct Reports should be a part of any contract, including responsibilities to your employees. Additionally, both sides should make expectations clear on setting, managing, and meeting budget goals.

• Compensation - Detail the salary or wage, payment frequency, bonuses, and any other benefits such as health insurance, retirement plans, or stock options. Coetzee made a point of the benefit of “collective negoti ation,” where associations can survey employees on their compensation packages to determine what the market value of the superintendent position is in different regions of the province, at different types of clubs, etc. This collective negotiation or sharing of information can be very beneficial to all members when it’s time to renegotiate employee agreements. Additionally, how an employee’s performance will be measured, if they are eligible for a performance bonus, should be set in advance to avoid any conflict.

• Working Hours and Schedule - Specify the expected work hours, including any flexibility or overtime arrangements.

• Term of Employment - Indicate whether the employment is atwill or for a fixed term, along with provisions for termination and notice periods. Coetzee encourages employees to resist the fixed term agreement. The employer has no obligation to the employee at the end of such an agreement. Instead, he suggests negotiating an open-ended agreement that provides a reasonable severance option at the end.

• Benefits and Perks - List any additional benefits or perks provided to the employee, such as vacation days, sick leave, holidays, use of an automobile and employee assistance programs. Vacation time and when a golf course employee can take their vacation can be a bit of an issue in the golf industry and should be standardized.

• Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) - Include provisions to protect sensitive company information and trade secrets.

• Intellectual Property Rights - Clarify ownership of any intellectual property created during employment.

• Code of Conduct and Ethics - Set expectations for employee behavior, including adherence to company policies and ethical standards.

• Governing Law - Determine the jurisdiction and laws that will govern the employment agreement.

• Severance Package - Specify terms for severance pay or benefits in the event of termination.

Losing your job can be a very traumatic and stressful event, and

EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS

Coetzee also offers some good advice for superintendents entering employment agreement negotiations with their club:

1. Gontrary to popular wisdom, he suggests making the first offer. And making it a high one!

2. Use concrete salary or wage numbers instead of a salary range.

3. Only talk as much as you need to.

4. Ask open-ended questions and listen carefully.

5. Despite what many believe, the best negotiated agreement lets both sides win.

an employer may deem the dismissal was either “with cause” or “without cause.” It is very difficult for an employer to prove a dismissal was with cause, as usually it would have to involve some abhorrent behaviour.

When an employee is terminated without cause, it is in everyone’s best interest to already have in place an employment agreement that establishes a defined severance package with notice, and it should be above and beyond what the Employment Standards Act suggests which are the minimum an employee is eligible to receive. For the employee’s benefit, if the agreement contains an ESA minimum clause, they should negotiate against it.

By being aware of and successfully negotiating these key terms and items, both the employer and employee can ensure a clear understanding of their rights and responsibilities, fostering a fair and mutually beneficial working relationship. ■

10 Rules for Leadership and Balance

WITH CHRIS TRITABAUGH

Written by: Joel Johnston, Superintendent, West Haven G&CC. Photos taken by: Meg Matera, Meg Matera Photography

In the Superintendent Universe, Chris has long been a leading advocate for mindfulness and balance. Never taking himself too seriously, Chris is a big proponent of being rested, empowering staff, and knowing when to go home.

He began his talk helping the attendees understand Acute Stress VS. Chronic Stress. Acute stress can be experienced daily, but for the most part, can subside when the stressful situation is resolved; opposed to chronic stress, which is a consistent sense of feeling pressured and overwhelmed over a long period of time. Chris emphasized that understanding our stress can play an instrumental role in limiting and controlling it. With that said, he began to discuss his 10 Rules for leadership and balance.

10 RULES FOR LEADERSHIP AND BALANCE

1. Know the puzzle you are putting together. This principle references the idea of having a set of guiding principles. These values could be agronomic such as, maintaining creeping bentgrass over Poa annua, preserving the integrity of USGA putting greens, or more philosophical ideologies like providing championship level conditions daily or limiting disruptions to member play. Having these principles can provide clarity and direction when the midseason distractions inevitably arise.

2. “Clean up the Kitchen!”

Cleaning up the kitchen is symbolic for the idea of prioritizing your “team at home.” Chris provided the values he applies to his family life.

• Be home when you say you will be home.

• Help around the house, put out the garbage, put the sheets on the bed and clean up the kitchen.

• Stop and get groceries on your way home, even when you just want to go home. If you forget, go back out.

• Take pride in being a great parent and partner.

Following these values can help to make your family a great team.

3. Getting it Right VS. Being Right

This idea presented was that sometimes we are wrong, that can be hard for many to admit. Can we learn to embrace that member criticism may sometimes be valid? If we recognize and accept this, it can provide an opportunity to grow. Ultimately the members want the same thing we do, to make the property better and provide a better experience; it is our job to execute that, not to be right!

4. “A Pizza Party a Culture does not Create.” Culture should be based on shared responsibility and ownership. Getting cool gear and having pizza parties should be a fun additive to a culture, not the foundation of one.

5. Beware of The Circle.

Chris references ‘The Circle’ to a Disney experience. The susceptibility of getting caught up in an experience and loosing reference points is similar to a season on a golf course. It is very easy to become so focused and task-oriented that we go overboard and burn ourselves out. Burnout can make all aspects of our lives more difficult, and measures should be taken to avoid this. Culture in our industry is changing and long days of overextending ourselves are no longer a badge of honour.

6. Strive to Develop Character and Ability, Not Status and Power.

Who are you, rather than, what are you.

This is a powerful concept. With the long hours and investments we make keeping a golf course alive, it’s easy for us to let our jobs define who we are. If we make the effort to focus on our process of growth and being a passionate driven person, our goals will naturally come to fruition. His advice was to “prepare for the job you want by mastering the job you have.”

7. Be a Leader.

The first time I met Chris was in 2018, when another OGSA member and I were visiting the Toro headquarters as well as Hazeltine National. During this visit, Chris spoke about empowering with roles rather than tasks.

“Being handed a role, and the responsibility that comes with it instills a great deal of confidence in people, especially young people. Rather than just completing tasks, they become part of achieving the result. When given the responsibility to oversee a result, it’s human nature for them to want to improve their area of oversight through innovation and improved efficiency.”

He proceeded to share a ‘big brain’ vs. ‘multiple small brain’ concept by drawing it out, demonstrating that many people collaborating and sharing unique ideas is far more powerful than one person assigning tasks. This hinges on listening, being the last to speak, and being adaptive. We simply paint a picture of a final product and allow our staff to figure out THEIR process.

8. Give Yourself a Break - No one will do it for you.

Chris shared some excellent pictures of places he’s taken time to rest, including the 2023 Ryder Cup. Without rest, we don’t think as clearly and the effects can even be seen physically. We need to know our bodies and listen to them. No one knows when we personally need rest like we do. Not everyone will begin hanging a hammock on their property or napping in the office. This may equate to going home early now and then or trusting key staff more on weekends.

9. Practical Action over Organization.

By using our time to take practical action rather than organizing, we can get things done faster. Being organized is a great habit, however things rarely go exactly as planned. We deal with many factors such as constantly changing and unpredictable weather. Learning to accept that things don’t always go according to plan and accommodating these obstacles by taking concrete and deliberate steps can help us to achieve goals.

10. Walk.

I remember when Chris first shared the idea of walking the course on Twitter. It garnered quite the attention. Many felt they didn’t have time. After putting this in practice, you might notice that you see the golf course more, and as your members see it. This can help set priorities for maintenance. The other biproduct of walking the course is the exercise. Not only does walking increase our cardiovascular health and burn calories but it can also improve our overall mood and mental health.

We appreciate Chris’ insight into these rules that have no doubt played a massive role in his success and quality of life. Every time I converse with Chris or hear him speak, my number one take away is his accessibility; always willing to help others, you can reach out through email and social media. Chris embodies the idea of giving back. He has a genuine interest in everyone he speaks too and wants all to share in and benefit from his balanced mindset. ■

LOOKING BACK

Fifty-six Years Ago, Today

David Gourlay, President; A.V. Jones, Vice President; William Hynd, Secretary; Edward J. Charman,

In 1968, Dave Gourlay Sr. was the president of the OGSA. Keith Nesbit, Gord Witteveen and Dave Moote were retiring directors and Bob Moote was the past president

Tom Unsworth moved from Clearstream C. C. in Oakville to St. Thomas Golf Club and Bob Heron, assistant at the Board of Trade Country Club was appointed Superintendent at Brampton G. C. Dave Baker moved to Glen Cedar G. C. and Don Creed left London for Orchard Hills Golf and Country Club in Michigan. lan Williamson moved to Castlegar Golf Club in B.C.

On January 8th, there was a curling meeting at Bayview Country Club with Ed Ortlieb as host. The rink skipped by Curly Endicott and comprising of John Stoughton, Carl Wagner and Bernie Macdonald, won the trophy defeating Bob Moote’s rink. President Gourlay reported on a possible

Greens Chairman Superintendent Day and a Pro Superintendent Day. On July 9th at Richmond Hill Golf and Country Club, the first Greens Chairman/Superintendent Day was held. Tom Mascaro, president of West Point Products, was the guest speaker and George Darou was the host.

OGSA dues were $15.00 for superintendents and $25.00 for associates. CGSA membership dues were $15.00 and GCSAA dues were $50.00. Bill Forrester was made an Honorary member of the OGSA, after retiring from 20 years at Weston Golf Club. Robbie Robinson was also presented with an Honorary membership on his retirement as Director of the Greens Section of the RCGA. James Hickman a charted member of the OGSA, recently passed away in London. The CGSA held their first Turf Research Foundation meeting at the Skyline Hotel on March 19th in Toronto. Tom Johnston replaced John Steel as President of the CGSA. ■

Treasurer. Directors: Robert F. Moote, John Arends, John Grightmire, Douglas Suter, Bernard MacDonald, Tom Unsworth, and Herbert Creed. Photo retrieved from OGSA archives.

Robbie Robinson, Architect, Former Director of the Greens Section, RCGA. Photo retrieved from Golf Canada.

Keith Nesbit, OGSA Past President. (Keith Nesbit. A History of Golf Course Maintenance, by Gord Witteveen. Stewart Publishing & Printing, 2008, p. 91).

Ontario Greenkeepers’ Association, by William J. Sansom, reprinted from 1931.

David Moote, OGSA Past President. (David Moote. A History of Golf Course Maintenance, by Gord Witteveen. Stewart Publishing & Printing, 2008, p. 71).

John Steel, CGSA Past President. (John Steel. A History of Golf Course Maintenance, by Gord Witteveen. Stewart Publishing & Printing, 2008, p. 101).

Tom Johnston, CGSA Past President. (Tom Johnston. A History of Golf Course Maintenance, by Gord Witteveen. Stewart Publishing & Printing, 2008, p. 103).

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Reduced Flight Blues

Written by Doug Breen, Superintendent, Golf North Properties.

Last week, I heard from my least reliable source (let’s call him Jeff, because that’s his name), that the Secret Cabal in charge of all things related to golf, are proposing to monkey around with the design of balls again. As always – the intent is to make them not go as far. I don’t know who is in this Cabal, but I have to assume that they are the same folks responsible for the undersized basketball hoops on carnival midways and limiting the quantity of the more useful letters in our Scrabble games. Jeff also says that they’re the ones making me use paper straws to drink out of plastic cups.

I chose to immediately panic.

My concern - was that if the Cabal reduces ball flight, I’ll be forced to move up yet another set of tees. I’m soon going to run out of tees to move up to! I’m already losing range quicker than a Tesla in a Kapuskasing winter, and at my present rate of decline, in another ten years I’ll be hitting it backwards. I now have the flexibility of a frozen bowling ball, and that’s not going to improve.

I plug along with my senior, fat guy swing, stick to the middle of the fairway, and beat them on the green. I’ve also been relatively successful at extending my drives by aiming at cart paths on doglegs.

Frustrated golfers will spend the weekly salary of a Bank Manager on a new driver each year; in a desperate and futile attempt to squeeze out an additional handful of yards down the fairway - only to be told that they’re making a mockery of the game and must be stopped! Who are these people who are hitting it too far? I’ve played a lot of golf over the years, and I’ve never heard anyone say, “I’m hitting the ball too far, and it’s ruining my day.” Even when I play with guys like my son Walker, who can knock it a football field further off the tee than I do – they’re also running the risk of landing on a different football field on the left or right.

As I said earlier though; Jeff is an awesome fella, but not the best at relaying the finer (or the coarser) details of a story – so I went onto the Google Machine to see exactly how the Cabal was plotting to ruin my life. Well – it turns out they’re only talking about taking “9-11 yards” away from touring Pros. The average drive on the PGA Tour is now a foot-wedge over 300 yards. Take ten yards off that, and it will mean…. nothing. We could take thirty yards off each drive, just by irrigating the fairways.

On the other hand, taking ten yards away from me, would be an entirely different kettle of fish. Fortunately, the internet said that the distance lost, will be proportional to club head speed. I have no club head speed. Tour

Players are in the 120mph range, I’m much closer to the speed limit. It turns out, that Jeff had me all tied up in knots over about three yards per drive.

Here’s a thought – if we’re really concerned that the guys on TV are hitting the ball too far, make it more of a penalty to miss the fairway. In the 1980’s, golfers on the PGA tour, were hitting 20% more fairways than they do today. Why? Because someone ran the stats, and distance is twice as likely to save a stroke on the scorecard than accuracy. Due to modern maintenance practices, there is no significant penalty for an errant shot into rough or fairway bunkers. There was a time that missing the fairway could involve no irrigation, patchy turf, trees, brush, poison ivy, sadness, despair, and venomous snakes. There remains only one tournament where players are truly terrified to miss the fairway, and we all know which tournament I’m referring to. US Open rough is ridiculous, but somewhere between Augusta and a hay field, there is a balance. We know that bunkers are too well manicured when golfers are aiming at them. If there is no risk in a risk reward proposition, then everyone swings for the fences. We could also take away some of the roll by raising height of cut on the fairway.

In the end, Jeff got me all worked up over something that really isn’t going to have any effect on me, and limited effect on anyone that I know. To be honest, this is far from the first time that he’s done this to me. He drives around all day listening to talk radio and sending me truly terrifying and often inaccurate texts. Turns out the Federal Government can’t really read my thoughts and jail me for it, and changes to the golf ball by the Cabal, really won’t hurt me either. ■

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