greenmaster
November/december 2013
official publication of cgsa
◗ l e a d e r s h i p ◗ a d v o c a c y ◗ e d u c at i o n
CGSA Superintendent of the Year:
Jim McGarvey
plus ◗ Hope Grows Here: Devastation gives way to determination ◗ A Supers Best Friend: How one dog captured the respect and adoration of course staff and a community. ◗ Turf-blazers: Pioneering women pave the way in golf course management
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The following companies generously support the canadian golf superintendents association through partnerships on specific events/programs: CITCTS 2013 Basf Bayer Environmental Science Civitas John Deere Golf Rain Bird International Syngenta Crop Protection Canada Inc. additional events Bayer Environmental Science – Fall Field Day John Deere Golf – Fall Field Day, Equipment Technician Award Club Car – Environmental Award The Toro Company – Future Superintendent Award, Classic Reception/Fall Field Day, Gordon Witteveen Award
Canadian Golf Superintendents Association Board of Directors 2013 – 2014 JOHN MILLS
JAMES BEEBE
GREG AUSTIN
President Superintendent Northumberland Links Golf Club PO Box 2, Pugwash, Nova Scotia B0K 1L0 T: 902-243-2119 F: 902-243-3213 jwmills@ns.sympatico.ca
Alberta Director Superintendent Priddis Greens Golf & CC 1 Priddis Greens Drive Priddis, AB T0L 1W0 T: 403-931-3391 F: 403-931-3219 jbeebe@priddisgreens.com
British Columbia Director Superintendent Revelstoke Golf Club PO Box 9153 RP03 Revelstoke, BC V0E 3K0 T: 250-837-5000 F: 250-837-6123 gregaustin.rgc@gmail.com
CHRISTIAN PILON, MS Vice President Master Superintendent Mount Bruno Country Club 665 Chemin des Vingts, QC J3V 4P6 T: 450-653-1265 F: 450-653-8393 cpilon_mbcc@bellnet.ca KYLE KELLGREN Secretary Treasurer/Saskatchewan Director Superintendent Jackfish Lodge Golf & Conference Centre PO Box 10, Cochin, SK S0M 0L0 T: 306-386-2150 F: 306-386-2840 superintendent@jackfishlodge.com
TIM KUBASH, MS, AGS
485041_club.indd 1
6/30/10 3:13:01 PM
Past President Master Superintendent Salmon Arm Golf Clujb PO Box 1525, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4P6 T: 250-832-8834 F: 250-832-6311 tkubash@salmonarmgolf.com
DARREN KALYNIUK
KENDALL COSTAIN
Manitoba Director Superintendent St. Boniface Golf & Country Club 100 Youville Street Winnipeg, MN R2H 2S1 T: 204-233-2497 F: 204-237-9794 darren@stbonifacegolfclub.com
Atlantic Director Golf Operations Manager Westfield Golf & Country Club 8 Golf Club Road Grand Bay-Westfield, NB E5K 3C8 T: 506-757-2907 kendallcostain@hotmail.com
JAMES FLETT, AGS
JOHN SCOTT, AGS
Ontario Director Superintendent Muskoka Lakes Golf & Country Club PO Box 280, 1330 Ferndale Road Port Carling, ON P0B 1J0 T: 705-765-3165 F: 705-765-6990 jflett@mlgcc.com
Quebec Director Superintendent Summerlea Golf and Country Club 1000 Route De Lotbiniere Vaudreuil – Dorion, QC J7V 8P2 T: 450-455-0929 F: 450-455-8898 john.scott@summerlea.com
cover photo: J im McGarvey, Superintendent,
R at e s a R e s e t F o R 2 0 1 4
Seymour Golf & Country Club
Credit: Kim Bellavance Photographe
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bgarrett@golfsupers.com
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 3
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e di tor ’s n ote ◗ bill garrett NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013
greenmaster Vol 48, no. 6
GreenMaster is published six times a year (Jan/Feb, March/April, May/June, July/Aug, Sept/Oct, Nov/Dec) by the Canadian Golf Superintendents’ Association:
bill garrett, CEM managing editor
◗ As I sit to review the final proofs of this sixth issue of GreenMaster in 2013, I find myself reflecting on the past year since the CGSA took the publishing duties in-house. So much has been learned in the planning and execution of each issue as we have worked on editorial and advertising. We are proud of our progress in both areas, but particularly in editorial. The mandate from the board of directors at the outset was to produce a product with a minimum page count featuring articles that would help superintendents perform their duties at their courses, showcase research projects, present the human side of the industry and promote feedback and discussion. The comments that we have received from all regions of the country suggest we are well on our way to accomplishing these goals. Articles written by superintendents and assistants have long been the backbone of GreenMaster and this year the response has grown from four pieces in 2012 to nearly twenty in 2013. Each of these is eligible for the Gordon Witteveen Award and will surely present a daunting task for the Communications, Marketing and Public Relations Committee. There is a great deal of choice in the marketplace for our industry partners when it comes to decisions on advertising placements. Hopefully our partners are beginning to see the positive changes that have been made to GreenMaster throughout the year and will continue to find value in giving their support. Please have a look at our loyal advertisers and buy from them when you can.
CGSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Ken Cousineau, CAE Tel: 416-626-8873 ext. 222 kcousineau@golfsupers.com
There is a heartwarming article written by Superintendent Dan McCaffrey on page 29 detailing his experience with dogs, leading to his relationship with a goose dog named Toby. Staff writer Marc Cousineau spent an enlightening few days with 50 assistant superintendents from across North America at the Green Start Academy conducted in Raleigh, North Carolina by John Deere Golf and Bayer Environmental Science. Marc attended sessions and networked with the assistants and instructors and outlines his experience on page 12. Josh Webb, assistant superintendent at Quilchena Golf & Country Club in British Columbia, gives some advice to those hoping to move up to assistant superintendent. It’s not as easy as it may seem, but the rewards are great. The cover story in this issue is all about the 2013 Superintendent of the Year, Jim McGarvey, superintendent at Seymour Golf and Country Club since 1990, Past President of CGSA and mentor to many. Rick Woelfel’s interview illustrates the inspirational path Jim has taken throughout his career. Please enjoy what’s inside and, as usual, I ask that you give us feedback – good or bad. We’ve already started work on the 2014 issues of GreenMaster and hope to make each issue a little better than the last. GM
We want your feedback! Email us at: bgarrett@golfsupers.com
COMING EVENTS
Managing editor & Advertising Sales: Bill Garrett, CEM Tel: 416-626-8873 ext. 224 bgarrett@golfsupers.com Assistant Editor: Marc Cousineau marccousineau2@gmail.com
Canadian Golf Superintendents’ Association 5399 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 201 Toronto, ON M9C 5K6 Tel: 416-626-8873 / Toll Free: 800-387-1056 Fax: 416-626-1958 cgsa@golfsupers.com www.golfsupers.com Printing Provided by Blenheim INK 4305 Fairview Street, Suite 232 Burlington, ON L7L 6E8 Tel: 289-337-4305 Fax: 289-337-4187 www.blenheim.ca Contact: Terry Davey | terry@blenheim.ca Art Direction & Design by Jeanette Thompson Tel: 519-650-2024 jeanettethompson@mac.com ©2013 Canadian Golf Superintendents Association. All rights reserved. The views expressed by the authors of articles or letters published in GreenMaster are not those of the Association and, therefore, the Association shall not be held liable for any of these views. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced by any means, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of the Association. GreenMaster® is a registered trademark of the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association. All rights reserved. CANADA POST PUBLICATIONS MAIL PUBLICATIONS AGREEMENT No. 40025905 Return undeliverable copies to: Canadian Golf Superintendents’ Association 5399 Eglinton Avenue West, Suite 201 Toronto, ON M9C 5K6
FEBRUARY 17th – 21st, 2014 Canadian International Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 5
Get in on the action! KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Trevor Linden Former NHL All-Star and Olympian
FEATURES:
3 day education program 2 days of Specialized Learning Workshops Keynote Presentation 100+ vendor trade show Social and networking events Industry Education Sessions
TO BOOK EXHIBIT SPACE:
Bill Garrett 1-800-387-1056 x 224 bgarrett@golfsupers.com
BENEFITS:
The latest research and knowledge presented by industry experts Interaction with peers, industry leaders and experts and industry related researchers and academics In-depth learning opportunities specific to turf management that are focussed on issues relevant to the Canadian turfgrass industry An amazing opportunity to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.
FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:
Ken Cousineau 1-800-387-1056 x 222 kcousineau@golfsupers.com REGISTRATION & EDUCATION INFO:
Kathryn Wood 1-800-387-1056 x 223 kwood@golfsupers.com HASHTAG: #CITC2014
INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS:
There’s always room for another booth at the show Sponsorship is a great way to connect with your customers in the golf & sports turf sectors. Book your space now at www.golfsupers.com/vancouver2014 or contact Bill Garrett at bgarrett@golfsupers.com
Vancouver Convention Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia February 17 – 21, 2014
N
• TS
OCIATION • C ASS AN A ES SURIN NE D TEN EN D DI
UPERINTEN LF S DE GO N
Joint Conference Partners:
For more information visit:
www.golfsupers.com/vancouver2014
E GOLF • CANAD TD IA AN
con te n ts ◗ NOVEMBER / DECEMBER 2013
18
20
IN THIS ISSUE 14 Fall Field Day Wrap Up
DEPARTMENTS FROM THE EDITOR
5
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
8
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
10
NEWS FROM THE GREEN
12
16
Ready, Set, Grow!
18
Mother Nature’s Fury Became My Learning Experience
Devastating flood in Alberta had silver lining
MECHANIC’S CORNER
34
20
CGSA Superintendent of the Year
THE BACK NINE
36
TALK BACK
38
26
Unsung Turfgrass Heroes and Trailblazers
29
Paw-sitively Amazing
30 32
The life and times of an assistant superintendent
Jim McGarvey
Canadian women supers share their stories
Taking Back the Turf
Southern Alberta courses and their quest to rebuild after devastating floods
Educating the Next Generation
36 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 7
v ie wp oi n t ◗ john mills
John Mills, president
“Each year the CGSA puts together a conference program that is first-class in terms of the best speakers discussing current topics that are relevant to the golf course management industry.” John Mills, CGSA President
Winter – A Great Time to “Sharpen the Saw” Hiver – La saison idéale pour « aiguiser ses facultés » ◗ As I sit and reflect back on the 2013 season looking at what worked well, what didn’t work and what has potential, with a little fine tuning, I am reminded of one of Steven Covey’s seven habits called, “Sharpen the Saw”. The fundamental principle of this habit is that we need to take time out periodically to maintain our tools or future performance and efficiency will suffer. We all know the futile effect that a dull mower has on our greens and certainly value the time our equipment technicians spend sharpening the mowers. Well the same can be said for our personal skills and physical body. In our industry, we have a season called winter which conveniently gives each of us the time to, “Sharpen our Saws”. On a personal note, I recently embarked on my own journey a few winters ago to drop a few pounds and improve my physical capacity. I found that I had become limited in my capability while working both physically and mentally and my doctor was telling me some things about blood pressure and cholesterol that were not healthy. It was time to do something drastic or accept medication as a long term crutch. With some effort in the gym and at the dinner table I was able to achieve my goals and my doctor is happy with my numbers, but the unexpected results, to me at 8 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
the time, were the positive effects this transformation had on my capacity to perform better in all aspects of my life including my professional responsibility as the golf course superintendent. It was an eye opener for me to see how some maintenance helped improve my ability to perform. My patience with staff, club members and other professional colleagues improved, as did my ability to physically endure a full day with early hours and still feel energetic throughout the day. Everyone can benefit from a regular regime of daily exercise and sensible eating habits. I encourage you all to give it a chance as you will be amazed at the positive impact it can have on everything you do. Another way for golf course superintendents to “sharpen their saws” is through professional development and continuing education. Each year the CGSA puts together a conference program that is first-class in terms of the best speakers discussing current topics that are relevant to the golf course management industry. In addition, the trade show, that features many wellrespected and innovative exhibitors, is another opportunity to learn about the latest tools, products and techniques to help you improve how you perform your responsibilities back at the course.
This year’s conference is in Vancouver from February 17 to 21. The conference will feature over 30 educational seminars, a keynote address from a Canadian Olympic hockey player and former NHLer, a golf tournament and several networking events. There will be no shortage of learning, growing and good times. And all of this will take place in the beautiful, bustling city of Vancouver! Before closing, I would like to congratulate Jim McGarvey , superintendent at Seymour Golf Club in Vancouver, BC, as the CGSA’s superintendent of the year for 2014 and Bob Heron as the CGSA’s John B Steele distinguish service award recipient for 2014. Congratulations guys! Both Jim and Bob will be receiving their awards at the awards luncheon on February 18, 2014 at the conference in Vancouver. GM ◗ En réfléchissant à la saison 2013, à nos réussites, à nos échecs et au potentiel qu’il nous reste à explorer et à développer, je me rappelle du livre de Steven Corvey sur les sept habitudes des gens efficaces. L’une de ces bonnes habitudes consiste à « aiguiser ses facultés ». Le principe fondamental de cette habitude est de nous garder du temps pour développer notre capital le plus précieux, c’est-à-dire notre propre personne, de manière à
ne pas compromettre notre rendement et notre efficacité dans l’avenir. Nous apprécions beaucoup le temps passé par les techniciens à affuter les lames des tondeuses, parce qu’une lame émoussée cause beaucoup de frustration. De la même façon, il faut toujours aiguiser ses compétences et prendre soin de sa forme physique. Dans notre industrie, la saison hivernale nous offre un moment idéal pour toujours rester à la fine pointe. Dans mon cas personnel, j’ai décidé, il y quelques années, de perdre un peu de poids et de reprendre la forme. Je sentais que mes capacités physiques et mentales n’étaient plus les mêmes. Ma pression artérielle et mon taux de cholestérol laissaient à désirer, selon mon médecin. J’avais le choix entre changer mon style de vie du tout au tout, ou consommer des médicaments à long terme. J’ai choisi de me refaire une santé en faisant de l’exercice et en surveillant mon alimentation, ce qui a porté fruit puisque mon médecin est maintenant satisfait des résultats de mes examens. Ce qui m’a le plus surpris à l’époque, c’est que tous les aspects de ma vie en ont profité, y compris en ce qui a trait à mes responsabilités professionnelles à titre de surintendant. J’ai alors pris conscience qu’en prenant soin de moi, j’améliorais mon rendement. J’avais plus de patience avec le personnel, les membres du club et tous mes collègues, et j’avais également plus d’énergie pour faire ma journée, même en commençant très tôt le matin. L’exercice physique quotidien et les bonnes habitudes alimentaires profitent à tout le monde. Je vous encourage à le faire et vous serez étonné de l’impact positif que cette décision aura sur tout ce que vous entreprenez. Vous pouvez également « aiguiser vos facultés » en participant à des activités de perfectionnement professionnel et de
formation continue. Chaque année, l’ACSG organise, dans le cadre de son congrès et salon, un programme de formation de première classe mettant en vedette d’excellents conférenciers qui abordent des sujets pertinents à l’industrie de la gestion des terrains de golf. De plus, notre salon commercial, qui attire une foule d’exposants novateurs et respectés, offre une autre occasion de rester à jour sur les plus récents outils, produits et techniques pour vous aider à mieux remplir vos responsabilités sur votre terrain de golf. Notre prochain congrès et salon aura lieu à Vancouver, du 17 au 21 février 2014. Le discours d’ouverture de cet événement sera prononcé par un joueur de l’équipe olympique canadienne de
hockey et ancien membre de la LNH. Au programme, plus de 30 ateliers éducatifs, un tournoi de golf et plusieurs occasions de réseautage. Un lieu idéal pour apprendre, s’informer et s’amuser. Tout ceci dans la belle et dynamique ville de Vancouver! En terminant, j’aimerais féliciter M. Jim McGarvey, surintendant du Seymour Golf Club de Vancouver (C.-B.), nommé surintendant ACSG de l’année 2014, et M. Bob Heron, qui a obtenu le prix d’excellence John B. Steel 2014. Toutes mes félicitations! Jim et Bob recevront leur prix au cours du lunch de remise des prix qui aura lieu le 18 février 2014 au congrès de Vancouver. GM
“Chaque année, l’ACSG organise, dans le cadre de son congrès et salon, un programme de formation de première classe mettant en vedette d’excellents conférenciers qui abordent des sujets pertinents à l’industrie de la gestion des terrains de golf.” John Mills, CGSA President
Save the dates for Congress 2014 Set your professional goals.
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To exhibit or attend, visit www.locongress.com NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 9
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10/18/2013 1:48:51 PM
v ie wp oi n t ◗ ken cousineau
ken cousineau, CAE executive director
“As difficult as it can sometimes be to take the time and make the investment in order to attend these training events, it is your professional responsibility and your duty of care to your employer to use these opportunities to gain information and develop your skills.” Ken Cousineau, CGSA Executive Director
A Season for Renewal Une saison propice au renouvellement ◗ In the Canadian golf business, for most people, there are two seasons: THE season and the off-season. I am often asked (as are most superintendents), “What do superintendents do in the winter?” I won’t bore you with the bulk of the answer, but the one thing I do stress is the need for renewal during this less busy season (we’ll put it that way for the sake of argument). Renewal obviously means different things to different people. For many superintendents, it means spending more time with family and friends. The hours during the golf season are long and tiring in many cases and this means family time can be significantly impacted. Having more “regular” work hours from December through February doesn’t make up for the long days during THE season, but it helps provide some much needed quality time opportunities. For others, renewal may mean a vacation getaway and still others may seek renewal in a hobby or pastime that gets them far away from anything related to the industry or the profession. But for many superintendents, at least part of the renewal regimen involves what Stephen Covey calls, “Sharpening the Saw”. As noted by President John Mills in his GreenMaster message, this analogy describes the “Continuous Improvement” component of Covey’s, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”. Though Covey includes physical and spiritual renewal in the “sharp saw” concept, the upward spiral of improvement requires an individual to engage in mental renewal through education and “good reading”. The good 10 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
reading idea encompasses all manner of learning and professional development. As Covey states, “The idea of renewal by education will propel one along the path of personal freedom, security, wisdom and power.” ( Covey, S. R. (1989). Organizing change: Upward Spiral. Free Press.) The Canadian International Turfgrass Conference and Trade Show (CITCTS) is designed to connect CGSA members and others in the turf industry and the golf course management profession in Canada with the opportunity to renew and “sharpen the saw”. It is a significant opportunity for professional development that provides a variety of “good reading” opportunities for mental renewal. It is also an opportunity for the renewal of friendships and relationships which, as Covey points out, are an essential part of the saw-sharpening exercise. The CITCTS environment, and the social interaction that it encourages, promotes the spiritual and the emotional aspect of renewal, components that need to be part of the saw-sharpening equation. As difficult as it can sometimes be to take the time and make the investment in order to attend these training events, it is your professional responsibility and your duty of care to your employer to use these opportunities to gain information and develop your skills. The information that we used even three years ago, although still valuable, may very well have been superseded by new research. The standard just a few years ago was that the current body of knowledge will double within 27 months. I’m sure
that time has been reduced given the regular advances in technology. If you are not making every effort to renew your knowledge, you are probably falling behind. CITCTS 2014 provides not only a great opportunity, with over 100 hours of education to choose from, but it is also a tremendous value relative to other opportunities available nationally or internationally. Check the brochure, check the website (www.golfsupers. com/vancouver2014) and make the commitment to attend. If Covey had been speaking directly to superintendents when he wrote his Seven Habits book, the seventh habit may very well have been, “Sharpen the Reel”. To overdo the analogy, Stephen Bernhard, from Bernhard and Associates, preaches the relationship between sharp reels and healthy turf. Attending the CITCTS is akin to sharpening your reel (brain/ mental renewal) thereby enabling you to ensure good turf (prime conditions/ an efficient and effective operation/ skilled, professional approach). In the meantime read Covey’s other habits at http://boykepurnomo.staff.ugm.ac.id/wpcontent/uploads/the-7-habits-ofhighlyeffective-people.pdf GM ◗ Dans le monde du golf canadien, l’année se divise habituellement en deux : la saison haute et la saison morte. On me demande souvent : « Qu’est-ce que les surintendants font en hiver? ». À cette question, je réponds brièvement qu’ils en profitent pour se ressourcer et faire peau neuve. Bien sûr, cela ne signifie pas la même
chose pour tout le monde. Plusieurs surintendants désirent simplement passer plus de temps avec la famille et les amis pour se donner un second souffle. Pendant la saison du golf, les heures sont longues et épuisantes, et le temps passé en famille sérieusement compromis. Le fait de profiter d’heures de travail plus « normales », de décembre à février, ne compense peut-être pas pour les longues journées de l’autre partie de l’année, mais ce nouveau rythme de vie permet à certains de refaire le plein. Pour d’autres, ce ressourcement passe par un voyage, ou par la pratique d’un hobby ou d’un passe-temps, ce qui leur permet de souffler un peu en prenant un petit congé de l’industrie et de la profession. De nombreux autres surintendants profitent de cette période de l’année pour « aiguiser leur hache », comme le dit Stephen Covey dans son livre : « Les sept habitudes de ceux qui réalisent tout ce qu’ils entreprennent ». Notre président, M. John Mills, reprend d’ailleurs cette analogie dans son message publié dans le présent numéro de GreenMaster. Dans son livre, Stephen Covey nous convie à un processus d’autorenouvellement, à la mise en place d’un cercle vertueux d’amélioration continue grâce entre autres au perfectionnement professionnel et à des lectures édifiantes. Toujours selon Covey, cette idée de renouvellement par l’éducation permet de se propulser sur le chemin de la liberté personnelle, de la sécurité, de la sagesse et de la puissance. (Covey, S. R. (1989). Organizing change:Upward Spiral. Free Press.) Le Congrès et salon canadien international du gazon est justement conçu pour donner la chance aux membres de l’ACSG et autres participants de l’industrie du golf et de la profession de gestionnaire de parcours de golf de se ressourcer et de se perfectionner. Il s’agit d’une merveilleuse occasion d’améliorer
ses compétences et de peaufiner sa stratégie de travail, tout en renouvelant ses amitiés et ses contacts. D’ailleurs, cette interaction sociale constitue également, selon Covey, un terreau propice à la croissance personnelle et émotionnelle, et un autre bon moyen « d’aiguiser sa hache ». Bien qu’il soit parfois difficile de prendre le temps nécessaire et d’investir ce qu’il faut pour participer à des événements de formation, les surintendants ont une responsabilité professionnelle et un devoir de diligence face à leur employeur et ils doivent profiter de ces occasions pour se renseigner et se perfectionner. Notre niveau de connaissances d’il y a à peine trois ans est peut-être maintenant dépassé par les nouvelles recherches menées depuis ce temps. On disait il y a quelques années que l’ensemble des connaissances double tous les 27 mois. Je suis certain qu’en raison des progrès continus de la technologie, ce rythme d’évolution se fait encore plus rapidement aujourd’hui. Il faut constamment renouveler ses connaissances, sinon on se laisse rapidement distancer. Notre congrès et salon offre non seulement une excellente occasion de se perfectionner, avec plus de 100 heures de formation professionnelle au choix, mais également un excellent rapport qualité-prix à comparer à ce qui est offert
nationalement ou internationalement. Consultez notre brochure et notre site web (www.golfsupers.com/ vancouver2014) et prenez l’engagement d’y participer. Selon Stephen Bernard, de Bernhard and Associates, il existe une relation étroite entre un gazon en santé et des lames bien affutées. Comme nous l’avons vu, il existe également une relation étroite entre des facultés bien aiguisées (grâce entre autres à la participation au congrès et salon) et un gazon de bonne qualité (grâce à la mise en place des conditions essentielles de croissance, à l’utilisation des techniques éprouvées et au professionnalisme). Voici les autres bonnes habitudes qu’il faudrait acquérir selon Covey : (en français) http://www.fichier-pdf. fr/2013/08/25/les-7-habitudes-des-gensefficaces/les-7-habitudes-des-gensefficaces.pdf (en anglais) http://boykepurnomo.staff. ugm.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/the-7habits-ofhighly-effective-people.pdf GM
“Bien qu’il soit parfois difficile de prendre le temps nécessaire et d’investir ce qu’il faut pour participer à des événements de formation, les surintendants ont une responsabilité professionnelle et un devoir de diligence face à leur employeur et ils doivent profiter de ces occasions pour se renseigner et se perfectionner.” Ken Cousineau, CGSA Executive Director NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 11
NEWS F ROM T H E G REEN ◗ Marc Cousineau
Assistant superintendents from across the U.S and Canada had the chance to learn from industry leaders and see the latest innovations in turf management at the Green Start Academy
Green Start Academy Aims to Jump Start Careers Education and networking targets assistant superintendents ◗ The early-autumn sun was shining through the window and onto the cool, grey desk where I found myself seated a few feet from some of the biggest names and most successful people in the golf and turfgrass management industry. These were the titans of turf, the kings of the course, supers who had hosted majors and challenged the best of the best on the courses they maintained. And they were here to answer my questions and give their perspectives on being top of the class in turfgrass. Well, me and 50 assistant superintendents from across North America. This opportunity of a lifetime is the Green Start Academy, a three day program put on annually by John Deere Golf and Bayer Environmental Science in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Green Start Academy (GSA) focuses on providing education and networking to assistant superintendents from across the U.S and Canada. Assistants need to apply to the program and 50 are chosen out of those who vie for a spot. John Deere and Bayer make sure the 12 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
schedule for the GSA is packed full of opportunities for assistants to learn, ask questions and network with each other and some of the most well-respected members of the industry. After a welcome dinner on the first night, the GSA attendees were taken to the John Deere factory the next morning for a tour of the facility. After the tour, the group was taken to Bayer’s Raleigh headquarters where research into turfgrass management is done. While there, we were told about the history of the grounds and settled in for a day of presentations, workshops and activities. The first presentation was by Bob Baldassari from the PGA of America. Baldassari talked about the growth of golf and what turfgrass managers could do to grow the game. We were then split into smaller groups and began a rotation that aimed to have us spend time with some veterans of the industry. Big names appeared on this list of speakers, including Pat Finlen from the Olympic Club, Ken Mangum (Atlanta Athletic Club), Bryan Stromme (Billy
Casper Golf ), Chris Condon (Tetherow Golf Course) and Bob Farren (Pinehurst). We were given extraordinary insight into the industry and what it takes to climb the ladder in the business. There was also ample time to ask questions and find the answers to questions about resumes, job interviews, turfgrass management, course renovations, leadership and other issues. We took a tour of the Bayer facility to end the day and had a great dinner where the assistants had a chance to get to know each other better and network with the day’s speakers. The next day was spent entirely at the John Deere headquarters where lessons on leadership (Bob Milligan), interview techniques (Billy Weekes and Ed Ibgaruen) and resume building (Chris Carson) were imparted onto the assistants. As the GSA drew to a close, it was obvious that the goal of the program, to help assistants build their careers and grow personally, was achieved and then some. “For me, it was an extraordinary experience,” says Andrea Li, an assistant at Connaught Golf Club in Medicine Hat and
The attendees of the Green Start Academy at the Bayer facility in Raleigh, North Carolina
one of six Canadian GSA attendees. “I found that it reenergized me and gave me extra motivation to be a superintendent because that’s what I want to be.” For Stephen Hicks, assistant superintendent at Bayview Golf and Country Club, the GSA was a great chance to receive information tailored to assistants. “It is a unique event, especially because it is so focused on assistants,” says Hicks. “A lot of educational events are, rightfully so, geared towards superintendents… so it’s really unique and I thoroughly enjoyed it.” Greg Quinn, an assistant at Rivermead Golf Club in Gatineau, said the professional development aspect of the program was a great asset. “What I learned over the two days is what it takes to make that next step and become a superintendent,” says Quinn. “The amount of information I got out of those two days was just incredible. It makes you feel like making that move into the superintendent role is that much easier.” Having such well-respected guests at the GSA was a highlight for Quinn. “The speakers that were there were so informative and so helpful,” he says, “and to be in the same room as guys at that level, who are in those top spots and at those top courses and to be able to ask them questions was great.” Assistant superintendent Michael Newton, who works out of Capilano Golf and Country Club, seconds that sentiment. “John Deere and Bayer provided a great
learning environment and they brought in some top notch industry professionals. The one-on-one time with those industry professionals was more than you could ask for and second to none when I think of other educational events,” says Newton. Education was one part of the GSA, but networking was an equally crucial part for those who attended the program. “It was huge,” says Li. “Networking in our industry is essential to everything. It’s not who you know, but who knows you, which was what many of the speakers (at the GSA) were saying.” Getting to know assistants from the other side of the country means new friendships and a potential professional benefit in the future for Quinn. “To form that relationship with the six Canadians that were there was fantastic because if one of us ever wanted to make a move east or west, we know people in those places and people who can vouch for us,” says Quinn. The attendees had a great experience at the program and were quick to let other assistants know that they shouldn’t think twice about applying for future GSA’s. “Don’t hesitate to apply,” says Hicks. “It’s a big step for your career, it’s something great to put on your resume…
Credit: Green Start Academy Team
and it’s only going to make our industry better in Canada. It’s something that’s going to help us all.” Newton says that anyone can take some lessons from the GSA, lessons that will help at any stage of a career. “For any assistant, whether they’ve been an assistant for one year or for five years, you’re going to get value out of it. There’s no way you’re not going to learn something from it. You’re always going to take some lessons away at the end,” says Newton. The GSA had a wealth of information for those looking to make the jump to superintendent, but the lessons learned will stick with the attendees long after the change in title, say the Canadian representatives. “The amount of information I received from it is something I won’t be able to get anywhere else,” says Quinn. “The lessons we learned were invaluable.” The GSA had a similar impact on Li. “My favourite lessons were about going outside your comfort zone and having priorities in order to succeed,” says Li. “These are lessons I will, without a doubt, carry with me for the rest of my career.” GM
Advertisers’ Index Jacobsen, A Textron Company...... 40 National Golf Course Owners Association NGCOA)............................... 4
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 13
fe ature ◗ Kathryn wood
Hole #16, Wascana Golf Club Credit: Wascana Golf and Country Club
Fall Field Day Wrap Up ◗ Education, great networking opportunities and, of course, golf were the highlights of the 2013 CGSA Fall Field Day in Regina, Saskatchewan. To open things up, the Saskatchewan Turfgrass Association hosted a Welcome to Regina reception allowing everyone to meet and greet in an informal setting. On Sunday morning, over 40 people attended the seminar “Technology – Tools, Apps and Programs” facilitated by Bill Brown of Turf Republic. Regina, being home to the CFL Roughriders couldn’t be on our radar without a visit to Mosaic Stadium for our cross country attendees. A group of over 60 made their way to the stadium and cheered on the team with a sea of Roughrider green around them. Unfortunately, for some, the BC Lions took the win, but an excellent time was had by all. The anticipation of playing one of Saskatchewan’s premiere golf courses had people up early and out at Wascana Country Club on Monday, September 23, 2013. The Wascana Country Club hosted the 47th Annual CGSA Fall Field Day, and a great host they were. The day started off with an enjoyable breakfast buffet and then golfers headed out to tackle the course under grey skies. 14 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
Although the skies remained grey, no rain fell and by dinner the sun was shining over the fall colours on the course. It was a great day with excellent camaraderie followed by another delicious meal at Wascana Country Club for the awards dinner. Of course the day wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the event sponsors: The Toro Company (reception and gifts for superintendents) Bayer Environmental Science (tournament breakfast) John Deere (dinner wine) And to our tee and cart sign sponsors: Manitoba Golf Superintendents Association (double sponsor) Brett Young (double sponsor) Aquatrols Bayco Golf Consolidated Turf Equipment Early’s Farm and Garden Hutcheson Sand and Mixes Jacobsen, A Textron Company
Keso Turf Supplies National Leasing Oakcreek Golf & Turf Rain Bird International Saskatchewan Turfgrass Association Turf Canada Inc. Western Canada Turfgrass Association Western Rootzone
Congratulations to our top winners! The CGSA 2013 Fall Field Day Champion with a score of 75, just 2 above par, was John Mills, Superintendent at Northumberland Links, Pugwash, NS. John received the Tom Johnson Silver Tray, free registration to the 2014 Fall Field Day, a commemorative CGSA pin flag (donated by Bayco) and a Wascana Pro Shop gift certificate. The Overall Low Net Champion (flight A, B, or C) with a score of 80 (net 65) is Larry Palmer, Superintendent at White Bear Lake Golf Course, Carlyle, SK. Larry received the Toro “Bull” plaque, free registration to the 2014 Fall Field Day, a commemorative CGSA pin flag (donated by Bayco) and a Wascana Pro Shop gift certificate.
Other winners include: Flight A
Low Gross – Greg Hollins, Master Superintendent, Fort William Country Club, Thunder Bay, ON Low Net – Glen Wildeman, Superintendent, Humboldt Golf Club, Humboldt, SK 2 nd Low Net – Ken Bruneski, Superintendent, Nk’Mip Canyon Desert Golf Course, Oliver, BC
Flight B
Low Gross – Shawn Major, AAGS, Assistant Superintendent, The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, Calgary, AB 2 nd Low Gross – Jonathon McMorris, 2nd Assistant, Niakwa Country Club, Winnipeg, MB Low Net – Dan Bailey, Superintendent, Minnedosa Golf & Country Club, Minnedosa, MB 2 nd Low Net – Kerry Watkins, AGS, Superintendent, The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, Calgary, AB
2 nd Low Gross – Chris Corey, Assistant, Elmwood Golf & Country Club, Swift Current, SK 2 nd Low Net – Mike Kupchanko, Superintendent, Wascana Country Club, Regina, SK
Social and Industry
Low Gross – Todd Fanning, National Leasing 2nd Low Gross – Tim Birnie, GDS Golf Design Services Ltd. Low Net – Joe Chartrand – Brett Young 2nd Low Net – Ron Dagert – Early’s Farm and Garden
Closest to the Pin for Flights A, B, C
Hole 3 – Greg Hollins, Fort William Golf & Country Club, Thunder Bay, ON Hole 11 – Connor Winslow, The Nursery Golf Club, Lacombe, AB
Longest Drive for Flights A, B, C
Hole 14 – Shawn Major, The Glencoe Golf & Country Club, Calgary, AB
Closest to the Pin for Social & Industry
Hole 15 – Joe Chartrand, Brett Young Hole 8 – Kevin Bloski, Early’s Farm and Garden (by random draw)
Longest Drive for Social & Industry;
Hole 14 – Todd Fanning, National Leasing
A special thanks to the Board and Staff at the Wascana Country Club for the hospitality, and cooperation extended to the CGSA and its attendees. With a big congratulations and thank you to Mike Kupchanko, Superintendent, Chris Marchiori, AAGS, Assistant Superintendent and Rebecca Dola, 2nd Assistant at Wascana Country Club for the fabulous course conditioning and set up for the tournament. We hope many of you will be able to join us in Ontario September 2014 for our next Fall Field Day. Watch www. golfsupers.com or your inbox for more information coming soon! GM
Flight C
Low Gross – Kelvin VanWinkoop, Superintendent, Golf Kenosee, Kenosee Lake, SK
1
5
2
6
Kathryn Wood is the Director, Meetings & Professional Development at CGSA
3
4
1 CGSA Meetings Director, Kathryn Wood goes over the evening’s agenda with MC, Kyle Kellgren. 2 Lachlan Reeve, Saskatchewan Turfgrass Association President and Superintendent at Weyburn Golf Club makes a presentation to host superintendent, Mike Kupchanko. 3 Saskatchewan Director and MC, Kyle Kellgren presents a plaque to Barry Cochrane, General Sales Manager, Canada – The Toro Company in appreciation for their sponsorship of the Toro Reception. 4 Jim McGarvey, AGS speaking from the podium and sharing his gratitude following the announcement of his selection as 2013 CGSA Superintendent of the Year. 5 Kyle Kellgren presenting John Mills with the Tom Johnston award for top score at the 2013 CGSA Fall Field Day. 6 CGSA President, John Mills presents a plaque to Mike Kupchanko in recognition of his contribution as host of the 2013 CGSA Fall Field Day.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 15
fe ature ◗ JOSH WEBB
Ready, Set, Grow! The life and times of an assistant superintendent
Josh Webb and his dog Jack at the golf course. Josh helps tend the turf and Jack assists by chasing the ducks and the geese off the course. credit: Josh webb
16 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
◗ There comes a time in every assistant superintendent’s life when they are challenged with the decision of whether or not they want to make that heroic leap into the role of a golf course superintendent. For me, I can honestly say, that leap won’t come anytime soon. Being ready for the “real world” after you graduate from a turfgrass management program is one thing, but being ready to face the responsibilities that challenge a superintendent on a daily basis is a whole different ball game. When we are fortunate enough to assume an assistant’s role at a golf club, we take on responsibilities that will mold us into becoming a successful superintendent in the future. However, we pretty quickly find out this is just the tip of the iceberg. We have an entire world of learning ahead of us. Golf course superintendents do it all; everything from fertilizer and chemical programs to zerobased budgets to blogs and even Golf Committee meetings, Board Meetings and AGM’s. If it wasn’t for them, our path to success would end up being one that led us astray. We all start our careers as the low man on the totem pole, as any turf care employee usually does. Whether or not we decide to pursue a life-long career in the industry is entirely up to us. I landed my first golf course job when I was 16-years-old, working part-time in the afternoons after high school, weed whacking around trees and pushing rotary mowers around the golf course. I thought it was the best job going. It was right in my wheelhouse! I loved golfing and had been operating a local lawn care business since I was 13-years-old with my cousin, so it was the perfect fit for me. Sure, I had to balance homework, baseball season, work schedules and my social life, all while being paid peanuts, but I never batted an eye at the opportunity and privilege of being responsible for maintaining a golf
course. It actually felt more like a hobby than a job. My admiration for golf course maintenance grew stronger with each and every day that passed, right through high school and into college where I was studying law enforcement. Once I was through college, full-time work became available for me at the golf course while I was trying to land a job on the police force. Needless to say, nothing was coming my way. It must have been a blessing in disguise. My bosses at the time must have seen something in me that I wasn’t seeing myself because there was persistent chatter and nudges thrown in my direction about starting a career in golf course maintenance. Before I knew it, I was moving up the ladder; changing pins, fixing irrigation breaks and spraying all in the same day. I loved it. It was in the summer of 2007 that I decided it was in my best interest to leave my dreams of being a police officer, and a lot of paid tuition money, behind me and enroll in a turfgrass management program. I graduated with honours in the spring of 2009 from Seneca College with a new job already offered to me as an irrigation technician at a private golf club on the West Coast. How could anyone turn that job down directly out of school, right? It was all falling into place for me. I worked for two years as the irrigation technician before the assistant who I worked for decided to take his leap of faith into a superintendent’s role elsewhere. This was my chance to shine. Everything I’d been working towards since that first knee-knocking interview over a decade ago, as a measly student, was finally at my fingertips. Unfortunately, I knew that if I was going to be offered that job, I’d better nail the interview because I knew the expectations were far higher for me than any other person that walked through the door to interview for the position. There was no doubt that I
This article is eligible for the
Gordon Witteveen Award designation for the author.
should have had the upper-hand, right? I mean, I had already been working there for a couple of years. I knew the staff, the property and the irrigation and drainage systems like the back of my hand. I knew, well, I knew nothing as I would soon find out when I was offered and accepted the position. Believe me, I was more than ecstatic when I was given the opportunity be the assistant superintendent, I was like a child on Christmas day, but nerves outweighed that feeling. I was one step closer to my dream though. I’ve watched assistants and superintendents operate golf courses and their staff day-in and day-out since my very first day and have always thought to myself that it seemed like a walk in the park. Boy was I wrong. What I wasn’t able to see or witness was the behind-thescenes work that engulfs our profession every day. When we assume the role of an assistant superintendent, we assume the role of many other professionals as well. We become teachers, mentors, environmentalists, mechanics, detectives, accountants, golfers (whether we like to play or not) and that’s just to name a few roles. We have our hands full, to say the least, and I’m sure if I could speak on behalf of the thousands of assistants in the industry, we wouldn’t have it any other way. We fly by the seat of our pants on a daily basis trying to become masters of our craft in every aspect of golf course maintenance and we do this to prepare ourselves for that elusive golf course superintendent title. Some of us begin padding our resumes right out of school by moving from course to course, every few years, gaining experience from all different types of turf managers while others fall into comfortable positions working for superintendents that have become mentors to them. Regardless of
I’ve watched assistants and superintendents operate golf courses and their staff day-in and day-out since my very first day and have always thought to myself that it seemed like a walk in the park. Boy was I wrong. What I wasn’t able to see or witness was the behind-thescenes work that engulfs our profession every day. Josh Webb, Quilchena Golf & Country Club
how we decide to gain our experience, we all still have the drive to be better and take that next step in our careers. Many online resources and tools, professional association memberships and publications are available to the industry that can provide us with insight, education and experience that can prepare us for our careers. The hottest of these resources right now are turf blogs and Twitter. I’ll admit I was hesitant at first to join the tech side of the industry, but now I’m hooked and can’t get enough of it. Turf managers use these tools to share up-todate information with professionals and club members, questions and inquiries surrounding golf course maintenance and tips and tricks of the trade. Following these web-based tools will certainly supply endless amounts of knowledge and insight into our future endeavours. However, the most important tool cannot be found online or written in a magazine article, and if there is one avenue in this industry that will provide you with the success you’re striving for, it’s through networking. The turf industry is so tightly knit that word spreads quickly throughout and people begin to recognize your abilities, enthusiasm and dedication for the job. Discussions
with superintendents, other assistants, suppliers and even general managers and attending industry conferences, seminars and events can all increase your chances of landing a superintendent’s position down the road. But how do we know when we’re ready? That question is for each of us to answer on our own. However, what we collectively know is that we all have the utmost respect for what golf course superintendents do for us, the golf course and the industry itself. We shadow them and analyze their every move and decision that they make on a daily basis and we strive to be that great someday. When that day comes, only you will know when you’re ready! GM
Josh Webb is the Assistant Superintendent at Quilchena Golf & Country Club
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 17
fe ature ◗ Stacy Reichert
Mother Nature’s Fury Became My Learning Experience Devastating flood in Alberta had silver lining ◗ An hour into my shift where I worked as a bartender and waitress, I got a call from my boss at the golf course. As a struggling college student, working two summer jobs was not unusual for me. What was unusual, though, was the urgency in the voice on the phone telling me the river was quickly rising and the water had started to flow onto the fourth fairway. We would need to set up dams immediately on hole 13 – the same place where water entered the course in 2005 and flooded nine holes. It was June 20, 2013 and it had been raining steadily for two days. Luckily for me, it was a slow night at the bar, so I was able to leave this part-time job to return to my main summer job. My thoughts were now turning to my priorities at the golf course. With the drive from Airdrie to south Calgary coming right at rush hour, it took me almost an hour to get to the course. The situation evolving right before my eyes was getting critical. Within minutes of getting the dams set up, water was already cresting over them. We did what we could all evening, considering the situation before us, but by 9 pm my boss sent me home. All I could do from there was wait and see what the next day would bring and hope it wouldn’t get any worse. 18 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
As I left for work Friday morning, I really didn’t know what the course was going to look like, but what I saw was far worse than I could have ever imagined. The entire course, except for three holes along the ridge and the greens located near the clubhouse, were underwater. The Bow River was rushing through the course as if this were its usual path, but wider – beyond-belief wider. Indeed, the river’s original path, long ago, was where the golf course was located in the river valley. As essential as it is to sustaining life, the power of water can threaten life and property. The flooding rivers were creating widespread destruction to homes and businesses, with one such business being Mckenzie Meadows Golf Course, at the south end of Fish Creek Provincial Park, where I work. It took almost a week for the river to stop surging onto our course. For those few days there was nothing we could do but mow what turf was unaffected. The pumps were ready to go, but the river wouldn’t subside. Sunshine and warmth followed the flood and it was nice being back on a mower again. I didn’t mind those few days of waiting for the flows of water throughout the course to retreat because the days that followed became some of the
most chaotic and hectic days of my life. As second assistant at Mckenzie Meadows, I took on new roles and responsibilities I have never had to deal with to any extreme. I was used to looking after a crew, but now those under my charge consisted of staff members from the maintenance, food and beverage and the pro shop departments as well as numerous volunteers wanting to help us save the golf course. Being unable to drive around the course, yet still trying to get people where we needed them, was a real challenge. I was constantly on the radio directing people with shovels; arranging to escort them on a route that was passable. Shoveling wet, heavy silt was not an easy task for all those there to help in the heat of the days that followed the massive rains. There were times in the day where my radio was mentioning my name nonstop and I felt like I had a million places to be at once. At first, I would try and be everywhere, but it just wasn’t feasible. I had to take it one step at a time to keep myself calm. It was demanding and unlike anything I had ever experienced, but it was probably one of the most important learning experiences I will ever have. I had to step up to help ease some of the stress off the superintendent and the assistant
Mckenzie Meadows looking great after months of hard work by staff and volunteers to recover the course after a devastating flood. credit: Stacy Reichert
and it wasn’t easy, but I thought I managed it well. There were days when I wished I was at the end of the shovel more often, as mental exhaustion would take its toll on me, but I would just push through and recoup after a long day to start again the next day. It was challenging for the first couple weeks. It was all so new to me, dealing with that many people in such an extreme situation, but eventually it became part of my everyday routine and I made it work. We created a system to organize the volunteers that made operations run more smoothly. Golf courses from all across the province were doing anything they could to help all the courses affected. They sent tractors, trailers, pumps, shovels, people and other equipment and supplies to assist us. There was one day we had five staff from other courses and that is a day I’ll never forget. They knew how to use all the equipment and to have them there, working alongside our volunteers, was such a big help. I could trust they could get pumps set up and going and get to the next green without someone having to direct them. Being able to bring their knowledge of maintenance operations to our situation was extremely beneficial. I met many superintendents, assistants and staff willing to help out from other golf courses, which provided great networking opportunities for me. There were times I missed finishing work in the afternoon. This definitely wasn’t the work or the hours I was used to. I had no extra time or energy to allow me to continue my part-time job as a bartender, but this golf course has been such an important part of my life for the past six
years, I couldn’t imagine not having been there to help. It became mentally and physically exhausting getting home just to crawl into bed to repeat it all again the next day, but eventually the amount of volunteers waned and the stress of the intensity of the flood started to subside. I started to gain some energy back and began to have a life outside of work again. Life didn’t quite return to normal, but it became easier to have some down time outside of work and enjoy the beautiful summer that followed. Slowly, some staff found other jobs. This wasn’t quite the summer they had signed up for; the work days were long and the labour was intense. But we made it work and there were other people keen to give us a hand that we could bring on board. We realized the level of destruction was quite severe so we knew this was going to be a long and grueling process. This wasn’t going to get fixed overnight. We were not able to re-open the golf course for the remainder of the 2013 season. Fortunately though, we were able to clean up and open the two driving ranges, therefore generating some revenue over the summer. But it was hard to leave and head off to college in September when it became time to sod at the golf course. I had put in a lot of hard work over the summer months and I was going to miss being involved in this very visual part of the rebuild. When I stopped in to visit a couple times in September, it was so nice to see the course green again. It’s come a long way since the flood, only months ago, and it looks great. After all the help we received from many golf courses after the flood, I am proud to have chosen this line of work for my
career. I had the opportunity to network with some employees from other courses in the business and generate some great contacts for the future. I’ve been employed at Mckenzie Meadows for six seasons, so to see this beautiful course ravaged by Mother Nature’s fury was heartbreaking. But to be included in such a role during its rebuild was probably one of the best experiences I could ever ask for. It may have been insanely tough and exhausting at times, but I pushed through and proved to myself I can handle any unexpected or surprise work that might be thrown my way. I don’t know what path lies ahead when I graduate from my turf program, but I know that the Calgary Flood of 2013, devastating as is was, has prepared me for the road ahead. We still have a long way to go and a lot of work to do to restore the golf course, but I look forward to what next year will bring. When I look at the course now, I cannot believe how far it has come. To think that just a few months ago it was covered in a thick layer of silt with washouts that destroyed four of our holes and water that would just not subside – and now it’s starting to look like a golf course again! The sod has been laid and even though there is still a lot more sod and seed to go down and more shaping to do, next year will bring on whole new challenges. Not only will we be open and running normal maintenance routines, but we will also still be doing flood repair. Bring on next summer – I can’t wait to see the course lush and green and full of golfers again! GM Stacy Reichert is the Foreman at McKenzie Meadows Golf Club NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 19
fe ature ◗ RICK WOELFEL
“You look at the list of people who have won the award... They’re all people I wanted to emulate. To realize other people think you should be in that category is a wonderful position to be in.” Jim McGarvey
CGSA Superintendent of the Year:
Jim McGarvey ◗ When Jim McGarvey took the job of superintendent at Seymour Golf and Country Club in North Vancouver in 1990, he was, in a sense, coming home. While McGarvey grew up in Pembroke, Ontario in the Ottawa Valley, he had spent much of his time in the United States, combining his love of turf management and the ski industry into a successful career. But the thought of returning to Canada was never far from his thoughts. “I really enjoyed my time in the U.S.,” McGarvey recalls, “but I certainly was always thinking in the back of my mind of when I might come back to Canada and I was at a stage in my career and my life when I decided it was time to do that… I’d grown to love the West Coast and decided I would stay on the West Coast if I came back to Canada.” 20 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
Twenty-four years later, McGarvey is still at Seymour, where he carries on his work with the professionalism and devotion that have defined his career. His colleagues in the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association recognized McGarvey’s contributions to the industry by naming him their Superintendent of the Year for 2013. McGarvey himself describes his selection as “Humbling.” “You look at the list of people who have won the award,” he says. “I know most of them. They’re all people I wanted to emulate. To realize other people think you should be in that category is a wonderful position to be in.” ◗ continued on page 22
Jim McGarvey Credit: Kim Bellavance Photographe
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 21
fe ature ◗ Rick Woelfel
“As you get older, [assistants] become almost like your sons in a way and you just hope and pray for the best for them; and that they’ll be happy and successful human beings as well as superintendents.” Jim McGarvey
◗ continued from page 20
CGSA President John Mills of Northumberland Links Golf Club in Pugwash, NS says McGarvey personifies what a superintendent should be. “He’s the consummate professional,” Mills says. “The guy is humble, he’s got a quiet, solid nature, he’s always doing something for others, he just carries himself very professionally. He exemplifies what a lot us aspire to be.” McGarvey played some golf growing up and his father and grandfather were golfers as well. But when he finished his education at Carleton University and headed for the West Coast of the U.S., what he had in mind for himself was a career in the ski industry. The golf business was an afterthought. “Once I got into the ski business to the point where I sort of understood that I was going to be in it for a while, I started thinking that I needed a summertime skill,” McGarvey says, “something that would make me invaluable to large resorts that are in both the skiing and the golf business.” “I was in Bend Oregon and talked the superintendent [Kenny Johnson] into hiring me.” McGarvey worked three years at Bend Golf and Country Club before moving on to Northstar-at-Tahoe, in Truckee, California, situated in the mountains near the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. His boss was a man named Jack Archambault, who was part of the Penn State tree of the turf industry. “I worked under him for six years or so,” McGarvey says. “He probably taught me about as much as anyone did in the business. I drove him crazy by hanging around after work every night asking every question in the book. I’m sure there were 22 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
times he wanted to get up and leave and head home, but he never once suggested that. He was always there to answer all those questions for as long as it took.” “I remember him giving me all the books he owned and all of his magazines after he was done reading them. I would get them from him and go home and read them cover-to-cover and come back again the next day with more questions and drive him crazy for another day. He was a terrific mentor.” At that point in his career McGarvey was doing double duty, tending to turf during the golf season and seeing to the needs of skiers during the winter months. But there came a time when he realized his future was in the turf industry. “That’s when I moved to Southern California,” he says. “That’s when I stopped the skiing end of it. I’ve skied for fun since then, but not as a career at all.” McGarvey spent four years at the Alisal Guest Ranch and Resort near Santa Barbara before the position at Seymour opened up and gave him the opportunity to return to his native land. Located on Vancouver’s North Shore, some 15 minutes from downtown, Seymour traces its origins back to 1952. The golf course was laid out by Eric Nagle who, although he was a golf enthusiast, was not a golf-course architect by profession. The club is a private facility, but is open for public play on Mondays and Fridays (Mondays only as of the spring of 2014) because a portion of the grounds are situated on municipal land which is made available to the club on a lease basis. The club is open for play year round, weather permitting, although winter rains and chilly temperatures make conditions less than ideal. When McGarvey came to the club to
interview for the superintendent’s position, he found a golf course in need of some major upgrades. “I remember basically saying that the facility needed a lot of work done to it,” McGarvey recalls. “The interview group quizzed me on that and I told them that we’re probably talking 25 years to realize that vision and that’s if everything goes according to plan, and it may not.” “Maybe the money that appears to be available now won’t be available every year from now until then, or maybe the members will tire of changes and so on. “But that’s not been the case. The club has continued to keep the golf course as its number-one priority; the members are almost unanimous in their belief that the primary thing should be the golf course and that that’s where the money should be spent.” Over the course of his career at Seymour, McGarvey and his team have made many upgrades to the course, both large and small, including rebuilding lakes, re-doing bunkers and installing new greens. Those three projects stand out to McGarvey because of their size and scope. With the support of his members, McGarvey purchased a new irrigation system, installed a system of continuous cartpaths and, in 2004, worked alongside architect Ted Locke on a major renovation of the front nine. McGarvey didn’t do all this single handedly of course. He works closely with his assistants. Today, Eoghan Buckley and Derek Sheffield oversee much of the on-course work at Seymour. They help supervise a staff that swells to 30 during the golf season. “The job that the assistants do these days is more what I did initially when I started here,” McGarvey says. “Over 24 years I would say it’s changed very dramatically.
I find the assistants do most of the oncourse supervision, training, etc. whereas when I came here in1990, I did most of that.” “I’m there for the morning meeting [but] the assistants run it through the day. If there is an employee who is looking for what his second job might be, I tell them to get on the radio and contact the assistant or I do it for them so that there’s only one person running what’s going on out there, not three bosses.” McGarvey admits he doesn’t spend as much time on the golf course as he’d like. “It’s not by choice exactly,” he says. “I think it’s one of those things that evolves and has evolved and there is just more and more and more administrative work.” “There are times when I spend good chunks of the day on the golf course. But there are also lots of days when I spend good chunks of it in the office. If I spend too much time on the golf course, I start to fall behind on the administrative side.” McGarvey takes pride in the accomplishments of his former assistants who have moved on to other arenas. “You spend so much time working with them,” he points out. “You become like brothers, or brother and sister in the case of the few females in the business. As you get older, they become almost like your sons in a way and you just hope and pray for the best for them; and that they’ll be happy and successful human beings as well as superintendents.” ◗ continued on page 24 McGarvey has helped shape Seymour Golf and Country Club into one of the most beautiful and interesting-to-play courses in Canada during his 24-year tenure. credit: Seymour Golf and Country Club
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 23
fe ature ◗ RICK WOELFEL
◗ continued from page 23
McGarvey and his wife Kathryn. Both Jim and Kathryn love the game of golf and the courses it’s played on. credit: Jim McGarvey
24 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
Two of McGarvey’s former assistants are now head superintendents elsewhere. Dave Kennedy is employed at Vancouver Golf Club while Derek Krahn oversees the turf department at Raven Crest Golf and Country Club in Edmonton. Other former assistants are still employed in the turf industry, albeit not as superintendents. “There are not that many [head superintendent] positions available,” McGarvey says. “In this area I don’t see superintendents turning over really quickly. A lot of them have been in their positions for quite a few years.” And if you’re an assistant looking for an opportunity, it’s difficult, especially if you’re geographically tied to being in one of the major urban areas. “A lot of guys these days are in that situation; their wives have good jobs, or they have family in the city.” “The city jobs are generally the most highly desired ones. They’re usually the highest paying; you’re at the higher-budget facilities and so on. So in many cases the urban golf courses are very attractive.” “Those positions aren’t opening, there aren’t a lot of openings to apply for. The odd one comes up and you apply for it. There are a lot of applicants for it and they’re all highly qualified.” “You may be among the final four or final six or whatever it is and you probably should take some pride in that. But after it happens two or three times you start wondering if it’s ever going to happen for you. I can remember being in that position myself when I was an assistant and wondering when my opportunity was going to come along.” “I think sometimes guys have to make that decision ‘Am I going to continue to hang in and wait for that superintendent position, or am I going to take a look at this alternative over here?’ Which in some cases may be sales, or whatever.” Since his return to Canada, McGarvey has made it a point to serve on various boards and committees. He sees it as a way of giving back to the game of golf and to the turf industry. “I’ve always felt that giving back to
anything you’re involved in is important,” he says. “That’s just a base value of mine.” “I think everyone should give back, I benefited from many people who did and I think it’s my job to the same. My Dad was very much a person who did that so I watched that as a young person. He was on a lot of volunteer boards and so on, so I saw that as a young person and always respected him a lot for that.” “When I came back to Canada I was very supportive of the local superintendents association and went to the meetings regularly. It wasn’t too long before I was involved in that.” McGarvey spent seven years on the board of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association and served as its president in 1996. When the position of British Columbia representative to the CGSA board opened up, McGarvey was asked to run for the post, which he did. He served on the board from 1997-2004, including a stint as the CGSA’s president in 2003. During his time on the board, McGarvey was actively involved in developing the CGSA’s Occupational Standards program, though he is quick to point out that work on the initiative was already well underway by the time he got involved. “The CGSA board member from Manitoba, Rob Officer… more than anyone else, brought it to the board’s attention,” McGarvey says. “The initiative was based on some provincial work that was done in Manitoba, that’s how Rob was aware of it.” “Around the time I got on the board, he left to go into teaching turf, so I took over the initiative along with a couple of other people. It became sort of a building block for the association.” The idea behind the measure was to develop a set of employment and educational standards that matched the actual job description of a golf course superintendent. “To my knowledge no one in the world had ever done anything like that before,” McGarvey says. “It was quite a complex program. We had some government assistance with it and worked with people who are experts in developing that sort of thing.” “We involved CGSA members in it; we
put together groups across the country and met with them and got input from them as to what they felt the necessary knowledges and skills were and put that together into a document.” That document became the basis for the CGSA’s education and accreditation efforts. “From then on, every time we looked at education, we looked at where it fit in to the occupational standards,” McGarvey says. “We started to target the areas where maybe there wasn’t as much education being offered as much as there should have been. We were able to align the opportunities better with the real requirements of the job.” McGarvey says the membership at Seymour has fully supported his work with the CGSA, even though his efforts require him to spend time away from his club on occasion. “The club has been terrific,” he says, “in terms of valuing my commitments to both my professional associations and the community. That’s something they’ve encouraged me to do all the time I’ve been here.” “There’s never been a question about my leaving to go to a meeting, or a conference, or whatever. I think they feel that involvement improves me as a person and improves me as a manager.” At one point in the early 2000s, McGarvey served as Seymour’s general manager while also continuing in his role as superintendent. “It was my choice,” he says. “They offered me the general manager’s position and I said I would take it on, but that I was not sure if it was the right thing for me or not.” “What I proposed was that I would give added responsibility to my assistant at the time who fortunately was capable of taking it, especially with me there to keep a close eye on it.” “He did a great job of covering things and he understood what was going on. I told him at the at the time, ‘I’m not going to do this indefinitely; I’m going to try it for a year or two and if it works out and I continue to do this indefinitely you will be in prime position to take over the superintendent’s position.’” McGarvey handled the dual role for two seasons before deciding to give up the
general manager’s post. “It was a great experience,” he says. “I really enjoyed it. I did very well at it; the club had two very successful years financially. I went into it with a healthy respect for what general managers do, I’d worked for a lot of them always had a lot of respect for them and for what they did and I guess the two years increased my respect for them if anything.” Brian Youell, the superintendent at Uplands Golf Club in Victoria, BC was named the CGSA’s Superintendent of the Year in 2012. He says McGarvey performed admirably in the general manager’s role. “I know [doing both jobs] is more commonplace now, but back in the day when he did that, I don’t know too many guys that did it,” Youell says, “and he did it very well.” Over time however, McGarvey realized he was happiest tending to the turf. “[Being a GM] is a tough job, it’s challenging in many ways,” he says, “and very political. I can see why people fall in love with doing it. But I always missed the superintendent’s role.” “I think the experience made me a better superintendent because I have a better understanding of the whole operation of the club. But it reinforced to me how much I love being a superintendent and being out on the property and being part of that team.” Over the course of his career McGarvey has enjoyed the unwavering support of his wife Kathryn. The couple will celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary next June. A certified accountant by profession, Kathryn McGarvey carries a singledigit handicap and competes regularly in provincial amateur events. She
represented her country several times in international competition as a junior golfer. “The crazy number of hours I work is a little more understandable to her because she loves the game also,” McGarvey says. “She’s been a terrific supporter, both of my career and things away from my career.” “She and I are extremely close and we spend as much time together as we can. That’s not a lot of time in the summer, but more in the wintertime and we enjoy each other’s company a lot.” As an accomplished golfer herself, Kathryn, who is a member at Seymour, understands the realities of her husband’s work. “He’s very dedicated,” she says. “I call the golf course his other wife. I can’t tell you how many birthdays and anniversaries have been interrupted because he’s had to take care of something at the golf course [but] if you have, say an irrigation pump problem and the pumps are down you have to deal with it.” As he completes his 23rd season at Seymour, the 63-year old McGarvey harbors no thoughts of moving on. “I’ve had opportunities to take other positions,” he says, “and really have never thought very seriously about them.” “I’ve been very well treated here. We have a terrific membership, and we’ve had terrific boards all the time I’ve been here. All of those people are supportive and this golf course has improved dramatically since 1990. It’s come a long, long way over the years. You can only do that with, number one, the money being in place, but also the support being in place and the commitment to a vision that takes a long time to get to.” GM
“I think everyone should give back, I benefited from many people who did and I think it’s my job to the same. My Dad was very much a person who did that so I watched that as a young person.” Jim McGarvey
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 25
fe ature ◗ David McPherson
Unsung Turfgrass Heroes and Trailblazers Canadian women supers share their stories ◗ Nancy Pierce once imagined a life as a female Farley Mowat. Equipped with a head full of ecology, and a love for the outdoors, she wanted to chase wolves in the Yukon and study their interactions with their environment. This adventure never occurred. Instead, she became a trailblazer in the turfgrass industry as one of the first female greenkeepers in Canada. When we chat, Pierce laughs when I ask how she got into this crazy, unpredictable business. Then the superintendent at The Links at Crowbush Cove in P.E.I. says, “Sometimes I forget!” What a long, strange – yet wonderful – trip it’s been for Pierce. Flash back 25 years. That’s when she was one of the first graduates of the University of Guelph’s ecology program. “I quickly realized I wasn’t going up to the Yukon,” Pierce recalls. After graduating, she worked at her alma mater for several years as a research technician and teaching assistant for a few botanists. Then, a job came up in the horticulture department. “I hadn’t even stepped foot into that building before,” Pierce says. This job opportunity led Pierce down an unexpected path. Dr. Jack Eggens, then the premier turfgrass researcher in Canada, hired her as his technician. “I learned a lot from him,” she says. Until her work with Eggens, Pierce, who received her 25-year pin from the CGSA in 2012, had never set foot on a golf course before. After doing site visits with her boss, she fell in love with the industry. Leaving the world of academia behind, Pierce took her first turf and maintenance job when retired CGSA member Bob Brewster hired her as one of his assistants at The Toronto Golf Club. “He had to show me how to use a Triplex Mower,” Pierce says. “I knew all the theory, but I didn’t have a lot of practical knowledge. I picked that up pretty fast though.” Besides Brewster, Gord Witteveen took Pierce under his wing; Paul Dermott was another mentor. 26 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
Pierce’s turfgrass management journey continued with a stint working at a Jack Nicklaus course in North Carolina. She then returned to Canada to stay, accepting her first head superintendent job at Belvedere Golf Club in Charlottetown, P.E.I. After two years there, Crowbush called. She’s been at the links-style course, perennially ranked as one of the top tracks in Canada, ever since. “It’s like my little baby,” she says. “I’ve watched it grow and been there through all its growing pains.” Twenty-one years on, Pierce is still growing grass and keeping the greens at Crowbush with the same passion. She still blazes a trail and is a mentor for other women – and men – in the industry. And, Pierce still loves her job. “Four thirty in the morning comes pretty early now, but it’s still a good gig,” she says. “You are dealing with a living thing. You constantly have to be aware of what shape it’s in. The grass can’t talk to you, but you have to interpret its physical symptoms and decide if it needs help or not. “Everything I always wanted to do was outside,” Pierce continues. “That’s what appealed to me the most about this job. Unfortunately I don’t have a family, but this would be a very tough job to do if you did. I don’t know how married people do it. You need to have a very understanding spouse. You go to bed around 8:30 p.m. in the summer right around the time most people are firing up their barbecue for a big party. Not to mention your weekends are gone and summer vacations are unheard of.” Pierce never felt that being a female in a male-dominated business held her back. “In a way, it’s an advantage because you are more memorable,” she says. “Remember, I wanted to be a young Farley Mowat; it never dawned on me that I was a girl!” There are days when Pierce wakes up and can’t believe she’s been a superintendent for more than 25 years. “Yikes!,” she says. “Where did it all go? It’s been a thrill. It’s funny how your life turns out.” What advice does Pierce offer other young
women looking to follow this career path? “Get out there. It’s a super job. I can’t imagine doing anything else. I’ve enjoyed the ride. You certainly could do much worse, but you can’t do much better.” Debbie Amirault, the CGSA’s first-ever female president, blazes a trail of her own. Like Pierce, Debbie Amirault also blazed a trail for future generations of women considering a turfgrass management career. Her story begins at The Royal Mayfair Club in Edmonton, Alta, more than 40 years ago. “I was 17 when I started working there as a waitress,” Amirault recalls. “The superintendent and his assistant would come to the clubhouse for lunch often. After I learned more about what they did, I joined them working on the golf course in the summers. I really enjoyed it.” In 2011, Amirault made history when she was named the first female president of the CGSA. These days, you’ll find the seasoned superintendent semi-retired. She lives on Vancouver Island and runs a retail clothing and uniform store her sister owns. Amirault misses the people in the greenkeeping business. The early wake-up calls? Not so much. “I was very fortunate in Alberta to have such a great group of people to work with for 30 years,” she says. “I was like an old mother to all of them.” Before making this career shift, Amirault’s last job in the golf industry was overseeing the grow-in of 27 holes at The Quarry in northern Edmonton. For 30 years before that, she was part of the furniture at Royal Mayfair, taking over the head duties when Sid Puddicombe retired. The 56-year-old admits she faced some challenges, being a woman, in this business – mostly around pay equity. “I was making half the amount of what the guys were making when I started,” Amirault says. “Even at the end of my career, I was earning 10 to 20 per cent less than the average pay of most men in my position.” It’s tough, Amirault adds, when you are in a business with few women.
“I remember years ago, this one guy interviewing me asking: ‘How would you handle a male mechanic?’ ‘Excuse me!’ I replied, ‘the same way I would handle a female mechanic.’” As more women enter the profession, Amirault hopes the pay gap between genders closes more. She also envisions a future where more young women get elected to the CGSA board. “I hope there are more out there,” Amirault says. “You hate to say it, but the golf business is still a man’s world.” Why is that, I ask? The superintendent pauses and then says: “I don’t know… it’s just a tough business for women. Some of the younger generation does not want to work seven days a week without summer holidays. It’s a hard living. I was fortunate to have had such good mentors – guys like Dean Morrison, and Sid Puddicombe.” What advice does Amirault give women considering this career? “First, be passionate,” she says. “Second, see if you can work at a course with a good reputation and get some experience with some good mentors… that really helps. Finally, get involved in your local, provincial, and national industry associations to expand your network. In any business, having a network really helps you advance your career.” As CGSA President, Amirault’s peak was attending the British and International Greenkeepers Associations’ conference and spending time at St. Andrews. “That was the highlight of my life,” she concludes. A lifelong love for the game led Karen Rumohr into the business Karen Rumohr always knew she would end up working on a golf course. “I’ve been a golfer my whole life,” says the assistant superintendent at Edmonton Petroleum Golf & Country Club. As a geology student at the University of Alberta, Rumohr worked on golf courses in the summers between classes. “When I graduated university I realized the golf course is where I wanted to be,” she says. In 2003, she took her first job as an assistant superintendent when a fellow female turf boss (Jennifer Peckham) hired her at Edmonton’s Pioneer Meadows Golf Club. “Jennifer is my mentor,” Rumohr says. “Once I started working with her I realized I could make a career in this business.. Even though I no longer work for Jenn, she is still part of my career and we talk regularly. I know Debbie [Amirault] well too. She’s
Twenty-one years on, Pierce is still growing grass and keeping the greens at Crowbush with the same passion. She still blazes a trail and is a mentor for other women – and men – in the industry. And, Pierce still loves her job. always been a great friend and ally.” A decade into her turfgrass management career, Rumohr is just as passionate about the golf business as when she started. “I love the results you see from the hard work you put in,” she says. “I like the science part and I enjoy sitting down and crunching numbers whether for a fertility, or for a topdressing program. I also love the administrative part. Most of all, I love being outside.” Weather, says Rumohr, is the biggest challenge in the turf and maintenance industry. “It can be your best friend or your worst enemy. Once you realize you don’t have any control over it, you do your best to work with it.” Looking ahead, Rumohr’s five-year plan is to land a head superintendent job, so she can “make the big calls.” She says her current boss, Keith Blayney, is very supportive of this goal and is a great advocate for her work. Rumohr sums up her leadership philosophy in three words: pride, teamwork, and confidence. “I’m a big team player,” she concludes. “I always stress that everybody’s job is important. No one job is bigger or better than any others. I also like to instill pride in my staff and make sure they understand that confidence can take you a long way.” A family affair: Carla McCann born into the business By the time Carla McCann was in high school, the superintendent at Gull Lake Golf Course in central Alberta had already done most of the jobs on a golf course. Her dad Charlie Herder, who is also a CGSA charter member, built Balmoral Golf Course in nearby Red Deer back in 1963. “He continues to remain involved in our family business,” McCann says. “There were many things I learned as a child helping on his course that I definitely have appreciated more when I became responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of my own facility.” Before returning to the golf and maintenance business, McCann considered
a career in health care. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, but could not find a full-time job. In 1991, after getting married, she, along with her husband Eamon, purchased the property that is now Gull Lake Golf Course. “We have been raising this baby ever since,” says McCann, who completed enough of the University of Guelph’sTurfgrass Management Program via correspondence to apply for superintendent status in 1996. The superintendent has always been impressed and welcomed by all the members she’s met over the years in both the AGSA and the CGSA. “With it being a male-dominated industry, there is not the patriarchal authority as there was in the healthcare profession when I nursed,” McCann comments. “I hire men and women, boys and girls, to work on the maintenance crew and I always say that we are an equal opportunity company. There are no jobs specific to men or women on my team.” McCann loves working alongside her husband, who manages the clubhouse, and she also enjoys watching the golf course evolve and change throughout the season. “I love the challenge of teaching new staff the skills required for the maintenance of the course,” she adds. “I am proud to say that two of my previous employees have become superintendents: Brigit McKeen and Aylsa McKeen. Another former employee, Brandon Regnier, is now General Manager at Whitecourt Golf Course.” GM
David McPherson is a regular contributor to GreenMaster. Over the years, many golf publications have featured the work of the Toronto-based freelance writer. As president of McPherson Communications (www.mcphersoncommunications.com) David helps a wide range of clients get their message heard. E-mail him: David@ mcphersoncommunications.com or follow him on Twitter @mcphersoncomm.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 27
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fe ature ◗ Dan mcCAFFREY
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Paw-sitively Amazing
Beach Grove’s dog Toby shines on and off the course ◗ Beach Grove Golf & Country Club is an all-season, private, member-owned club. Beach Grove was built in 1921 and designed by Stanley Thompson. It is nestled in the heart of the Great Lakes along the banks of Lake St. Clair in Tecumseh, Ontario, just east of Windsor, Ontario. The tree-lined fairways offer golfers a challenging game while they enjoy the peace and serenity of the neighboring area. Beach Grove provides a clubhouse rich with history where members enjoy dining and socializing with one another in a warm and comfortable atmosphere. There is a harbor for boating, a large pool for swimming and a rink for curling in the winter months. Beach Grove enjoys a long, proud history of serving families in Windsor and Essex County. I started my position as greens superintendent at Beach Grove in the fall of 2008. Having been in the industry for 20 years prior to this position (since the age of 17) and being a superintendent for 10 of those years, I had my experiences with dealing with geese, but never had a dog to help with the situation. When I came to Beach Grove, I knew geese were a problem, especially with our location near Lake St. Clair. The club had purchased a border collie earlier in 2008. His name was Tweed. He was approximately one-year-old and already trained to chase geese. The cost was not cheap; $5,000. However, when you consider the benefit and the work one of these dogs can accomplish for you, it really is not that much to pay. That first winter, an employee from the pro shop offered to take care of Tweed during the winter months on his farm. Unfortunately, Tweed was hit by a car while walking near a road on the farm. This was devastating news for us. We decided to purchase another border collie, again fully trained, for $5,000. His name was Oliver. Oliver performed very well during the 2009 season, but unfortunately came down with a genetic disorder that causes blindness. We were very fortunate to have a couple from the Newmarket area, who take care of blind dogs, adopt Oliver. He was welcomed into
Toby gets set to go to work at Beach Grove like he has for more than two years. credit: Dan McCaffrey
their loving home. At the time, we felt unlucky with what had happened with our two border collies, but there was still a great need for a dog on the property to take care of an ongoing geese situation. Club general manager Gary Geoffrey decided we would go in a different direction in finding our new dog. He contacted our local Humane Society in Windsor and asked them to contact us if they ever come across a border collie. Sure enough, we received a call a couple months later that they did indeed have one. He was a three-month-old border collie named Toby. This turned out to be a great situation. Toby needed a home and we needed him. We adopted him in the beginning of the year 2011. The total cost was under $200, which included neutering and microchipping Toby. Because he was so young when we adopted Toby, it turned out to be excellent. Being at that young age allowed for me and my Assistant, Curtis Bondy, to spend a lot of time with him learning the ins and outs of the 127-acre property, which he learned very quickly. Anybody who deals with a geese problem on a golf course knows first-hand that they create problems. They affect turf density and lie of the ball (which obviously affects playability). They also leave behind a mess. One goose can eat up to four pounds of grass per day and creates
approximately three pounds of fecal matter daily. If you have 100 geese on the golf course, you’re going to have a big problem. Toby has become so efficient, geese don’t bother landing on the course. The golf course is now, essentially, goose free. He’s so effective for us. Just his presence does the job. He knows the property like nobody else. Toby’s days are busy. When staff arrive at 5 am, he is out and about on the golf course. He has become very close with all the greens department staff. One of our staff, Basil Palombo, who cuts greens for us, has become really attached to Toby. Basil is an animal lover at heart and has taken full charge in any extra care that Toby needs such as trips to the veterinarian for checkups and grooming. Toby has become very popular among members, especially the ladies. They bring him treats during ladies league play on Tuesday and Thursdays. Toby has become immensely popular in the Tecumseh (St. Clair Beach) area. I have even run into members at the local grocery store and they ask, “How is Toby?” and “The relationship is amazing.” He truly is a family member here at Beach Grove Golf & Country Club. GM Dan McCaffrey is the Golf Course Superintendent at Beach Grove Golf & Country Club. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 29
fe ature ◗ Marc Cousineau
Taking Back the Turf Southern Alberta courses and their quest to rebuild after devastating floods ◗ It was around midnight, June 20, when Wade Bishop, superintendent at McKenzie Meadows Golf Club, picked up the phone and heard his assistant’s voice on the other end of the line. It was not good news. “He called… and told me that the entire property, except for two holes, had been flooded,” says Bishop, a veteran of 16 seasons as superintendent. “It was a whole new level from what we’d seen before.” McKenzie Meadows was not alone. At the same time as Bishop’s course was being consumed by the currents, dozens of courses across southern Alberta were being hit with rising waters and rapid flooding. The grounds crews and maintenance teams were no match for Mother Nature. Kerry Watkins, superintendent at Glencoe Golf and Country Club, knows the powerlessness of the situation. “As the water came in onsite, it chased me offsite,” says Watkins, who has been the superintendent at Glencoe since
January, 2012. “It chased us off the course and we watched it fill the course and take out features. There’s nothing you can do but watch the magnificent movement of water and what it can do. As heart-wrenching as that was, it was best to start planning instantly for the recovery.” Watkins began to plan his next moves even as the water continued to take over the course, he says. This included calling contractors, golf contractors and a sod farm to secure resources for the rebuild. All the necessary services were secured by the end of the night. “All we could do was watch from a safe distance and start the wheel rolling on a rebuild plan because we weren’t going to be the only club flooding in the area and it’s first come, first serve,” says Watkins. Bishop also understands the need for a quick response in the wake of such a gigantic flood. “We immediately started calling suppliers for large volume trash pumps,” says Bishop.
McKenzie Meadows had 16 of 18 holes affected and has still not opened for play. At Glencoe, 43 of 45 holes were affected, including the 18-hole Forest Course, a section of the club that had taken more than two years to renovate and was set to open nine weeks after the flood. 30 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
“We secured four trash pumps immediately… but we were not able to deploy them at all. We had to just sit and wait while the river took a few days to come down. It was about 10 days before we could get out on the course and do anything.” With the contractors called and the river subsiding, the superintendents could finally survey the damage on their courses. McKenzie Meadows had 16 of 18 holes affected and has still not opened for play. At Glencoe, 43 of 45 holes were affected, including the 18-hole Forest Course, a section of the club that had taken more than two years to renovate and was set to open nine weeks after the flood. “For all the effort that went into it, no one got to experience it except (the turf team),” says Watkins, talking about the Forest Course. “For the membership, who hasn’t had 45 holes since 2010, it was gut-wrenching.” The flood was devastating and what followed, for both clubs, was a long summer full of highs and lows. Both Watkins and Bishop experienced
From left to right: Bunker damage at Glencoe; the view from the turf care office; staff and volunteers work hard to remove silt after heavy floods hit southern Alberta; Glencoe’s equipment bay flooded by rising waters. credit: Kerry Watkins
long, irregular hours, dirty work (clearing mud and silt) and ruined greens and fairways. But they also found an overwhelming show of support from the staff and community, enjoyed huge victories in saving turf and saw new leaders emerge amongst their teams. The impact of the flood is still being felt by Mckenzie Meadows and Glencoe even now, months after the rivers rose to unprecedented levels. “We’re still continuing with flood recovery into 2014 with fine tuning in 2015,” says Watkins. “We’re going to treat (the course) as if nothing happened with winter protection products. We’re going to spray, but not as much and not on areas where we are going to re-sod,” says Watkins about preparing for the off-season. “Winter may take out some turf just because of the physical condition the grass is growing in, but we won’t know that until the spring of 2014.” The flood forced Bishop to knock the course’s cultural plans down the list of priorities. “There was so much focus on rebuilding and debris removal that a lot of our cultural practices fell by the wayside,” says Bishop. Although the plans for summer were disrupted, Bishop and his team are still moving ahead with the greens program, fungicide spraying and tee spraying to prepare for the onset of winter.
“There’s still some concern about how all this new sod will be affected by the winter, but we’re going to have to wait and see,” says Bishop. Both Bishop and Watkins have also seen the flood affect their clubs off the course. The natural disaster turned their normally well-planned budgets upside down. “Our five-year plan for the budget is now two years behind,” says Watkins. “In the short-term, we have to make the most sense out of the cents spent. Insurance didn’t cover everything, so we have to make sure we spend on the areas of highest priority and work our way out from there.” Bishop is experiencing the same financial flip as Watkins. “Our operating budget went completely out the window,” Bishop says. “It’s become more of a reclamation and rebuild kind of budget. I’ve gone ahead with some of the things I had in mind for my operating budget, but for the most part, it’s been a completely different budget.” After reflecting on the days of devastation and months of hardship, both Watkins and Bishop have some advice for others who are hit by a natural disaster in the future. “One thing you can manage is peoples’ time,” says Watkins. “It’s just as important to manage your time inside the gates as it is outside the gates, so make a schedule. Make sure your team has time off,” he says, adding that all workers had a week off during the summer
to rest and recharge to continue the recovery. Bishop says it is important to be proactive, communicate with the course’s management and make calls to equipment distributors as quickly as possible. He also says having lots of volunteers and good managers to direct them is crucial, as is prioritizing which areas to work on first. “Save what turf you can and deal with what’s left after,” says Bishop. Although the impact of the flood will follow Watkins and Bishop for some time to come, so too will the memories of the support and guidance that colleagues and others in the industry provided during these trying times. “My peer group and support network has been unbelievable,” says Bishop. “I’ve had volunteers and superintendents and assistants and mechanics bring equipment and come out to help and it’s been incredible. People just call and ask, ‘what can we send, what can we do?’” “The support from the industry, whether from in Calgary or around the country, has been extraordinary,” says Watkins. “From support phone calls, to fellow superintendents lending equipment and manpower, the response has been pretty inspiring to say the least. That’s what’s great about the profession of golf course maintenance.” GM
From left to right: Water, mud and silt took over McKenzie Meadows, which is still closed after it was ravaged by floods. credit: CTV Calgary, Lisa Vlooswyk
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 31
fe ature ◗ andrew krek
Niko Krek learning about BioChar and what grass feels like.
Photo credit: Andrew krek
Educating the Next Generation Experience, Exposure and Education ◗ Have you heard of the 3 E’s of success? Experience, Exposure and Education. Have you ever wondered how to build your team and raise your club to the next level? The key is educating your assistant superintendent (or finding an educated assistant). There are many assistants who have (or currently are) completing their education while performing the role and they are a crucial part of our industry, but are often overlooked and underappreciated. The role of superintendent demands broader skills than ever before. Your success can be assured, and the success and achievement of our industry is increased, by the competency of the assistant. “Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s level,” said the legendary Jack Nicklaus. An assistant superintendent generally has a certain amount of experience from 32 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
years on the course. They also have and a certain amount of exposure to the operations of the course and the role of the superintendent from coaching and mentoring a good super provides to grow his staff. Add industry-specific education to that mix and your success, and the success of your golf course, is all but assured. Why are experience and exposure not enough? Education facilitates theoretical knowledge and advanced technical skills that are critical for managing the complexity of today’s golf courses and changing regulations. An industry specific education, whether it be a certificate, diploma or degree, provides specific learning that allows an individual to think critically, understand their environment and sets them up to respond to a changing golf course environment with a different set of eyes, which is potentially the most beneficial element. It allows and
encourages them to think instead of simply following what the person did before them. They also return from the classroom with a different type of experience and exposure – they are taught the latest technology, methods and trends which in turn provides the entire staff with exposure, including the superintendent, making the entire team stronger. It takes dedication to study while working. It is a demanding experience that proves dedication and requires great focus. Brent Lees (assistant superintendent, Woodside Golf Course) became the assistant during his third year of the Bachelor of Applied Science - Golf Course Management Degree Program at Olds College in Alberta. One of Brent’s goals was to become an assistant superintendent and he knew education would help him to achieve this. Not only did Brent need to learn a new role while in school,
This article is eligible for the
Gordon Witteveen Award designation for the author.
“Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s level.” Jack Nicklaus, professional golfer
he was also required to keep focused and motivated on completing the work necessary to obtain his degree. This is no small task as students average 150 hours per course in class, labs and assignments, in addition to their working hours on the golf course. Ultimately Brent (like most assistants) aspires to be a superintendent and he knows that getting the education “does in fact set you apart and sets you up to reach your goals”. Brent’s story is one example of sacrifice, focus and commitment to himself and the trade. Jason Pick is an Instructor of Golf Course Management at Olds College, the Director of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association and a former superintendent. This is what he had to say about educated assistant superintendents, “Learning the ‘why’ we do what we do, to devise our own ideals and perspectives. An experienced assistant may not benefit from a diploma if they have extensive experience, but assuming that assistant wants to become a superintendent or greater, Golf Course Management Education is a lot more than just grass. It provides the confidence to run a club budget, staffing, agronomics and overall master planning.” Having that sort of strength and support in an assistant only makes your job as a superintendent easier. Superintendents have the unique role of helping to set the golf industry up for future success. Through mentorship, coaching and support, they collectively have the greatest impact on how assistants will perform now and into the future. Assistant superintendents are, quite literally, the future of the industry. Even before the future becomes the present, supporting an assistant’s education means building yourself a top performing team. Mitch Davidson (superintendent, Dinosaur Trail Golf Course) and his assistant Andrew Smith are a great example of this team development. Andrew was hired during
his final year of school and as Mitch says, “He came out of school with a high degree of professionalism and a strong understanding of the business side of the industry, both I attribute to the great instructors at Olds College. “ I completed a Golf Course Technician Diploma at Seneca College followed by a Bachelor of Applied Science Degree while working at the Toronto Golf Club. I can tell you how demanding it is to go to school while working, how integral the support from my club was and how my education benefited my superintendent and the entire management team. This is what Al Schwemler (superintendent – Toronto Golf Club) said in support of my Future Superintendent nomination this past year, “The evolution of Andrew’s success at The Toronto Golf Club has stemmed from his intense desire to learn, mastering of new tasks and perfecting his personal approach to golf course maintenance and management. He has positively assisted the management team at The Toronto Golf Club in virtually every facet of our operation including: staff management and training, occupational health and safety, IPM, operational improvements and efficiency and, most importantly, just being a team player. Andrew has earned more responsibility and respect through hard work, dedication, and performance.” My success is in large part due to my focus and drive to complete my education, but without the generous support, guidance and opportunity The Toronto Golf Club provided, I would not be a successful assistant superintendent in a position to give back to my new club.
How can you raise the bar for your Assistant and your Club?
• E xperience – Offer challenge. Allow your assistant to be part of the decision making process. Allow them to be a part of capital projects to develop new skills. Aid in identifying
competency gaps necessary for being a superintendent and foster a learning environment that will help close the gaps. Delegate authority. • Exposure – Provide opportunities for assistants to expand their network inside and outside your club. Encourage your assistant to join you in board meetings or meetings with the general manager. Encourage your assistant to become a member of different associations and to attend the respective conferences. Simply sit and talk to your assistant about course operations, how/why the decisions are made, and why you choose to do the specifics in certain ways. • Education – Ensure you have funding in your budget to support their education. Encourage strong assistants to go to school to earn a certificate, diploma or a degree, or to take classes to improve and gain new skills. Encourage them to attend trade shows and conference as this encompasses education, experience and exposure. GM
Andrew Krek is the Assistant Superintendent at the Dundas Valley Golf and Curling Club. He holds a Golf Course Technicians diploma from Seneca College and a Bachelor of Applied Science majoring in Golf Course Management from Olds College. He is an active member of the CGSA and is passionate about learning, mentoring and giving back to the industry. NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 33
MECH ANIC ’S CORNER ◗ EDDie konrad
Surrounded by Mountains ◗ The Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee-Reith golf course has a fascination all its own for all golfers. It is located at the heart of the Kitzbühel Alps, surrounded by mountains, forests and meadows. The special attractions at this course are water obstacles, flat fairways on the front nine and the hilly profiles of the back nine. Kitzbühel and its neighbours have an unusually high density of guest accommodations. Holidaymakers in Kitzbühel have 56 cableway and lift facilities and 168 kilometres of slopes available to them, as well as 40 kilometres of groomed cross-country skiing tracks. In the summer, there are 120 km (75 mi) of mountain bike paths and 500 km (311 mi) of hiking trails. Other attractions include six tennis courts and four golf courses. Together with the ski trails and ski lifts in the neighborhood, Kitzbühel is one of the largest ski regions in Austria. With around 10,000 hotel and guest house beds, Kitzbühel caters to the high end of the tourist market. Many celebrities and jetsetters come here for the international races on the Hahnenkamm. If you follow world downhill skiing you must have heard of the “Streif” in Kitzbuehel. The Hahnenkamm is a mountain in Austria, directly south of Kitzbuehel, in the Kitzbuehel Alps. The elevation of its summit is 1,712 metres (5,617 ft.) above sea level. The Hahnenkamm (Rooster’s Comb in German) is part of the ski resort of Kitzbuhel and
The rain stopped and gave a clear look at the scenic mountain range.
hosts the annual World Cup alpine ski races, the Hahnenkammrennen. The most famous slope on the Hahnenkamm is the classic downhill course, the Streif (streak, or stripe), which is regarded as the most demanding race course on the World Cup circuit. The course features highly technical fall-away turns (reverse bank), many with limited visibility. It also contains several flat gliding sections, immediately preceded by difficult turns, placing a premium on both technical and gliding skills. So it is no wonder the Golf Course KitzbuehelSchwarzsee-Reith, an 18-hole golf course with a wonderful panorama and a handicap of 45, challenges the golfer just like the Streif challenges the skier.
The course was built in 1987 and opened in 1989. Water comes into the play on hole 12 and the course has 32 bunkers. The most beautiful hole is 10. The course is 6104 meters from the back tees and 5356 meters from the front tees. The course has a par 72 and its season runs from April to October. The course is breathtaking with its unique panorama and fairways that make the heart of every golfer beat faster. The Golf European Challenge Tour was held for the first time at Kitzbuehel-Schwarzsee Golf Club in 2003. The course welcomes golfers with a 500-metre-long, very selective, opening hole. Immediately afterwards, you’re faced with the most difficult hole on the course,
Left to Right: Grinding machines and hydraulic equipment at the golf course’s mechanic shop. 34 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
Photo credit (PAGES 34-35): Eddie Konrad
the par 4, 420 metre second hole. The sixteenth hole is unique, the so-called ‘mousetrap’, which can only be reached via a small ravine. The legendary course definitely defeats many an amateur golfer in the summer as they fight for the win against more than 500 participants. So on my holiday in Austria, I thought of visiting one of the foremost golf courses in Kitzbuehel, Tyrol and interviewing the superintendent (head green keeper) and the equipment manager (Maschinen Wart) to see if there are different approaches to running a golf course in Austria. It was a rainy, cold day when I arrived at the clubhouse in time to meet Walter Oberacher, the equipment manager, and my first surprise was how many golfers there were lined up to play the course. After introductions, we started chatting about the basics. Walter has been working at the course for 12 years and slowly worked his way up from starter to equipment manager. He is responsible for all equipment inside the garage, as well as all driven equipment used on the course. To make his life easier, Walter has a full-time mechanic on staff. I was made aware of how busy his schedule is when he was called away from our interview more than once. Walter’s education was almost like mine, since he also came from a background in the electronic trade. In wintertime, he earns money as ski instructor and massage therapist. Aerating on the course is done in May, as soon as the ground allows it, and again
The irrigation pond at Kitzbuhel Schwarzsee Reith Golf Course.
in July or August. To do the job, the first nine holes are closed for a day and the following day the rest of the holes are done. Sand is brushed in by hand and the greens are playable the next day. Most of the equipment used on the course is TORO and Club Car. Water is pumped out of the lake and, after being filtered, distributed with three pumps throughout the course by the latest technology. The course has 450 members. Play commences at 6:30 am and ends at 7:00 pm when the last players tee off. There are about 14,000 rounds played every year. The biggest surprise for me was that the land for the golf course is leased from seven farmers, which also own all the buildings, old and new. The lease was just extended until 2046. The reason for this is
the land is so valuable that the farmers will not sell it. After being driven by Walter to see the course and meeting other employees and green keepers, the sun finally came out so I could shoot some pictures. I want to thank Walter for allowing me to take time away from his busy schedule. I hope he can continue to make golfing at Kitzbuehel-Schwarzsee-Reith an unforgettable experience. GM
Eddie was the head mechanic at the Ladies Golf Club of Toronto for 22 years, regularly contributes to GreenMaster magazine and is a contract professor at Seneca College in Ontario teaching Reel Technology.
You’ve read it. Now be a part of it! GreenMaster is looking for your ideas and original articles on golf course management. No story or idea is too small. If you have a story you have written or an idea for one you would like to see in the pages of our magazine please send it to bgarrett@golfsupers.com. We welcome all submissions. Your stories and ideas will make the magazine come alive and help golf course professionals across Canada. Those stories written by superintendents and assistant superintendents that appear in GreenMaster will also automatically be considered for the annual Gordon Witteveen Award. Grow with the CGSA!
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 35
back n i n e ◗ David mcpherson
Travelling Back in Time CGSA member Matt Blackburn retrofits vintage RVs ◗ Some collect vintage vinyl. Others collect antiques. But now for something really unique: a superintendent and his spouse that enjoy buying and refurbishing vintage RVs. Meet Matt Blackburn and his wife Stacey. Blackburn, the superintendent at The Lakes Golf Club in Cape Breton, never imagined spending off hours tinkering with tin machines. “It all started when my father-in-law called to ask whether I would let him buy us a trailer,” recalls Blackburn, who started at the Lakes during the grow-in back in 2008. “I said, ‘sure, we like camping, why not.’” Just like that, Blackburn and Stacey were the proud owners of a retro RV. His father-in-law did a bit of the preliminary work, cleaning it up just enough so the pair could bring it home. The first retro RV they bought was a 1969 Bailey Mikado. “They used to ship these trailers over here from England back when they were first manufactured,” Blackburn says. Blackburn and his wife started picking away at and gradually fixing up the Bailey to get it road worthy again. They recovered the cushions, corrected all
Like all hobbies, once you start collecting, you can’t stop. With the Bailey fully restored, Stacey went back online, scouring the vintage trailer ads on Kijiji.
Blackburn’s children welcome him home after the Cape Breton Celtic Classic last summer. 36 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
the interior and exterior details that had deteriorated from years of neglect, tidied it up and made it their own. The final touch: Stacey added a fresh coat of paint. When The Lakes Golf Club hosted the Cape Breton Celtic Classic, a first-time PGA TOUR Canada event, this past September, Blackburn parked the retro RV at the course. He even slept in it one night, making for an easy commute the next day. Like all hobbies, once you start collecting, you can’t stop. With the Bailey fully restored, Stacey went back online, scouring the vintage trailer ads on Kijiji. “Initially she was looking to find one for friends of ours, but then she stumbled upon someone who lived about an hour away from us selling one for only $200,” Blackburn says. “Stacey drove over, took a look, and decided right there it was worth the investment. “I left work on a Friday afternoon in mid-September to join her and we made the purchase,” Blackburn continues. “We drove over there, hooked on to this trailer, and hauled it home via the back roads of Cape Breton to our place just outside of Sydney.” The second retro RV the pair purchased is a 1964 Monitor Moonbeam.
“It’s got some leaks here and some leaks there,” Blackburn says. “First, we patched the leaks and redid the wiring. We also gutted the interior and redid the upholstery. Now it’s almost good to go. We will continue to work away at it over the winter, so it’s ready to hit the road come spring. “This one is better for us because it has a bunk bed above the kitchen table,” he adds. “We have two small children and the other one was more of a hassle because we had to break down the table every night at bedtime and then set it back up again each morning.” The couple is also taking out the windows from the new RV. “As you can imagine it’s been sitting neglected for 15 years… it had a few issues,” Blackburn says. The greenkeeper says he’s not a professional handyman, but he does enjoy fixing things around the house. He’s lucky his mechanic at The Lakes used to work at a Chevrolet dealership that sold trailers. “He’s a great resource,” Blackburn says. “He tells me the trailers they built back in the 1960s are way sturdier than the ones they make today.” Blackburn’s two children, a six-yearold boy and a seven-year-old girl, both
love travelling and sleeping in the retro camper. “Because of my work schedule, Stacey travels frequently without me, just her and the kids, to visit her folks,” he says. “When we get the newest one finished, our plan is to haul it down to my in-laws and leave it there. That way my wife can camp with the kids and we are not spending the extra money on fuel to haul it back-and-forth several times a year.” Price is one reason to buy a retro RV according to Blackburn; it’s hard to find a new trailer for less than $10,000. And, once you’ve fixed the vehicle up, it’s also a
great conversation starter. “When you roll into a campground with one of these, you certainly get some looks,” he concludes. “You don’t see that many trailers of this vintage in decent shape on the road anymore… it’s like a classic car.” GM
Blackburn’s first RV before being restored to its 1960s prime. Photo credit (PAGES 36-37): Matt Blackburn
David McPherson is a regular contributor to GreenMaster. Over the years, many golf publications have featured the work of the Toronto-based freelance writer. As president of McPherson Communications (www.mcphersoncommunications.com) David helps a wide range of clients get their message heard. E-mail him: David@mcphersoncommunications.com or follow him on Twitter @mcphersoncomm.
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013 | greenMaster 37
Ta lk back ◗ from our readers
Super Snapshots: Endless Summer
Letters “
I just finished reading the new Greenmaster and just wanted to pass on that it looks great and is an awesome read. So great job, keep it up.
Kyle Kellgren Superintendent, Jackfish Lodge Golf and Conference Centre
“
T he issue looked great. I enjoyed your column urging members to submit stories and write for the publication.
David McPherson Contributor & Communication Specialist Re: Are your bunkers too perfect? (September/October issue)
“
G reat article! It’s a shame this principle will never be accepted at 99% of facilities. We are too far gone. Most golfers don’t want strategic value. They want scoring chances and easy lies. Nothing hard equals fun?
Trevor Morvay Superintendent, Sawmill Creek Golf Resort and Spa
“
N ailed it with this article! It’s a tough sell to golfers, but we must try!
Clockwise from top left – Foxes lounge in a bunker at St. Boniface Golf Club in Manitoba (Andrew McComb), the sun shines through the trees at Credit Valley Golf Course in Mississauga (Jeff Stauffer), the mountains loom over the picturesque Salmon Arm Golf Club in B.C. (Tim Kubash) and St Andrew’s in the UK offers a great view (Jordan Collins).
What do you think… Q. W hat do you like to do in your free time away from the course?
Q. W hat are your favourite golf club logos?
A. “What’s this “time off” you speak of?
A. “ The Curragh Golf Club is mine.” A. “I still think Crooked Stick is an
Haha! Spending time with the family of course!”
38 greenMaster | www.golfsupers.com
Jason Hooper Superintendent, Quilchena Golf and Country Club Re: Recruiting New Members (September/October issue)
“
R ecruiting is all part of the job of each of us as members to keep this great association strong and active for many years to come!
Josh Webb Assistant Superintendent Quilchena Golf Club
Submitted by CGSA member Jordan Collins
all-time classic”
Talk back!
Email cgsa@golfsupers.com
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