v ie wp oi n t ◗ john mills
“I am always impressed and proud of the way our industry pulls together to provide support for fellow members in need.” John Mills, CGSA President John Mills, president
Dealing with Adversity ◗ As superintendents, we are called upon to deal with adversity all too often. Mother Nature is usually the culprit, but sometimes adversity may stem from vandalism or resource challenges. However, when heavy mountain rains in southern Alberta flooded the rivers in late June and devastated many golf courses it was definitely Mother Nature at her angriest. For many in our industry, the effects were life-altering. Some courses may not reopen while others will be closed for up to a year while renovating to repair the damage. I am always impressed and proud of the way our industry pulls together to provide support for fellow members in need. I have heard many stories and examples of this support during the flooding. These examples of support are still coming, as unaffected courses and industry companies continue to lend personnel and equipment to help those most affected by the flooding. Unfortunately this is not the only example of the elements affecting golf courses in a hugely negative way in recent memory. A late winter, and with it late snow and frost, caused many setbacks and pushed back the opening of courses around the country this year. Deepening droughts across the U.S have hit our colleagues to the south quite hard. But every time harsh circumstances test the resolve of golf course managers, they ace that test, mostly due to the great dedication they have to the job and the generous and hardworking spirit of the industry’s community. Former CGSA President Neil Blayney wrote this about overcoming adversity in a 2006 edition of GreenMaster, “…success (is)
directly related to the superintendent and his/her ability to bring employees together as a team, and in doing so, creating a dedicated group of individuals working toward a common goal.” There is no doubt from the number of pictures and the quality of words in emails, on social media and other communications that the golf course management teams in southern Alberta, led by their superintendents, have been working towards that common goal, occupied day and night with restoring their golf courses. There is also a larger community to rely on in the time of need for golf course superintendents, one that the CGSA provides for its members. This larger community includes the resources available from the Michigan State University Libraries’ Turfgrass Information File (TGIF) as well as resources offered through the CGSA’s relationships with other golf course management organizations globally. Government is another primary source of relief and assistance during disaster scenarios that hit all industries. The CGSA, as a component of NAGA, is making enquiries with the appropriate federal agencies to ensure golf is included in any relief programs established to assist business. Probably the most important aspect of your association involvement is long-lasting contacts made through the CGSA that can be called upon for a helping hand, a piece of sage advice or a voice of support. Learning more about yourself, your course and the community of colleagues around you is a much-needed silver lining in the face of adversity. Hardship has a way of bringing people together, especially the
CGSA community, which is always there and ready to help, but not always physically visible. The hurdles that life lays down in the front of us brings others in the industry out to run the race together and in doing so, makes us better off for knowing that we are never alone in our struggles. There are many moments that we unite as a CGSA community. Sometimes it is in adversity, but at other times it is simply to share, build relationships and discover. One such opportunity for this to happen is the annual Fall Field Day, being hosted in 2013 by Wascana Country Club and Superintendent Mike Kupchanko on September 23. I encourage all CGSA members to consider registering for this great event that brings together the CGSA community for a couple of days of education, fun and fellowship. In that regard, I extend a special invitation to any Alberta superintendent whose course has been unable to open since the flooding in June to have their Fall Field Day registration provided compliments of the CGSA. I also encourage you to view adversity, something we have all faced or will all face in our careers, as a time to gather together and realize your own strength and determination and the willingness of your colleagues in the industry to lend a helping hand or two. GM
JULY/AUGUST 2013 | greenMaster 7