Kootenay Region - Brad Pasula

Spring 2022

The Kootenay’s will have some new faces in Superintendent roles for the 2022 golf season. Never in my 15 years of being in the Kootenay’s have I seen four prominent individuals leave our region all at once. I am happy to report that Vic Sigailis and Al Dobbs are retiring, Tom Altmann and Colin Matheson have made career changes. I can honestly say that our chapter of the BCGSA will truly miss these guys. I thought that it would be only fitting that I profile each of them in our spring update from the Kootenays.

Vic Sigailis knew at the age of 31 that the logging industry was not for him. At that time, he approached then Superintendent at the Radium Springs Course Bob Lister about future employment. Bob Lister played a significant role in mentoring Vic and eventually guiding him towards the Turf Management Program at Fairview College. While in Fairview Vic took the Turf Management Program along with the Turf Technician Program. Fairview is also the place where Vic Met his wife JoAnne. JoAnne and her 3 children ended up moving to Radium to be with Vic, this once bachelor now had an instant family. In 1994 Vic took the position of Assistant Superintendent at the Radium Resort Course where he worked under Jerry Wright. After Jerry’s departure in the summer of 2007 Vic became the Superintendent of the Resort Course, during his tenure he has survived 4 ownership changes and 7 management changes. Vic told me that looking back at his career he felt privileged to have worked at such a beautiful place. He also had the opportunity to have all 3 of his children work for him at different times which was quite rewarding for him. Vic is looking forward to his retirement years where he hopes to fill his days with fishing, camping and travel. It has been a pleasure for me and many others getting to know Vic over the years and we wish him all the best in the years to come.

Cranbrook Golf Course will be looking for a new Superintendent with Al Dobbs retiring this spring. Like many Al was not always in the golf industry, before he started his career he had a short stint as a Civil Engineer Consultant. The economic crash of 1984 led Al to find a temporary job at the Bearspaw Golf and Country Club working for Tod Puddicombe. That temporary job that he had led to an Assistant Superintendent position at Bearspaw from 1988-1994. In 1994 Al became the Superintendent of Woodside Golf and Country Club in Airdrie until 1998. Eagle Ranch was his next stop where he was involved in completing construction and the grow in of the golf course. After parting ways with Eagle Ranch Al moved to Cranbrook to take on a similar role at Wildstone Golf Course. After a short stop at Wildstone he made his way back home to Pincher Creek where he brought their golf club back to life with a lot of TLC. In 2013 after getting Pincher Creek headed in the right direction Al was on the move again back to the Cranbrook Golf and Country Club where he held the position of Superintendent until his retirement. Al had told me that his greatest accomplishments has been working at courses where he was able to bring them to the next level, I can attest to that. I have played the Cranbrook course many times over the years and I can say without a doubt that the members and public had an exceptionally wellmaintained golf course. He is also very proud of the friendships he has made along the way with fellow Superintendents and with all the people who have worked for him. Al tells me he is looking forward to traveling and getting in as much fly fishing as he can. Congrats Al on a great career!

Colin Matheson leaves our chapter but not our area. Colin has taken a job with Invermere Fire Rescue as their Deputy Chief. Colin started his golf career at the Golden Golf Club at the age of 17. Ken Mackenzie liked to remind Colin that references were always good because he had one of the worst interview performances to date. After Ken left Golden Colin was fortunate enough to have Darren Reddekopp to mentor him. Colin says that Darren taught him so much but one thing that Darren taught him which still sticks with him today is the people-first approach to managing. He says Darren led successful teams by having great culture, team members felt supported and they had fun which made them feel very much part of a team. Colin worked for Darren for the next 10 years and followed him to Greywolf after finishing his diploma at Fairview College.

Spring 2022

While at Greywolf Colin met a nursing student who eventually became his wife. Her nursing program led them to Victoria where Colin spent a few years at Olympic View Golf Course. After her program was over, they moved back to the Kootenay’s where Colin took a job as the Assistant Superintendent at Eagle Ranch. Colin worked under Mike Warriner, Colin said that Mike was a man of few words but another great mentor. Colin stated that Mike was the most detailed, grounded and hardest working person he had ever met. After Mike fell ill and passed away Colin took on the role of Superintendent at Eagle Ranch for the next three seasons. Colin told me that Covid-19 made him re-evaluate his priorities in life and that the fire department has given him more time with his family, more security and a sense of purpose that he was missing in his life. Colin said that he will miss the golf industry and I know our region is going to miss him too. Good luck Colin in your new role!

Not much needs to be said about Tom Altmann because everyone knows him and he has been around the block a few times. This sums Tom up in a nutshell and I stole this from Linkedin. “A seasoned business leader with a successful career of 30 years in "high-end" golf clubs and mountain resorts. Recognized and rewarded for entrepreneurship, business development/management, profit and vision. Proven ability to establish and implement company mission, vision, core values, promote positive culture causing increased profitability. Superior ability to build, develop and maintain teams, while communicating expectations and achieving results.” Tom tells us don’t ever hesitate to take a leap and try something new, change has allowed for my most gratifying career highlights. Tom has been at Silver Springs, Coeur d’Alene, Kananaskis, Greywolf, Tamarack and Fairmont Hot Springs. He says that the golf industry has provided him with an amazing career and most importantly lifelong friends and connections. Being on the BCGSA board was one of his most memorable highlights of his career, he was challenged in a way that made him the best he could be. Tom told me that it was time for a change by putting his family first, raising his two sons in the Columbia Valley, challenging himself and maintaining his health and happiness. Tom takes on his new role as Utilities Superintendent for the Regional District of the East Kootenays. We all wish Tom great success in his new role and he has left us with huge shoes to fill. Thank you for everything you have done for our region and for the golf industry.

From our last board meeting it was determined that our board will have a few changes.

President - Brad Pasula Vice President – Rob Balcom BCGSA Rep - Graeme Douglas Treasurer - Evan Olauson Secretary/ Scholarship - Mike Knowles Industry Liaison/ Director – Mitch Davidson Director – Keith Wojtkiw Director - Neil Bull

The Kootenay Chapter will be moving forward with in person regional meetings for 2022 providing we are allowed to do so.

April – Location/ Date TBD June 22 – Balfour August – Copper Point (Exchange) Sept – Location/Date TBD Nov – St. Eugene Mission (Date TBD)

Respectfully Submitted Brad Pasula Kootenay Region President

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